He served as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1975 to 1976, working under the Whitlam and Fraser governments.
In 1966 Menadue stood unsuccessfully as Labor candidate for the NSW federal seat of Hume.
[9] Menadue returned to Australia in 1980 to take up the position of Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
[10] He was the founding Chair of New Matilda (NewMatilda.com), an independent weekly online newsletter which was launched in August 2004.
[12] Menadue was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1985 for public service.