State Funeral Service for the Honourable Ron Boswell AO
A State Funeral Service for the Honourable Ron Boswell AO will take place at 10.00 am on Friday 16 January in Brisbane, Queensland.
State Memorial Service for the Honourable Nick Bolkus
A State Memorial Service for the Honourable Nick Bolkus will take place at 11.00 am on Thursday 22 January 2026 in the Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building, Adelaide University, 55 North Terrace, Adelaide.
In 1980, Mr Bolkus was elected to Federal Parliament as a senator for South Australia. He later served as a Cabinet Minister in the Hawke and Keating governments. From 1988 to 1996, Mr Bolkus held the following appointments:
Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies terms of reference
Update: Please be advised the Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies will now become part of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Mr Dennis Richardson AC will support its work, with delivery of an Interim Report by the Commission in April 2026.
Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies
On 21 December 2025, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced an independent review of Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, to be led by Mr Dennis Richardson AC.
The Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies will become part of the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion and Mr Richardson will support its work, with delivery of an Interim Report by the Commission in April. Further information on the Royal Commission will be made available on Royal Commissions in due course.
National Day of Reflection – Bondi Beach attack
The Australian Government honours all those impacted by the Bondi Beach attack on 14 December 2025, including the families and friends of those who lost their lives and those injured.
A National Day of Reflection will be held on Sunday 21 December, the final full day of Chanukah.
On this day, we stand united with Jewish Australians and remember those who lost their lives and who were impacted by this event.
BETA in 2025: Empowering Australians
A common theme across BETA’s work this year has been empowering Australians.
Good policy starts with understanding people… Policy decisions informed by high quality evidence and an understanding of people are more likely to work and improve the lives of Australians.
— Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM – BI Connect 2025
Instrument of appointment of Ms Victoria Anderson
Public Service (Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Appointment 2025
I, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Govemor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under subsection 58(1) of the Public Service Act 1999, appoint Ms Victoria Anderson as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for a period of five years commencing on 8 December 2025.
Dated 27 November 2025
[Signature of Sam Mostyn AC]
Sam Mostyn AC
Governor-General
Helping organisations reduce their gender pay gap
While the gender pay gap is reducing in Australia’s private sector, the average pay for women is currently 21% less than for men. BETA worked with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) to create an Action Planning Tool that supports organisations to reduce their gender pay gap. Our report, A Tool for Action, assesses the effectiveness of the Tool in building confidence, lifting knowledge and supporting organisations to take action. The findings are based on a survey of organisations using the tool and interviews with both organisations and WGEA staff.
Developing the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s Action Planning Tool
BETA partnered with the Workplace Gender Equality Agency to develop and evaluate a tool to help Australian organisations reduce their gender pay gap.