Implementation of the ‘Smith Review’ and progress in strengthening protective security procedures, practices and culture: 12 month follow-up review

Publication abstract

12 months after the initial Smith Review into the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Security Procedures, Practices and Cultures, the follow-up independent review (‘The Vardos Review’) to the implementation of the Smith Review has now been completed. The Vardos Review found that all twenty-eight of the original recommendations covering a range of protective security issues have been appropriately actioned, with a number of positive indicators suggesting a robust and astute security culture has been embedded across the organisation.

Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Complaint Handling Policy

Introduction

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) must comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) when procuring goods and services.

The Government introduced the Government Procurement (Judicial Review) Act 2018 (GPJR Act) to provide suppliers and/or potential suppliers with a mechanism for lodging a formal complaint, if they believe:

National security

National security is about protecting our territory and institutions and ensuring the safety of all Australians.

PM&C helps the Prime Minister and the Australian Government to make decisions on national security issues. We provide high-quality policy advice and support to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. This includes through the coordination of government activities, policy development, and program delivery support relating to:

Religious Freedom Review

In 2017, the then Prime Minister, the Hon Malcolm Turnbull, announced the appointment of an Expert Panel to examine whether Australian law adequately protected the human right to freedom of religion. The Terms of Reference for the Review were provided in December 2017. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull instructed the Panel to:

  • consider the intersections between the enjoyment of the freedom of religion and other human rights.
  • have regard to any previous or ongoing reviews or inquiries that it considers relevant.
  • consult as widely as it considers necessary.

In May 2018, the Panel delivered its Report to the Prime Minister and made a Statement.

The Panel’s Report and the Government’s response are available on the Attorney-General's website:

Submissions

The Panel received more than 15,500 submissions on the matters contained in its Terms of Reference.

Expert Panel

The Expert Panel comprised:

  • the Hon Philip Ruddock (chair)
  • Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM
  • the Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett AO SC
  • Father Frank Brennan SJ AO
  • Professor Dr Nicholas Aroney

The Panel was supported by a Secretariat within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Read more at Religious Discrimination.

Review of the Parliamentary Workplace: Responding to Serious Incidents

Abstract

On 16 February 2021, the Prime Minister, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, tasked a review of the procedures and processes involved in identifying, reporting and responding to serious incidents that occur during parliamentary employment. This was triggered by deeply distressing reports of an alleged sexual assault in a Ministerial office in March 2019 made public the previous day.

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