The Australian National Dictionary beta

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faceless men n.pl. [Specific use of faceless ‘lacking identity; anonymous’ (OED). Used originally in 1963 of the Australian Labor Party Federal executive, which did not include the leader and deputy leader of the parliamentary party.] People who wield (esp. political) power behind the scenes.

1963 Sydney Morning Herald 3 Sept. 2/1 They will lay themselves open to the same charges they laid against the Opposition Leader, Mr Calwell, in accepting policy directions on North-West Cape from the 36 ‘faceless men’ constituting the special A.L.P. Federal Conference.   1965 Austral. (Sydney) 26 Apr. 6/1 It was a closed Federal conference that gave the Liberal Party one of its most effective propaganda tags—‘the faceless men’.   1972 Austral. Women’s Weekly (Sydney) 25 Oct. 7/1 Frankly these funds are big business, administered by faceless men in boardrooms.   1987 Sydney Morning Herald 10 Jan 13/1 If there was a competition to name the most faceless man of the ‘faceless men’ in charge of the State ALP, ‘Johnno’ Johnson would be a leading contender.   1999 Age (Melbourne) 2 March 10/2 The former Labor party leader Mr Jim Kennan yesterday attacked the influence of the Labor factions over the state parliamentary party, blaming the role of ‘faceless men and women’ for the Opposition's low standing.   2002 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 3 Aug. 24/2 In modern day equivalent, 10 faceless men—and women—have been at the centre of the Australian Democrats' recent upheaval.   2011 Canberra Times 17 July 62/5 Meninga's column took a swipe at the ‘faceless men of influence’ who were attempting to undermine his achievements and those of his team.