How would they do it?
Not sure, I assume the Minister has some discretion regarding appointments , then of course there is the funding lever, then of course there is the royal commission lever.
Then there is the promotions lever....... ..and the creation of another organization lever, and the swap in ministerial responsibilities lever (like creating another Ministry)
There are a multitude of ways to do it, the artistry lies in selecting the appropriate weapon, scalpel, stiletto, axe, whatever. The plots are the stuff of Canberra table talk at the senior level.
Some of you would be amazed at what goes on in Canberra. The first rule is not to use a commonwealth car and driver to visit your mistress.That has brought down more than one senior public servant.
As for being best and brightest, at even the junior level in the SES they would all have at least honors degrees from good universities, be bright intelligent and very hard working- at least the ones I have met are. A cabinet brief to cut up CASA into regulator plus an enforcer and revamp the ATSB would take about one A4 page.....and at or above a certain level, they do put in the odd hour on a Sunday.