Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is an Australia
n Government
department. The Department was first established in 1911 (it was then known as the Prime Minister's Department; the later title was created in 1971). Its role is to ensure that policy proposals put to the Prime Minister
and to Cabinet are developed in a coherent, informed and coordinated fashion, to co-ordinate the implementation of key government programmes, to support official visits, ceremonies and state occasions and, to manage the operations of the official residences. The responsibilities of the Department are considerably wider than in most other Westminster system
s, although the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
in New Zealand
has similar responsibilities.
of the Department, currently Dr Ian Watt, is the equivalent of the Cabinet Secretary
in Britain
or the Clerk of the Privy Council
in Canada
.
The acting National Security Advisor is Dr Margot McCarthy.
On 1 July 1911, the Prime Minister's Department was created.
On 11 March 1968, a separate Department of the Cabinet Office was created.
On 12 March 1971, these two departments were merged to create the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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...
department. The Department was first established in 1911 (it was then known as the Prime Minister's Department; the later title was created in 1971). Its role is to ensure that policy proposals put to the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
and to Cabinet are developed in a coherent, informed and coordinated fashion, to co-ordinate the implementation of key government programmes, to support official visits, ceremonies and state occasions and, to manage the operations of the official residences. The responsibilities of the Department are considerably wider than in most other Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
s, although the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of New Zealand is the department charged with supporting the Prime Minister of New Zealand and their Cabinet...
in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
has similar responsibilities.
Department organisation
The Department is organised into a Cabinet Division, an Economic Division, an Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division, an International Division, a National Security Division, a Social Policy Division and a People, Resources and Communications Division and numerous Task Forces to deal with particular problems. The SecretarySecretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
of the Department, currently Dr Ian Watt, is the equivalent of the Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
or the Clerk of the Privy Council
Clerk of the Privy Council (Canada)
The Clerk of the Privy Council is the senior civil servant in the Canadian government. The Title and Office is in fact "Clerk of the Privy Council and the Secretary to the Cabinet"...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
The acting National Security Advisor is Dr Margot McCarthy.
History
Prior to 1911, the Prime Minister had no department of his own as such. The Prime Minister was concurrently the Minister for External Affairs, and used the services of the Department of External Affairs.On 1 July 1911, the Prime Minister's Department was created.
On 11 March 1968, a separate Department of the Cabinet Office was created.
On 12 March 1971, these two departments were merged to create the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Secretaries of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is the public service head of the department and the most senior public servant in Australia. Below is the list of Secretaries since 1911 (until 1971, the office was Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department).| Name | Dates |
|---|---|
| Malcolm Shepherd | 1911–1921 |
| Percival Deane Percy Deane Percival Edgar Deane CMG was an Australian public servant.Deane was born in Port Melbourne, the son of a carpenter... , CMG |
1921–1928 |
| Sir John McLaren | 1928–1933 |
| John Starling | 1933–1935 |
| Frank Strahan | 1935–1949 |
| Sir Allen Brown | 1949–1959 |
| Sir John Bunting John Bunting (diplomat) Sir John Bunting, AC, KBE was a senior Australian public servant whose career culminated with his appointment as Australian High Commissioner to the UK.-Biography:Edward John Bunting was born in Ballarat, Victoria, in 1918... , CBE |
1959–1968 |
| Sir Lenox Hewitt | 1968–1971 |
| Sir John Bunting | 1971–1974 |
| John Menadue John Menadue John Laurence Menadue AO is a former Australian public servant and diplomat.Menadue was born in South Australia and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1956 as a Bachelor of Economics. He is married with four children and ten grand children.From 1960 to 1967 Menadue was Private Secretary... |
1974–1976 |
| Sir Alan Carmody Alan Carmody Sir Alan Thomas Carmody was an Australian public servant and government official, who was knighted for his contributions.... , CBE |
1976–1978 |
| Sir Geoffrey Yeend | 1978–1986 |
| Mike Codd | 1986–1992 |
| Dr. Michael Keating | 1992–1996 |
| Max Moore-Wilton Max Moore-Wilton Maxwell William "Max" Moore-Wilton AC is an Australian corporate executive and former public servant, colloquially known as "Max the Axe".... |
1996–2003 |
| Dr. Peter Shergold Peter Shergold Peter Roger Shergold AC is an Australian academic and former public servant. Until February 2008, he was the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet , and as such was the nation's most senior public servant and a key adviser to the Prime Minister of Australia... , AM |
2003–2008 |
| Terry Moran | 2008 - 2011 |
| Dr Ian Watt, AO | 2011 - |
National Security Advisor of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
The post of National Security Advisor was formed in December of 2008.| Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| MAJGEN Major General (Australia) Major General is a senior rank of the Australian Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of Major General. It is the third-highest active rank of the Australian Army, and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank... Duncan Lewis Duncan Lewis Duncan Edward Lewis AO, DSC, CSC , is a retired Australian Army officer and former Commander Special Forces. He is currently the Australian Secretary of Defence.-Military career:... , AO, DSC Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) The Distinguished Service Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force. It is awarded for distinguished command and leadership in action. The DSC was introduced in 1991 and is the highest distinguished service decoration in the Australian Honours System... , CSC Conspicuous Service Cross (Australia) The Conspicuous Service Cross is a decoration of the Australian Honours System. The CSC is awarded only for outstanding devotion to duty, or outstanding achievement in the application of exceptional skills, judgment or dedication, in non-warlike situations... (Ret'd) |
2008 - 2011 | Currently serving as the Secretary of Defence Department of Defence (Australia) The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation along with the Australian Defence Force . The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests... |
| Dr Margot McCarthy | 2011 - Incumbent | Acting |
See also
- Prime Minister of AustraliaPrime Minister of AustraliaThe Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
- List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities