BETA led a review, supported by Services Australia, to understand stigma in Australian government services, and how to design services to reduce the stigma experienced by customers. View the full literature review: Stigma in government services.
BETA led a literature review, supported by Services Australia, to understand how some Australian government services could become stigmatised, and how stigma could be reduced in the policy design and delivery of Australian government services.
The review found that there are different ways stigma can be experienced by Australians and different drivers of government services stigma including public attitudes, policy settings and service design.
The Board discussed government priorities, strategic issues and emerging risks.
The Board received an update on geostrategic issues from Mr Craig Maclachlan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ms Celia Perkins, Acting 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.
The Working for Women Research Partnership, which brings together a national team of researchers and the Office for Women, released its five-year Research Agenda on 3 October 2025. The Agenda provides details on the research team, data collection methods and outputs, and the themes that will guide the Partnership’s research focus over the next 5 years.
Public Service (Secretary of the Department of Finance) Appointment 2025
I, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-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 Mr Matthew Yannopoulos PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Finance for a period of five years commencing on 29 September 2025.
Dated 18 September 2025
Signature of Sam Mostyn AC]
Sam Mostyn AC
Governor-General
Do you know a public servant who has given outstanding service for the public, their clients or their team? Nominate them for a Public Service Medal (PSM).
The PSM recognises excellence across the public service and is awarded twice a year by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. Successful nominations will be announced in The King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List.
On 21 November 2024, the Senate referred an inquiry into the Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024 to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee (the Committee).
The Committee received 31 submissions and a Committee hearing was held on 22 January 2025.
On 30 January 2025, the Committee tabled its report titled Workplace Gender Equality Amendment (Setting Gender Equality Targets) Bill 2024.
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 Mr Richard Windeyer, Acting Secretary, Department of Finance, and Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM, Secretary, Department of the Treasury.
On 24 April 2025, the Hon Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia, committed to establish a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve to maximise the strategic value of Australia’s critical minerals.
The government allocated $1.2 billion to establish the reserve in the 2025-26 federal budget. The reserve will be operational from the second half of 2026.
Critical minerals are essential inputs to the modern economy. They underpin defence materiel, high tech manufacturing, and the energy transition.
A taskforce was established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to support the development of the reserve.
On 8 December 2025, the taskforce moved to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
To contact the taskforce, email CMSR@industry.gov.au. The taskforce welcomes written views from interested stakeholders.
More information on critical minerals is available on the Department of Industry Science and Resources website: