Cooperation is fundamental to PM&C’s role at the centre of government. It’s how we achieve our purpose of supporting the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and portfolio ministers to improve the lives of all Australians, advance Australia’s interests, and keep our country safe and prosperous. PM&C enables collective action on the government’s most significant priorities. We do this through our stewardship of Cabinet processes, whole-of-government coordination, and partnerships across jurisdictions, sectors and communities.

PM&C maintains significant and enduring cooperative arrangements. These span the Australian Government, state, territory and local governments, international partners, and the broader Australian community. Many of these arrangements include formal governance mechanisms, regular engagement forums and shared responsibilities for delivering government priorities.

Prime Minister, Cabinet, portfolio ministers and whole-of-government governance

PM&C supports the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and portfolio ministers by providing high-quality advice, coordinating action across government and supporting effective decision-making. We work closely with ministers and their offices to identify emerging issues, develop policy options and deliver the government’s priorities.

PM&C serves as the custodian of Cabinet processes and coordinates whole-of-government decision-making. We work closely with Australian Government departments and agencies to support the effective operation of the Cabinet and its committees.

We use Cabinet processes, Cabinet and interdepartmental committees, senior officials’ forums and taskforces to bring together expertise from across government. These arrangements support collective decision-making on complex issues. This ensures policy proposals are rigorously considered, informed by diverse perspectives and aligned with government priorities.

PM&C enables cooperation across the APS through its oversight of Cabinet processes. We facilitate collaboration between portfolios, support the development of Cabinet submissions and decisions, and monitor the implementation of government priorities. This helps the Australian Government respond effectively to national opportunities and challenges.

We support delivery through collaborative governance, such as cross-government taskforces and other whole-of-government coordination mechanisms. These arrangements bring together expertise from across agencies to address complex policy and delivery challenges, build APS capability and help implement the government’s priorities.

Examples include the Fuel Supply Taskforce, which coordinates advice and action across governments and agencies to strengthen fuel security and resilience; and Australian Government Consulting, which partners with agencies across the APS to help solve complex policy, delivery and organisational challenges as part of the Government’s commitment to reduce reliance on external consultants.

APS collaboration

PM&C works across the APS to support coordinated policy development, decision-making and implementation of government priorities. As the APS’s lead department, we bring together expertise and perspectives from across government.

We work closely with PM&C portfolio agencies and the broader APS to deliver government priorities.

For example, we collaborate with the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Finance on economic policy, fiscal and budget matters, and whole-of-government reform.

We work with the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and other agencies to support major social policy reforms, such as disability and aged care reform, ending gender-based violence, and gender equality initiatives. We work with the National Emergency Management Agency to strengthen crisis preparedness, response and recovery arrangements.

These relationships strengthen our advice, coordination and delivery functions. They enable whole-of-government responses to complex and cross-cutting challenges.

Commonwealth–state and territory cooperation

PM&C has a central role in cooperation between the Commonwealth and state and territory governments. We support this through National Cabinet, ministerial forums, senior officials’ meetings and other intergovernmental arrangements.

We work with premiers, chief ministers and their administrations to address shared national priorities. These include economic resilience, service delivery and disability reform, Closing the Gap, emergency management, ending gender-based violence, and national security.

These arrangements provide formal governance structures that support coordination, implementation and accountability across jurisdictions. They are critical to achieving outcomes that depend on collective action across government.

Non-government cooperation

PM&C supports the Australian Government to deliver policies, reforms and services that improve the lives of Australians. To inform this work, we draw on evidence, analysis and insights from across the Australian community, including community organisations, peak bodies, business and industry groups, unions, academia and research institutions.

This evidence helps us understand emerging issues, implementation challenges, and the needs and experiences of Australians. We use these insights to strengthen policy development and advice. This supports better decision-making and helps the government deliver coordinated, effective and responsive outcomes for the Australian community.

International cooperation

PM&C supports the Prime Minister’s bilateral and multilateral engagement and works with international partners to advance Australia’s national interests.

We maintain significant cooperative relationships with foreign governments, international organisations and regional forums, including the:

• United Nations
• G20
• APEC
• Pacific Islands Forum
• East Asia Summit
• AUKUS
• Quad.

These arrangements support cooperation on national security, economic resilience, regional stability, crisis response, supply chain resilience and gender equality.

Through these relationships, PM&C contributes to coordinated international action on shared challenges and supports Australia’s strategic, economic and security objectives.