1. PM&C commitment

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Department) is committed to enabling a safe and respectful working environment, characterised by a workforce that upholds the highest standards of ethical and accountable conduct. Where allegations of wrongdoing are considered under these Procedures for determining breaches of the APS Code of Conduct and the imposition of sanctions (procedures), the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness are fundamental to the process. 

Public Interest Disclosure Procedures

Declaration pursuant to s59 of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013

I, Melinda Bopping, Chief People Officer of the People Branch, Corporate and Technology Division and delegate of the Principal Officer of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, pursuant to s59(3) of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 hereby establish these procedures. These procedures supersede any previous procedures made under s59 of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013, and takes effect upon execution.

The 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires were a national trauma. The bushfire season brought devastation across our nation, the loss of 33 lives, the destruction of 3110 homes, unimaginable loss of wildlife and impacted communities across Australia. This loss would have been greater without the extraordinary effort of our volunteer and career-fire fighters, and dedicated emergency services personnel.

Full resource

As part of the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government announced it will establish a taskforce (the Taskforce) in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to examine the Commonwealth’s role in the social impact investment (SII) market. The Taskforce will comprise of an independent Expert Panel with SII and social policy expertise, bringing together experts and leaders from a range of fields to develop a Commonwealth SII Strategy, and a support team within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Executive summary

The interim report summarises the Taskforce’s findings to date—and includes three initiatives recommended for immediate implementation. A final report will be submitted to Government in June 2020.

The challenge

Despite Australia’s prosperity, too many Australians still face persistent disadvantage and exclusion. Social impact investing can ignite—and grow—better interventions to ensure everyone can participate in the economic and social life of the nation. In Australia, the full potential of social impact investing is as yet untapped.

The Lodge underwent an extensive refurbishment project between 2013 and 2015. Following the refurbishment, the Prime Minister initiated an independent expert review of the project. The Department of Finance, who project managed the refurbishment, engaged Projects Assured, a management consultancy firm,  to conduct the review. A copy of that review is available on the Department of Finance website.

On 3 March 2022, the Australian Government tabled its response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s Reviews of Administration and Expenditure: No. 18 (2018-2019) and No. 19 (2019-2020) - Australian Intelligence Agencies. The Committee made four recommendations. The Australian Government has considered these recommendations and has provided this response.

The 2017 Independent Intelligence Review found that Australia’s intelligence agencies are highly capable and held in high regard by their international partner agencies. The Review also found that as a result of transforming geopolitical, economic, societal and technological changes, the intelligence community will be faced with challenges that will intensify over the coming decade.

The terrorist attacks that took place in Christchurch on 15 March 2019 shocked the world. Citizens and governments alike questioned how the mass murder of 51 men, women and children could take place in a peaceful, democratic country like New Zealand. In the hours and days that followed, it became apparent that the internet was exploited to amplify the crimes. The alleged perpetrator livestreamed the murders on Facebook and from there, the video quickly spread, with individuals attempting to upload copies on mainstream and smaller digital platforms and websites.