Roles and Powers of the PM, Cabinet and Ministry (Booklet 4)

Booklet 4

Define representative government

A form of government in which the people are sovereign and elect members to represent them in government.

What is the political executive?

The elected officials that formulate policy, introduce legislation and oversee government departments. It is comprised of the Prime Minister, Cabinet and Ministry.

What is a Prime Minister?

The leader of the party or coalition that controls a majority of seats in the HoR. They are the head of government and head of Cabinet.

What is Cabinet?

The group of Ministers & Assistant Ministers tasked with the administration of one or more government departments. (ie includes Cabinet Ministers)

What is a Ministry?

The group of Ministers & Assistant Ministers tasked with the administration of one or more government departments. (ie includes Cabinet Ministers)

What is the administrative executive?

The public servants responsible for implementing policies, providing advice and managing the day-to-day operations of the government.

Who is the current Prime Minister?

Anthony Albanese

Who is the current treasurer?

Jim Chamers

What is the composition of the 48th Parliament?

ALP - 04

Coalition - 42

Crossbench - 14

What are the combined roles of the Ministry and Cabinet?

i. Responding to crises

ii. Allocating resources

iii. Exchanging information

iv. Formulating policy and influencing lawmaking

v. Overseeing the executive

What is probity?

Refers to Ministers being held for their honesty, integrity and adherence to ethical standards. Ministers must avoid conflicts of interest and ensure their decsions serve public interest, rather than personal or political gain.

How is a ministers performance assessed?

Against their success of government policies, their ability to manage government departments, and their accountability in Parliament (e.g., Question Time, Senate Estimates).

What does s61 of the constitution provide the Cabinet/Ministry?

The ability to undertake actions crucial for national wellbeing. This includes spending money, using resources, and deploying the ADF.

What is an example for when the Cabinet/Ministry responded to a crsis?

1. March 2025, Minister for Emergency Management McAllister determined ex-tropical cyclone Alfred may cause a major disaster. This enabled people in affected areas to access the Disaster Recovery Allowance (up to $1,007 per fortnight)

2. March 2020, Minister for Health Hunt advised G-G to declare human biosecurity emergency due to outbreak of COVID-19. This enabled Hunt to ussue directions to manage the outbreak (e.g., enforcing social distancing, closure of business)

What ultimately determines the effectiveness of the Ministry’s response?

• internal unity

• cooperation of State and Territory Governments

• Capability of the public service

e.g. COVID-19 demonstrated a strong response

What statute allows Ministers to authorise deparmtmental spending?

Public Governance, Performance & Accountability Act (2013)

How does the ministry authorise spending for departments?

Through the annual budget outlining projected expenditure.

Treasurer introduces appropriation bills.

In 2025, what did Minister Pilbersek, Minister for Enviroment and Water authorise regarding Renewable Energy?

Australian Rewnewable Energy agency overseen by the Minister, announced $46 million in grants to depoly community batteries across Australia to store energy from renewable sources when it is plentiful for later use (e.g. at night time).

Outline the argument against and for ministers having discretionary spending powers, use Sports Rorts Saga as your example

FOR:

• efficiency

• spend department money annually as required

• would be slower if Government/Parliament was required to authorise

AGAINST:

• accumulated spending power for Ministers

• may lead to corruption

e.g.:

• Sports Rorts Saga politically corrupt

• directed budgeted money onto specific clubs to better the Governments support prior to the election in 2019

How does the Cabinet recieve information?

• public servants

• expert bodies

• parliamentary committees

• political advisors

How many committees does Albanese (2026) have?

• 5 Cabinet Committees

• 2 Cabinet subcomittees

Waat are some examples of a Cabinet Committee/subcommittee?

Expenditure Review Committee (ERC); National Security Committee (NSC); Priority and Delivery Committee (PDC) and the Net Zero Economy Committee (NZEC) - all chaired by the PM.

 

Further Cabinet committees include the Parliamentary Business Committee (PBC) chaired by Leader of the House Tony Burke, the Government Communications Subcommittee (GCS) and National Security Investment Subcommittee (NSIS), both chaired by Senator Gallagher.

Why do Cabinet Committees exist?

allow ministers to focus on specific areas of government

Does the National Security Committee (NSC) require cabinet?

No, allowing it to respond to rapidly evolving situtaion.

It handles the “highest-priority, highest risk, and most strategic national security matters”

How does access to information change within government?

• PM has access to additional forums (e.g. Natioanla Cabinet) and sources of information (e.g. the Prime Minister’s Office)

• Junior and Assistant ministers do not participate in all cabinet meeting

  • co-opted by the Cabinet when their portfolio is discussed

What is the purpose of Cabinet committees?

A subset of Cabinet Ministers that meet and discuss particular actions and matters. Some require Cabinet to make decisions, others do not.

How do ministers draft bills?

exclusive access to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel -a body of legal professionals that translate (draft) these policies into bills and amendments. Ministers review draft legislation in consultation with Cabinet.

Who sets the agenda for the HoR?

Cabinet by giving written notice to introduce bills to the Clerk of the House

In the 47th Parliament how many bills passed Parliament? How many where government bills?

335 bills. All were government bills.

What factors is Cabinet dependent on to formulate policy?

• Cabinet solidarity and the ability of ministers to agree on uniform policies

• The ability of the Ministers and their advisors (e.g., the Office of Parliamentary Counsel) to
  draft legislation that will stand up to judicial review.

• the composition of the Commonwealth Parliament (e.g. lack of government majority in
  the Senate).

How do ministers develop cohesive goals/policy?

their political party’s ideology

What is Individual Ministerial Responsibility (IMR)?

• Ministers are responsible to Parliament for the performance of their departments

• Westminster convention

In regard to responsiblity, what should minisers always be prepared to do?

• accept responsiblity for policy failures (even if not their fault necessarily, departments are big and messy)

How was the Robodebt Scheme a good example of poor oversight of the WHaadministrative executive?

Ministers (Morrison and Robert) failed to make inquires into the schemes lawfullness,

The Department of Human Services did know it was illegal, but refused to let the Ministers know.

The ministers took the blame for not making the correct inquires.

What are the roles of the PM?

i. Head of Government: They are the leader of the governing party in the Commonwealth Parliament, and ultimately accountable for its performance. *The governing party may replace their leader; if this occurs between elections then the new party leader becomes the PM.

ii. Head of Cabinet: They determine who attends Cabinet meetings; control the agenda for Cabinet meetings: determine what items will be discussed or decided; preside over Cabinet meetings; determine the outcome of contested Cabinet decisions; enforce Cabinet secrecy/confidentiality and solidarity conventions;

iii. Advise the Governor-General: According to Westminster convention, they advise the GG to exercise their constitutional powers (e.g. the appointment of Ministers – s64).

Since 2018, how the LPA leadership rules changed?

• if elected Liberal Party leader goes to election, wins that election and becomes PM, will remain PM for the full term UNLESS 2/3 Pary votes for removal (special majority)

What are the sources of Prime Ministerial power?

• Patronage – hire/fire: appoint (and demote/remove) ministers and allocate portfolios, also senior public servants (e.g. Secretaries of government departments, High Commissioners and Ambassadors)

• Access to information

• Leadership in Cabinet – set the Cabinet agenda, decide structure and processes of Cabinet
  (e.g. use of Cabinet committees)

• Set the political agenda via leadership in HoR – set the legislative agenda, control the HoR via party discipline.

• Advising the Governor-General – decides election date (maximum term), advise DD election

• Face of the government

Why did PM Turnbull resign in 2018?

• Increasing Opppositon within the Coalition

• lost 30 consectutive polls (used to justify leadship spill against Abbot)

• 43 Libera MPs signed petition calling for leadership spill

• PM Morrison appointed