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.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) welcomes the 2025 Capability review, tabled in Parliament on 15 January 2026.
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:
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.
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.
The Australian Government honours all those impacted by the Bondi Beach attack on 14 December 2025, including the families and friends of those who lost their lives and those injured.
A National Day of Reflection will be held on Sunday 21 December, the final full day of Chanukah.
On this day, we stand united with Jewish Australians and remember those who lost their lives and who were impacted by this event.
A common theme across BETA’s work this year has been empowering Australians.
Good policy starts with understanding people… Policy decisions informed by high quality evidence and an understanding of people are more likely to work and improve the lives of Australians.
— Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM – BI Connect 2025