On 15 January 2026, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) Capability Review was tabled in the Australian Parliament and published on the Australian Public Service Commission’s (APSC) website.
Capability reviews are independent, forward looking and assess an agency’s ability to meet future objectives and challenges. All departments of state, Services Australia, the Australian Tax Office and the APSC are required to participate in a capability review every five years under the Public Service Act 1999. They facilitate discussions around an organisation’s desired future state, highlight strengths and organisational capability gaps, and identify opportunities to act on them.
The PM&C capability review was led by a senior review team comprising:
- Helen Silver AO (independent reviewer)
- David Tune AO PSM (independent reviewer)
- David Mackay (Deputy Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts)
- Celia Street PSM (Deputy Secretary, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing).
Staff from the department and the APSC supported the senior reviewer with their work.
PM&C Capability Review Action Plan
On 12 March 2026, PM&C published its Capability Review Action Plan. The action plan responds to the APSC capability review report and outlines how the department will improve its capability to continue leading from the centre of the public service — supporting the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and portfolio ministers to improve the lives of all Australians. PM&C will report on implementation of the action plan in its annual report.