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Colleagues,As you would know, the Prime Minister has announced a federal election will be held on Saturday 3 May 2025.The caretaker period commenced with the dissolution of the House of Representatives this morning. It…
During the caretaker period, the business of government continues and ordinary matters of administration still need to be addressed. Note: The advice in this document is identical in most respects to the Guidance that was…
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formally announced that the 2025 federal election will take place on Saturday 3 May 2025.With this announcement, and the dissolution of the House of Representatives by the Governor-General this morning,…
2.1 Successive governments have accepted that, during the period preceding an election for the House of Representatives (the House), the Government assumes a ‘caretaker role’. This practice recognises that, with the dissolution of…
30 March 2022Dear colleaguesYesterday the Treasurer handed down the Federal Budget 2022-23. The focus for the APS was clear: We must support the Government to build on Australia’s economic and social recovery, and support Australians by providing…
7.1 Political participation by officials7.1.1 The APS Values set out in the Public Service Act 1999 include the value of being ‘Impartial’, which states that “The APS is apolitical and provides the Government with advice that…
By convention, the Government ensures that important decisions are not taken in the caretaker period that would bind an incoming government and limit its freedom of action. The basic caretaker conventions…
1.1 The Guidance on Caretaker Conventions is intended to explain the longstanding conventions and practices of the caretaker period and to provide advice for the appropriate…
6.1 The convention that the Government avoids entering major commitments during the caretaker period also applies in the context of international negotiations. The Government ordinarily seeks to defer such negotiations or adopts…
3.1.1 During the caretaker period, governments avoid making major policy decisions that are likely to commit an incoming government. Whether a particular policy decision qualifies as ‘major’ is a matter for judgement. Relevant…
8.1 Tabling of and responses to reports8.1.1 Responses to outstanding parliamentary committee reports should be deferred during the caretaker period for action by the incoming government. Agencies may continue to undertake…
4.1 Governments defer making significant appointments during the caretaker period. When determining if an appointment qualifies as ‘significant’, agencies should consider the importance of the position and whether the proposed…
5.1 Governments avoid entering major contracts or undertakings, including new grants agreements, during the caretaker period. When determining whether a contract or undertaking qualifies as ‘major’, agencies should consider:the…
At PM&C, we work on the implementation and ongoing delivery of key government programmes, policies and initiatives. Our role is critical to government – we provide advice and guidance about the operations of Cabinet and the Federal Executive.We…
Our role includes advising the government of the day on all aspects of sound political administration and providing guidance on caretaker conventions.Key informationDraft legislation program - House of…
The Women and Women's Safety Ministerial Council (Council) was convened virtually today, attended by:The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP (Commonwealth)The Hon Justine Elliot MP (Commonwealth)Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher (Commonwealth)Ms Yvette Berry MLA (…
9.1.1 In 1976, the Government tabled Guidelines providing for pre-election consultation with the Opposition. The Guidelines are intended to ensure a smooth transition if an election results in a change of government. The current version of the…
Final materials used for caretaker convention briefings (to chiefs of staff to ministers) and information sessions (to the APS).
Documents relating to changes made to the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions (issued by PM&C in December 2024).
A document that shows what the Australian Government’s position is on the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, and why the Australian Government has chosen not to ratify it.
Ninth periodic report submitted by Australia under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women1January 20252Footnotes1 Referred throughout as ‘the periodic report’. Return to footnote 1 ↩2…
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Annual Report 2016–17 and other PM&C corporate publications are also available through the whole-of-government Transparency Portal, the central…
A trustworthy APS is united in serving all Australians, enabling the Australian government to provide security, drive productivity and jobs in the economy, improve citizens’ experience of government, and deliver fair and equitable support where it…
Advancing the status of women around the worldThe Australian Government is proud to endorse Natasha Stott Despoja AO for re-election to the CEDAW Committee.The Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the…
On 21 September 2023, the Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP announced an independent inquiry into Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inquiry reviewed the Commonwealth Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic to…