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It is important to note that issues raised as part of the Review involve two distinct matters. The first relates to transfer of documents by PM&C to the NAA under section 27 of the Archives Act. The second relates to the public release of…
Articles/Books/ReportsBramston, Troy, ‘Cabinet papers debacle either ‘cover-up or pure farce’, The Australian, Sydney, 2 January 2024Curtis, Katina, ‘Cabinet papers 2003: Iraq war discussions remain secret amid John…
Last updated 14 August 2024
Meeting timetableCabinet meets in the Cabinet room at Parliament House, Canberra, in most weeks of the year. Special Cabinet meetings may be held at other times and other places, as necessary, for…
Minutes held by the National Cabinet from its established date of the 13th of March 2020 until the last meeting of the 7th of August 2020.NOTE: These are documents from National Cabinet meetings…
Cabinet DivisionCabinet Division is directly responsible to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for the impartial recording of Cabinet decisions and for the administration…
Executive SummaryThe Legislation Handbook (the handbook) provides comprehensive guidance on the requirements of the legislation process—from policy approval and drafting through to passage in the Parliament.This is…
IntroductionThe HandbookThis Handbook provides an overview of current Federal Executive Council operations, in particular the preparation of documents for consideration by the Governor-General in Council.This…
Copyright Statement© Commonwealth of Australia 2022978-1-925365-13-9 Cabinet Handbook 15th Edition (Online)Copyright NoticeWith the exception of the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, this work…
Following a media query on 18 December 2023, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) identified that it had failed to transfer 78 Cabinet records from 2003 to the National Archives of Australia (…
Cabinet government is founded on the principle of collective decision-making which is rooted in ancient tradition.Set in a mosaic within the Victorian Parliament, which housed the Commonwealth Parliament from Federation until 1927,…
A copy of all minutes held by the National Cabinet from its established date of the 13th of March 2020 until the last meeting of the 7th of August 2020
If you wish to obtain copies of these documents, email foi@pmc.…
The CabinetThe Cabinet is the council of senior ministers who are empowered by the Australian Government (‘the Government’) to take binding decisions on its behalf.As a forum, the Cabinet seeks…
Special nature of Cabinet documentsCabinet documentation is any material departments and agencies prepare that is:intended for submission to the Cabinet (generally Cabinet…
Although the recorded outcomes of Cabinet discussions are often referred to as Cabinet ‘decisions’, they are formally known as Cabinet minutes. As the Cabinet has no legal or…
Where a significant government appointment is proposed, the responsible minister must write to the Prime Minister seeking approval of the appointment before any action is finalised. While significant appointments will require Cabinet…
Guidance on matters for collective agreementCollective agreement can be sought at a Cabinet meeting or through ministerial correspondence.As a general rule, ministers should put before their colleagues the sorts of issues on which…
Contact the relevant areas of the departments or agencies, to identify and analyse this data and determine its relevance to each policy item. Highly disaggregated data can be sensitive, and the Office for the National Data Commissioner has guidance…
Secure handling of Cabinet documentsCabinet documents, including pre‐exposure drafts, exposure drafts, drafts for coordination comments, final submissions, and drafting comments (including coordination comments),…
Notification of agendasOnce the forward program and agendas are approved by the Cabinet Secretary, Cabinet Division issues to ministers:an agenda for each meeting, showing the business to be considered, the…
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 appropriate preparatory…
Ministers must ensure proposals reach the Prime Minister’s office at least 15 working days before the Cabinet meeting at which the appointment may be raised for consideration. Proposals should be submitted in advance of the time the…
Putting an item on the agendaThe Prime Minister’s control of the agenda is central to the operation of the Cabinet. Ministers seeking to put an item on the Cabinet (or Cabinet Committee)…
Less controversial submissions can be settled by circulation to Cabinet ministers.The circulation period is ten days after lodgement—hence the process is termed the ‘ten day rule’.Under this arrangement, PM&C is responsible for…
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 require Government to avoid making major…