Secretaries Board communique: 28 January 2026

Strategic Outlook

The Board discussed government priorities, strategic issues and emerging risks.

The Board received an update on geostrategic issues from Ms Jan Adams AO PSM, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mr Greg Moriarty AO, Secretary, Department of Defence.

The Board received an economic and budget update from Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, and Mr Matt Yannopoulos PSM, Secretary, Department of Finance.

IPAA Commencement Address

Acknowledgements1

Good evening, everyone.

Let me begin by thanking Wally Bell for his incredibly warm and generous Welcome to Country.

My thanks, also, to Kate Driver, IPAA ACT Chief Executive Officer, and her team for organising this event …

… as well as President of IPAA ACT, Tony Cook, for the great work you’re doing.

And I’d like to acknowledge my fellow Secretaries and thank them for being here this evening.

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.

Subscribe to Subscribe to