This is a statement of legal services expenditure by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for the 2024-25 financial year, published in accordance with paragraph 11.1(ba) of the Legal Services Directions 2017. All figures are GST exclusive.
Total legal services expenditure was $2,128,175 (excluding GST). This comprised:
The Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet’s Annual Report 2024–25 is now available.
Over the 12 months, PM&C has worked at the centre of government to:
It has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule) and the Department of Finance Resource Management Guide No 135. The compliance index in Part 5 lists the information required by the PGPA Act and PGPA Rule and the corresponding page number within this report.
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.