Accountability of the Executive (political and public servants) (Booklet 15)

Define accountability

The requirement that public officials are directly and indirectly answerable to the people for their conduct.

Define governance

The norms and processes used to make decisions and implement policies in a democratic society.

Define open government

The principle that the business of government should be made available for public scrutiny, supported by a free flow of information (transparency), and sufficiently explained.

What is the Executive?

The arm of government responsible for developing policy and managing the day-to-day administration of the law.

What is a public servant?

government employees who work either directly for Ministers or within government departments. They advise Ministers, develop and implement policies.

What is Individual Ministerial Responsibility (IMR)?

A convention that requires Ministers to be responsible to the Parliament for their personal conduct, the administration of their portfolio, and the actions of their department.

What is Collective Ministerial Responsibility (CMR)?

A convention that requires the government to maintain the confidence of the House of Representatives or they must resign.

What are Senate Estimates?

A process undertaken by Senate Standing committees in which Senators question ministers and public servants to scrutinise the revenue and expenditure of the executive.

What is the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA)?

A parliamentary committee responsible for scrutinising public expenditure and examining the financial affairs of Commonwealth agencies.

What is an Auditor-General?

An independent parliamentary officer responsible for auditing on the financial performance and accountability of government departments and reporting to Parliament. They lead the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).

What is the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART)?

A statutory tribunal that conducts merits review of the decisions made by government agencies, departments, and ministers.

What are merits review?

A review of the facts and policy choices that informed an administrative decision.

What is judicial review?

The power of a court to review whether legislation or executive action is lawful and

Is the public service elected?

No

Is the public service political?

Neutral

Does the public service have secure tenure?

Yes

What act establishes the public service?

Public Service Act 1999

In 2024-25, how Public Service employees were there?

~209,150

In 2023-24, what did the salaries of Public Service employees account to? (in regard to Cmth expenditure)

~$37.32 million

Who is the Public Service accountable to?

The Ministry - holds them to account for their performance and personal conduct.

What is the expectation is a government looses a vote on a no-confidence motion or on a major issue?

Resignation of the whole government.

Has a government ever lost a formal vote of no-confidence?

No

What type of Government would be vulnerable to a motion of no-confidence or losing a vote on a bill?

A minority government (e.g. Gillard 2010)

What should a minister do if they cannot support their governments policy?

Must resign.

How Deputy PM Joyce ensure Cabinet solidarity in 2021?

He did not agree on the stance of Net Zero by 2050, BUT, made a deal with PM Morrison which resulted in him standing behind the Governments policy.

What was the outcome of Ed Husic public crticisims of Israel’s miliatry operations?

During the 2025 Cabinet re-shuffle, he was moved to the backbench.

In 2018, Turnbull’s leadership was contested. What happened to Peter Dutton when he lost the contest?

Resigned as Home Affairs Minister - could no longer support the PM or the government’s policy direction.