On Friday 20 February 2026, the Women and Women’s Safety Ministerial Council and Community Services Ministers came together in a joint meeting for the first time. Ministers met to discuss accelerating urgent work to reduce the number of children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) and change the trajectory of the rates of children and young people at risk of entering out-of-home care (OOHC) around the country. Ministers also discussed the importance of gender and economic equality for advancing women and children’s safety.     

Pursuant to the Senate Order on Entity Contracts, the following table sets out contracts entered into by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, which provide for a consideration to the value of $100,000 or more (GST inclusive) that have: 

Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio¹

Public Service (Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations) Appointment 2026

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 Simon Duggan as the Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations for a period of five years commencing on 16 February 2026.

Dated 5 February 2026

[Signature of Sam Mostyn AC]

Sam Mostyn AC
Governor-General

Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio¹

Appointments

Strategic Outlook

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 Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM, Secretary, Department of the Treasury, and Mr Matt Yannopoulos PSM, Secretary, Department of Finance.