Department of Premier and Cabinet (New South Wales)
Encyclopedia
The New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsible for leading the New South Wales
public sector
to deliver on the Government's commitments and priorities. The department provides administrative support that enables the New South Wales Cabinet to identify, design and implement a coordinated policy, project and reform agenda that boosts the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness across the State. The department consults and work closely with other New South Wales government departments, the Commonwealth Government
, business and the community to ensure responses to community needs are effective.
The department is led by its Director-General, presently Chris Eccles, who reports to the Premier, presently the Honourable Barry O'Farrell
MP and in his absence, the Deputy Premier
, presently the Honourable Andrew Stoner
MP.
, regulatory reform, performance reviews and service delivery improvement. The department also plays a key co-ordinating role in disaster management, delivery of infrastructure such as major projects and industry and business development. Premier and Cabinet also manages workforce reforms and employee relations and essential services to support the government of the day, like ministerial services, parliamentary counsel, cabinet secretariat and policy support.
The department is responsible for investigating various matters as directed by the Premier and the agency Director-General.
Prior to 2007 separate agencies existed, entitled the Premier's Department of New South Wales and the New South Wales Cabinet Office
, the latter established in 1988. Premier Morris Iemma
merged the two agencies into the new Department of Premier and Cabinet under the direction of Robyn Kruk after the 2006 resignation of the Director General of the Cabinet Office, Roger Wilkins, and replacing the long-term Director General of Premier's Department, Col Gellatly, who served under Premier Carr
.
In 2008, following the resignation of Premier Iemma, Nathan Rees
replaced Kruk with John Lee, a senior public servant in the New South Wales Department of Transport and brother of Michael Lee
, a former Labor
Federal Minister and Councillor
of the City of Sydney
. In June 2009, Rees announced a restructure of the New South Wales Government and the creation of 13 super departments aimed at delivering better government services. The Department of Premier and Cabinet was named as the lead agency; responsible for the implementation of the new plan. Additionally, the Department of Premier and Cabinet became responsible to a number of Ministers:
Following her appointment as Premier in December 2009, Kristina Keneally
announced that the restructure plan would continue to be implemented, whilst at the same time replacing Lees with Brendan O'Reilly.
Liberal
Premier Barry O'Farrell
replaced O'Reilly with Chris Eccles on 1 April 2011, following the NSW coalition's
victory at the 2011 general election
. By August 2011, a revised agency structure was formalised, together with an overlying management structure that led to the creation of the following offices and divisions:
, a disgraced former Minister, had rort
ed his travel allowances. During 2010, the Auditor General of New South Wales accused the agency of establishing special deals with contracted public servants which resulted in them receiving a form of golden handshake
. Premier Keneally defended the Department and stated that, "nobody in my government has those sorts of arrangements"
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
to deliver on the Government's commitments and priorities. The department provides administrative support that enables the New South Wales Cabinet to identify, design and implement a coordinated policy, project and reform agenda that boosts the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness across the State. The department consults and work closely with other New South Wales government departments, the Commonwealth Government
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
, business and the community to ensure responses to community needs are effective.
The department is led by its Director-General, presently Chris Eccles, who reports to the Premier, presently the Honourable Barry O'Farrell
Barry O'Farrell
Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...
MP and in his absence, the Deputy Premier
Deputy Premier of New South Wales
The Deputy Premier of New South Wales is the second-most senior officer in the Government of New South Wales. The Deputy Premiership has been a ministerial portfolio since 1932, and the Deputy Premier is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier....
, presently the Honourable Andrew Stoner
Andrew Stoner
Andrew John Stoner is an Australian politician, Deputy Premier of New South Wales and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for the seat of Oxley since the 1999 state election, and the Leader of the New South Wales National Party since 31 March 2003...
MP.
Agency activities
The Department of Premier and Cabinet is directly responsible for the administration and implementation of the New South Wales State PlanNew South Wales State Plan
The State Plan, A New Direction for NSW is a document prepared by the New South Wales Premier's Department within the Government of New South Wales and released on November 14, 2006...
, regulatory reform, performance reviews and service delivery improvement. The department also plays a key co-ordinating role in disaster management, delivery of infrastructure such as major projects and industry and business development. Premier and Cabinet also manages workforce reforms and employee relations and essential services to support the government of the day, like ministerial services, parliamentary counsel, cabinet secretariat and policy support.
The department is responsible for investigating various matters as directed by the Premier and the agency Director-General.
Agency history
In 2006 the New South Wales Government commissioned an inquiry into government administration by Dr Michael Vertigan AC and Nigel Stokes, entitled New South Wales audit of expenditure and assets report or more commonly the Vertigan Report.Prior to 2007 separate agencies existed, entitled the Premier's Department of New South Wales and the New South Wales Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office (New South Wales)
The Cabinet Office is a defunct agency of the Government of New South Wales based in Sydney, Australia that operated between 1988 and 2007.Established on 14 June 1988, the Cabinet Office provided policy advice to the Premier and state Cabinet...
, the latter established in 1988. Premier Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma
Morris Iemma , is a former Australian politician and 40th Premier of New South Wales, succeeding Bob Carr after he resigned on 3 August 2005. Iemma led the Australian Labor Party to victory in the 2007 election before resigning as Premier on 5 September 2008, and as a Member of Parliament on 19...
merged the two agencies into the new Department of Premier and Cabinet under the direction of Robyn Kruk after the 2006 resignation of the Director General of the Cabinet Office, Roger Wilkins, and replacing the long-term Director General of Premier's Department, Col Gellatly, who served under Premier Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
.
In 2008, following the resignation of Premier Iemma, Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees
Nathan Rees MP, , an Australian politician, was the 41st Premier of New South Wales and parliamentary leader of the New South Wales division of the Australian Labor Party from September 2008 to December 2009...
replaced Kruk with John Lee, a senior public servant in the New South Wales Department of Transport and brother of Michael Lee
Michael Lee (Australian politician)
Michael John Lee is an Australian Labor politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives 1984–2001, a minister in Paul Keating's government, and a member of the City of Sydney Council 2004–08....
, a former Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Federal Minister and Councillor
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the City of Sydney
City of Sydney
The City of Sydney is the Local Government Area covering the Sydney central business district and surrounding inner city suburbs of the greater metropolitan area of Sydney, Australia...
. In June 2009, Rees announced a restructure of the New South Wales Government and the creation of 13 super departments aimed at delivering better government services. The Department of Premier and Cabinet was named as the lead agency; responsible for the implementation of the new plan. Additionally, the Department of Premier and Cabinet became responsible to a number of Ministers:
- Premier
- Minister for the Central Coast
- Minister for the Hunter
- Minister for the Illawarra
- Minister for Infrastructure
- Minister for Local Government
- Minister for Police
- Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans’ Affairs
- Minister for Public Sector Reform
- Minister for Regulatory Reform
- Special Minister of State
- Minister for Women
Following her appointment as Premier in December 2009, Kristina Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
announced that the restructure plan would continue to be implemented, whilst at the same time replacing Lees with Brendan O'Reilly.
Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Premier Barry O'Farrell
Barry O'Farrell
Barry Robert O'Farrell MP, is an Australian politician and is the 43rd Premier of New South Wales, Minister for Western Sydney, Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party and a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Ku-ring-gai for the Liberal Party since 1999.Born in...
replaced O'Reilly with Chris Eccles on 1 April 2011, following the NSW coalition's
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
victory at the 2011 general election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
. By August 2011, a revised agency structure was formalised, together with an overlying management structure that led to the creation of the following offices and divisions:
- Local Government Division
- Department of Planning and InfrastructureNew South Wales Department of PlanningThe New South Wales Department of Planning and Infrastructure, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsibile for the long-term planning for the regions of New South Wales and driving well-located housing and employment land...
, including - Office of Strategic Lands
- Office of Environment and Heritage, including
- Environment and Climate Change
- National Parks and Wildlife Service
- Heritage Branch
- Office of Western Sydney
- Parliamentary Counsel’s Office
- Office of General Counsel
Sub-agencies
The agency is responsible a number of sub-agencies and departments including the following:- Anzac Memorial Building Trustee
- Council on the Cost and Quality of Government
- Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust
- The Division of Local Government
- Election Funding Authority of New South WalesElection Funding Authority of New South WalesThe Election Funding Authority of New South Wales is the agency of the Government of New South Wales charged with administering the Elections Funding Act 1981...
- Independent Commission Against Corruption
- Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South WalesIndependent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South WalesThe Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales is an independent body that oversees regulation in water, gas, electricity and transport industries in NSW...
- New South Wales Electoral CommissionNew South Wales Electoral CommissionThe New South Wales Electoral Commission is the agency of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for the adminisation, organisation, and supervision of elections in New South Wales for state government, local government, industrial and Aboriginal organisations, and registered clubs...
- New South Wales Ombudsman
- Office of the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption
- The Audit Office of NSW
Agency inquiries
In 2007, the Director General of the Department referred a matter to NSW Police following allegation that Paul Gibson had allegedly assaulted Sandra Nori, a parliamentary colleague of Gibson's with whom he had a relationship. In 2010, the Department coordinated investigations into claims that Ian MacdonaldIan Macdonald (New South Wales politician)
Ian Michael Macdonald BA MLC , a former Australian politician, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1988 to 2010 representing the Australian Labor Party...
, a disgraced former Minister, had rort
Rort
Rort is a term used in Australia and New Zealand.It is commonly related to politics, or, more generally, a financial impropriety, particularly relating to a government programme...
ed his travel allowances. During 2010, the Auditor General of New South Wales accused the agency of establishing special deals with contracted public servants which resulted in them receiving a form of golden handshake
Golden handshake
A golden handshake is a clause in an executive employment contract that provides the executive with a significant severance package in the case that the executive loses his or her job through firing, restructuring, or even scheduled retirement...
. Premier Keneally defended the Department and stated that, "nobody in my government has those sorts of arrangements"