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| Department of Premier and Cabinet (Western Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Department of Premier and Cabinet (Western Australia) |
| Formed | 2004 |
| Preceding1 | Cabinet Office |
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Dumas House, Perth |
Department of Premier and Cabinet (Western Australia) is the central public agency supporting the Premier of Western Australia, the Executive Council of Western Australia, and the Cabinet of Western Australia. The agency works closely with the Parliament of Western Australia, the Governor of Western Australia, and state agencies such as the Public Sector Commission, the Western Australian Local Government Association, and the Office of the Auditor General. It engages with national bodies including the Council of Australian Governments, the Australian Public Service Commission, and intergovernmental forums such as the National Cabinet and the COAG Reform Council.
The department traces its antecedents to colonial administrations under Governors like James Stirling and institutions such as the Colonial Secretary's Office and the Executive Council of Western Australia, evolving through reforms influenced by figures such as Sir John Forrest and events including the establishment of the Parliament of Western Australia and the federation processes culminating in links with the Commonwealth of Australia. Reorganizations during the twentieth century connected functions formerly held by the Premier of Western Australia's private offices, the Cabinet Office (Western Australia), and policy units akin to those in the Treasury of Western Australia and the Department of State Development (Western Australia). Later structural reviews referenced administrative models from the Public Service Board (Western Australia), the Public Sector Commission (Western Australia), and comparative agencies such as the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia), prompting modernisation under premiers like Carmen Lawrence and Richard Court. Contemporary changes reflect interactions with institutions like the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission and responses to state crises comparable to the 2009 Perth storm and policy challenges around resources managed by entities such as Woodside Petroleum.
The department provides policy advice and coordination for the Premier, supports Cabinet decision-making and implements strategic priorities set by the Premier and Cabinet alongside agencies like the Treasury (Western Australia), the Department of Finance (Western Australia), and the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. It delivers administrative services to the Governor, manages intergovernmental relations with the Australian Government, liaises with the Commonwealth Grants Commission, and leads whole-of-government planning similar to frameworks used by the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and the New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet. The department also administers protocols related to the Executive Council of Western Australia and provides support for state inquiries and commissions such as royal commissions analogous to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
The department is organised into divisions that mirror functions found in comparable state agencies like the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Victoria), including policy, cabinet secretariat, intergovernmental relations, communications, and corporate services. Leadership positions are informed by administrative practices from the Public Sector Commission (Western Australia), with directors overseeing branches that coordinate with statutory authorities such as the Environmental Protection Authority (Western Australia), the Western Australian Planning Commission, and the Economic Regulation Authority (Western Australia). The department maintains liaison arrangements with the Parliamentary Services Department (Western Australia), the Office of the Information Commissioner (Western Australia), and sector partners including the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Western Australia.
The department serves the Premier of Western Australia and supports ministers in portfolios including Intergovernmental Affairs, State Security, and Public Sector Management, working with individuals from ministries of leaders such as Mark McGowan, Colin Barnett, and Carmen Lawrence. The Director General leads the department and interfaces with statutory officers like the Auditor General of Western Australia, the Solicitor General of Western Australia, and commissioners such as the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia. Ministerial briefings coordinate with bodies like the Parliamentary Library (Western Australia) and the Opposition (Western Australia) when preparing for parliamentary sittings in the Parliament House, Perth.
Programs administered or coordinated by the department include whole-of-government strategic frameworks similar to the Strategic Community Plan models, major project facilitation comparable to arrangements with Fortescue Metals Group or BHP, and emergency coordination functions aligned with the State Emergency Management Committee (Western Australia) and the State Emergency Service (Western Australia). The department leads initiatives on Aboriginal engagement reflecting work with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (Western Australia) and native title processes involving the National Native Title Tribunal. It also manages ceremonial programs for the Governor of Western Australia and state honours consistent with practices surrounding the Order of Australia and state awards.
Budget allocations for the department are determined through processes involving the Treasury (Western Australia) and Cabinet budget committees comparable to federal processes managed with the Department of Finance (Australia), and staffing follows employment frameworks set by the Public Sector Commission (Western Australia), enterprise agreements influenced by unions such as the Community and Public Sector Union and workplace laws like the Industrial Relations Act 1979 (Western Australia). The department employs policy officers, legal advisers, communications staff, and corporate services personnel who liaise with professions represented by organisations such as the Law Society of Western Australia and the Australian Institute of Management.
Headquarters are located at Dumas House in Perth, adjacent to St George's Terrace and near landmark institutions like the Western Australian Museum and Supreme Court of Western Australia, with additional offices and facilities across regions to engage with local governments such as the City of Perth and regional centres including Bunbury, Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie–Boulder. The department's facilities support Cabinet meetings in Perth Town Hall-era venues and ceremonial events at sites like Government House, Perth and coordinate with infrastructure managed by agencies such as the Public Transport Authority (Western Australia).
Category:Western Australian Government ministries and agencies