roles + powers of the political executive

the political executive

made up of:

• inner ministry → PM + Cabinet (eg. Foreign Affairs Penny Wong)

• outer ministry → junior ministers (eg. Veterans Affairs Matt Keogh)

• assistant ministers → parliamentary secretaries

holds real executive power in Aust

• runs country between elections

• implements policy

• proposes bills/statutes

• heads public service

• makes regulation/ordinances

the PM

head of federal govt.

called upon by GG under s64 to form govt

authority stems from WC → has no legal basis in Cx

currently Anthony Albanese (31st)

roles of the PM (5)

1. cabinet membership + allocating ministerial positions

2. advising GG about ministerial appointments

3. chairing Cab meetings + agendas (head of Cab)

4. making decisions about national issues

5. dealing with national emergencies/crises

sources of PM’s power (6)

1. being leader of a majority in HoR

2. being chairperson of Cab meetings

3. access to information

4. patronage

5. determining election dates

6. being public face of govt.

being leader of a majority in the HoR

PM’s party can vote en bloc + win every vote

therefore can easily determine procedures + processes of govt.

being chairperson of Cab meetings

controls Cab agenda/business list → PM’s priorities = govt’s priorities

e.g. despite opposition from his Cabinet (particularly from Conservatives, Sco Mo shifted Lib policy focus to climate change following 2020 fires

access to information

PM is most informed person in political system

has access to + receives advice from all across govt (incl. highly classified info from national security agencies)

has the Dept of PM + Cabinet which provides high quality advice on matters @ forefront of public + government administration

patronage

the PM can:

• promote backbenchers to ministry

• promote outer ministry to Cab portfolio

• allocate portfolios amongst ministers

• demote senior ministers to JMs of AMs

• dismiss ministers from ministry

done strategically to ensure loyalty but also efficiency

e.g. Peter Dutton to Minister of Home Affairs in 2018

determining election dates

can manipulate election cycle to maximise chance of re-election

e.g. Sco Mo’s delay of the 2019 election until May due to instability following Turnbull

being public face of govt.

most recognised figure in govt system, if liked by media → more popularity

• e.g. Kevin Rudd first PM to embrace SM to connect with younger demographic

increased leader centrism

• e.g. 2019 election was highly focused on Sco Mo instead of Liberal Policy + attacked Bill Shorten

limitations to PM’s power (10)

1. no personal mandate

2. disunity in Cabinet

3. rivalry with Cabinet/party

4. limits imposed by party

5. limits imposed by coalition party

6. size of HoR majority

7. federalism

8. the opposition

9. negative media attention/polling

10. cxal powers of Senate

no personal mandate

PM becomes PM by default as leader of their own party, not elected directly by the people

can be removed from their position informally by their parties (eg. Sco Mo + Turnbull)

disunity in Cabinet

each party contains factions

factions in major parties demand rep in ministry → promotes rivalry + disunity

divisions more easily arise in coalition govts

rivalry within Cab/party

ministers will often seek to depose PM + take their place

4PM depositions between 2010 - 2018

limits imposed by party

through party room coups or policy limitations

e.g. Turnbull (moderate + progressive Liberal) left exisiting conservative policies (e.g. same-sex marriage + climate change) after 2015 leadership spill to consolidate party support

limits imposed by coalition party

PM must accommodate for junior party’s priorities

• e.g. Resources + Agriculture Portfolios always reserved for Nationals in L/NC

weakens PM as they become reliant on junior party to keep enough support → must share power

size of HoR majority

small majorities weaken govt + PM → reduce EDoLH

empowers govt backbenchers willing to break party discipline

e.g. Turbull government who only won 2016 election by 1 seat

federalism

PM is head of Cwth, which has cxally defined powers which are therefore limited

e.g. state quarantine rules during COVID-19

the opposition

have the role of holding govt to account + presenting themselves as a viable alt. govt

utilise party procedures + tactics to check power of PM + govt.

personal qualities of LoP + Opp influence PM power

negative media attention + polling

24/7 news cycles → PM’s media popularity influencing their power

e.g. when Kevin Rudd abandoned Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in 2009, Newspoll showed he lost 1M supporters in 2 weeks

ministry

collective term for all govt. ministers (regardless of rank)

inner ministry

• consists of senior members who hold Cab rank + PM

• “engine room” of govt

• seated @ frontbench in HoR

• formally appointed by GG (s64) under advice of PM

outer ministry

• includes junior + assistant ministers (parliamentary secretaries)

• hold portfolios in areas of smaller importance in govt. activity

roles of outer ministry (3)

1. provide additional support for ministers

2. administer smaller departments in their own right

3. called into cabinet meetings to discuss their portfolio (co-opting)

how ministers are chosen

under s64

chosen by PM + allocated portfolio responsibilities

Ministers of State Act 1952

• governs appointment of ministers

• must be < 42

formally appointed by GG

cabinet

decision making body of govt (“engine room”)

PM + senior ministry

not mentioned in Cx but important because of WCs

Cab relationship w public service

minsters are head of their respective departments

minister’s portfolio is administered by a department of public servants

govt departments administer the laws + run govt from day-to-day

roles of cabinet (6)

1. develop + communicate “narrative” + vision of govt

2. developing + implementing policy

3. resource allocation

4. coordinating machinery of govt

5. acting as information of exchange

6. responding to crises

developing + communicating “narrative” + vision of govt

govt must communicate vision + ideologies to help people understand what they stand for

influenced by party’s ideology

ALP

• social democratic values of fairness + equality

Liberals

• values of freedom of the individual + reward for effort

developing + implementing policy

policies

• govt action plan

• relate to portfolios

• derive from ideology, election promises + response to emerging issues

implemented through:

• legislation (e.g. Sco Mo’s repeal of Medevac Laws 2019)

• regulation which is power under statute (e.g. SM govt’s $1.2B School Choice + Affordability Fund)

resource allocation

govt produce annual budget (statement of Cwth’s revenue + expenses)

ministers estimate cost of running their dept → reviewed by Cab Expenditure Review Committee → adjusted by PM + Treasurer if necessary

Treasurer introduces budget in HoR as $ bills → passed → reviewed by Senate estimate committees → passes → public expenditure authorised by prlt

Cab may allocate resources to deal with national emergencies

• e.g. during 2020 Bushfires Cab authorised use of ADF to assist state firefighters

coordinating machinery of govt

govt action is enforced by administrative executive

ministers provide policy + guidance while depts provide expertise + feedback (2 way realtionship)

Cab members then share this feedback in meetings to reduce inconsistencies, conflict etc.

acting as information exchange

cab receives advice from many sources

• public service

• prltry committee reports

• inquiries/royal commissions

• court decisions

Dept of PM + Cab along with Cab Secretariat

• provide administrative support to Cab

• manage, sort + prioritise flow of info

• ensure Cab powers exercised consistently + in response to correct infro

responding to crises

can exercise power rapidly + decisively

National Security Committee of Cab makes decisions w/o whole appearance of Cab + allocates resources quickly

“nationhood of power” outlined in s61 boosts executive power

e.g. Gillard 2011 during Vic + QLD floods

• $5.6B flood reconstruction passage

• introduction of flood levy: 0.5% on > $50 000 and 1% on > $100 000 income

factors effecting Cab’s roles + powers (4)

1. the PM

2. relationship between ministers and/or parties

3. timing

4. type of decisions

the PM

influences how Cab decision are made

• consensus → all ministers agree with decision

• majority → majority of Cab agree

• PM authority → PM imposes their will on Cab

• party room/caucus pressure → MPs apply pressure to PM for preferable outcome

each govt runs Cab differently, determined by individual personality of PM

relationship between ministers and/or party

Cab may be collegial or divided by rivalry

collegial Cabs may reach decisions by consensus

divided Cabs may reach decisions by majority/PM authority

timing

new govt may struggle with decision making because of inexperience

experienced governments may make decisions smoothly due to well developed process

e.g. Gough Whitlam brought ALP into office after 23 years as opposition → hasty in making changes + lack of experience contributed to his downfall in 1975

type of decision

most decisions are deliberative (appropriate time + discussion devoted)

some situation require a quick response (e.g. 2020 bushfires or the creation of a National Cabinet for COVID-19