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| Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
| Formed | 1968 |
| Preceding1 | Prime Minister's Department |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Minister1 name | Prime Minister of Australia |
| Chief1 name | Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |
Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) The Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet supports the Prime Minister of Australia and the Cabinet of Australia in policy advice, coordination, and administrative services. It sits at the centre of the Commonwealth of Australia executive and interacts with state and territory executives including the Government of New South Wales, Government of Victoria, and Government of Queensland. Through statutory agencies and interjurisdictional mechanisms it links to institutions such as the High Court of Australia, Australian Public Service Commission, and Parliament of Australia.
The Office evolved from the early Prime Minister's Department established under Billy Hughes and expanded during the tenure of Robert Menzies to serve the needs of the modern Australian executive. Reforms in the 1960s and 1970s under figures linked to administrations of Harold Holt and Gough Whitlam reshaped central coordination, while the Fraser ministry and Bob Hawke era further professionalised policy units drawing on models from the Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), Executive Office of the President of the United States, and comparable bodies like the Privy Council Office. Crises such as the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis and events including the Ansett Australia collapse and the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 prompted changes in capability and remit. The Office has interfaced with inquiries and commissions including the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and national reviews such as the Intergenerational Report.
The Office provides advice on national priorities of the Prime Minister of Australia and supports decision-making in the Cabinet of Australia, the National Security Committee of Cabinet, and ministerial councils like the Council of Australian Governments. It coordinates policy across agencies including the Department of Finance (Australia), Treasury of Australia, Department of Home Affairs (Australia), Department of Defence (Australia), and specialist bodies such as the Australian Federal Police and Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The Office manages relations with external partners including the United Nations, ASEAN, United States, China, Japan, United Kingdom, and multilateral forums like the G20 Summit and APEC.
The Office comprises groups focused on policy, national security, Indigenous affairs, social policy, economic advice, and coordination with the Australian Public Service and state executives. Key organisational components interface with statutory agencies such as the Australian Electoral Commission, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The structure aligns with cabinet committees including the Economic Committee, Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics Committee, and the Indigenous Affairs Committee. It liaises with parliamentary entities such as the Treasury (Australia) portfolio and the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
Senior leadership includes the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet supported by deputy secretaries, principal advisers, and policy directors who have often moved between roles in agencies such as the Department of Immigration and Border Protection, Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Australian Defence Force. Political staff include the Prime Ministerial Chief of Staff, senior ministers' advisers, and liaison officers who coordinate with party organisations like the Australian Labor Party and the Liberal Party of Australia. Notable public servants and advisers historically connected include figures from administrations of Julia Gillard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull, and Scott Morrison.
The Office shapes national strategies on economic management with Treasury (Australia), fiscal policy with the Department of Finance (Australia), and major projects in collaboration with agencies such as the Infrastructure Australia body and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency. It leads cross-portfolio initiatives on Indigenous recognition with the National Native Title Tribunal and health cooperation with the Department of Health (Australia) and the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories legacy institutions. Policy priorities have included responses to pandemics coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services (Victoria), trade negotiations through DFAT and trade partners like United States–Australia Free Trade Agreement, and climate policy interactions with Clean Energy Finance Corporation and international frameworks like the Paris Agreement.
The Office supports the National Security Committee of Cabinet and oversees coordination among the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Secret Intelligence Service, Australian Signals Directorate, Defence Intelligence Organisation, and Office of National Intelligence. It provides direction during crises in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, state police forces such as the New South Wales Police Force and Victoria Police, and emergency management bodies including the Australian Emergency Management Institute. It liaises on alliances and defence procurement with partners such as the United States Department of Defense, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and participates in forums like the Five Eyes intelligence partnership.
Budgeting and resource allocation involve coordination with the Treasury of Australia, Department of Finance (Australia), and portfolio agencies subject to oversight by the Parliament of Australia through committees like the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit. Performance and accountability mechanisms include compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and interaction with watchdogs such as the Australian National Audit Office and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. Staffing and procurement adhere to Australian Public Service standards and are subject to parliamentary scrutiny via estimates hearings, select committees including the Senate Estimates Committee, and oversight from the Commonwealth Ombudsman.