94. Items may go to Cabinet in the following formats:
    1. Cabinet Submission.
    2. Preliminary Discussion Submission.
    3. Short Notice Submission.
    4. Oral Update.
    5. Other item.
    6. Cabinet Memorandum.
95. Ministers must seek approval from the Prime Minister or Cabinet Secretary for the format of the item to go forward to the Cabinet. Cabinet Division can provide advice on formats, templates and drafting guidance.

Cabinet Submission

96. Cabinet Submissions are the standard format for Cabinet business and are used in most circumstances.
97. Submissions should:
    1. Define the issue to be addressed and what decision/s is being sought.
    2. Identify how the proposal aligns with the government’s strategic priorities and policy agenda.
    3. Any time imperatives for decision-making.
    4. Set out the benefits, disadvantages and risks associated with the proposed policy.
    5. Clearly explain financial impacts, and intended offsets, where required.
    6. Explain wider policy impacts, in particular the impact on gender equality as per gender responsive budget requirements, and impacts on First Nations peoples.
    7. Explain implementation strategies, timelines, responsibilities, risks and mitigations.
    8. Outline legislative implications.
98. Proposals with financial implications are brought forward during the annual Budget and MYEFO processes. Proposals must comply with the requirements of this Handbook, Cabinet Circulars and the Budget Process Operational Rules.

Preliminary Discussion Submission

99. Preliminary Discussion Submissions support early Cabinet discussions to scope policy issues or set direction before detailed policy work is undertaken.
100. Preliminary Discussion Submissions may be used to support initial consideration of complex or cross-cutting policy matters. This gives the Cabinet the opportunity to settle policy direction before detailed proposals are developed for consideration by the relevant committee, such as ERC for proposals with financial implications.
101. Preliminary Discussion Submissions are subject to the normal consultation process (Exposure Draft, Coordination Final and Final) and timelines, but do not require final advice on cost, risks or impacts.
102. These submissions should include:
     1. A high-level outline of the proposal.
     2. An option or options and issues to resolve.
     3. Indicative costs (costs do not need to be agreed at this stage).
     4. Preliminary advice, risks, impacts and implementation issues.
     5. Known sensitivities, and communication and stakeholder engagement strategies.

Short Notice Submission

103. Short Notice Submissions use the same format as Cabinet Submissions and have the same information requirements. The key difference is that Short Notice Submissions proceed straight to Coordination Final stage, rather than being subject to the full consultation process that applies to Cabinet Submissions.
104. Given the truncated consultation process, Short Notice Submissions should only be used in limited circumstances for urgent and unforeseen matters, or for comebacks to ERC during the annual Budget and MYEFO processes.

Recommendations

105. Cabinet Submissions, Short Notice Submissions and Preliminary Discussion Submissions must include recommendations for ministers to consider.
106. Recommendations should be action orientated, capture what the Cabinet is being asked to agree and provide clear direction regarding next steps. They should be able to be read in isolation, with the underlying rationale set out in the body of the submission.
107. Recommendations should not be used to build the argument for a proposal; that should be done in the body of the submission. Use of ‘noting’ recommendations should be minimised.
108. Departments should contact Cabinet Division at any early stage for guidance on drafting recommendations.

Oral Update

109. Oral Updates are generally only used for time-sensitive matters, where items are ‘for noting’ and not seeking substantive decisions.
110. A minister may only circulate a document (other than a submission) to support an Oral Update if approved by the Prime Minister or Cabinet Secretary.

Other items

111. Ad-hoc documents requiring Cabinet consideration or visibility may come forward as an ‘Other’ agenda item.
112. A minister may only bring forward an ‘Other’ item if approved by the Prime Minister or Cabinet Secretary.

Cabinet Memorandum

113. Officials may submit a Cabinet Memorandum in response to requests from the Cabinet or a committee for supplementary information or the development of options.
114. Memoranda should provide conclusions and summaries of information presented, but no recommendations.
115. Departments drafting memoranda should ensure they have the required authority and conform to the same lodgement requirements as for Cabinet Submissions.

Attachments

116. Submissions and memoranda may include attachments to provide additional information on proposals or recommendations (for example, new policy proposals, or commissioned reports for the Cabinet’s consideration).
117. Attachments are part of the Cabinet Submission and should be handled in the same way as the Cabinet Submission.

Proposals requiring legislative change

118. Cabinet Submissions must indicate where proposals require legislative change.
119. Submissions should focus on policy parameters and not seek the Cabinet’s endorsement of the form or wording of proposed legislation, or attach drafting instructions or draft legislation, unless the authority specifically requires this. Cabinet must also not be asked to provide a specific drafting priority or to fix a date for introduction of legislation.
120. Where legal advice is necessary to inform proposals requiring legislation, ministers must seek advice from the Australian Government Solicitor or a provider permitted by the Legal Services Directions 2017. Further information on the legislative process can be found in the Legislation Handbook and on legal and legislation requirements for new policy proposals in the Budget Process Operational Rules.