Appointment to the ABC and SBS Nomination Panel
The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, has appointed Ms Phillipa McDermott as a Member of the Nomination Panel for appointments to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Boards.
Appointed in accordance with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983, Ms McDermott’s term will run from 24 June 2026 to 23 June 2029.
Secretaries Board communique: 17 June 2026
Strategic outlook
The Board discussed government priorities, strategic issues and emerging risks.
Auditor-General biannual update
The Board received an update from Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM, Auditor-General, on sector-wide insights from the Australian National Audit Office’s recent work.
Systems of government significance declaration
The Board received an update on implementation of the Systems of Government Significance standard from Ms Stephanie Foster PSM, Secretary, Department of Home Affairs.
Fuel tax relief extended
The Prime Minister has announced the extension of fuel relief measures.
Cuts to the fuel excise duty rate on petrol and diesel will continue with a 16 cents per litre reduction from 1 July to 2 August 2026.
Relief for transport and freight operators will also be extended, with the heavy vehicle road user charge also reduced by 16 cents a litre from 1 July to 2 August 2026.
State Memorial Service for Professor Richard Scolyer AO
A State Memorial Service for Professor Richard Scolyer AO will take place at 11:00 am on Monday 13 July 2026 at the Sydney Opera House.
Professor Richard Scolyer AO was one of Australia's leading cancer researchers and clinicians whose work contributed to saving thousands of lives from melanoma. As the world's leading melanoma pathologist, Professor Scolyer was named joint 2024 Australian of the Year for his global contribution to melanoma research and clinical care.
Visit to Australia by the Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met in Noosa on Saturday 6 June for the Australia–New Zealand Annual Leaders’ Meeting.
Leaders discussed strengthening our nations’ economic resilience, boosting prosperity, and responding to strategic challenges. This includes working together closely on the fuel crisis and keeping trade open for energy products and other critical goods.
Principles-based framework for strategic policy work
These principles underpin the Commonwealth’s commissioning of strategic policy work from Australia’s national security research sector (the sector), as adopted from the Independent Review of Commonwealth Funding for Strategic Policy Work and updated in accordance with the government response.
Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work
On 19 December 2024, the Australian Government released the report for the Independent Review of Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work (the review) and its response. The review assessed all Commonwealth funding to third-party organisations that conduct national security-related research, education and engagement activities.
This guidance reflects the review’s findings and the government’s response:
2026–27 government priorities for strategic policy research
The Australian Government has released the 2026-27 priorities for government funding of strategic policy research.
The think-tank and strategic policy sector plays an important role in driving public discussion and strengthening partnerships on national security matters.
The inaugural annual research priorities are guided by Australia’s national security policy priorities and designed to focus government funding for national security-related research activities.