Page:Australian Government Cabinet Handbook 15th edition.pdf/44

 ANNEX G – CABINET COMMITTEES

1. In settling Cabinet arrangements, it is open to the Prime Minister of the day to adopt the organisation and system he or she wishes, subject only to the provisions of the Ministers of State Act 1952. The Ministry, the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees are all elements of the Cabinet system.

2. Submissions brought forward to a Cabinet Committee should align with the terms of reference for that Cabinet Committee.

3. Cabinet Committee minutes and their supporting submissions are then usually listed for endorsement by the Cabinet. Examples of exceptions include ERC Budget minutes, which are held over and endorsed by the Cabinet at Budget Cabinet just prior to the Budget announcement, unless early endorsement is required for urgent implementation.

4. Generally, the procedures and processes, including the submission and consultation processes required by Cabinet Committees mirror those of the Cabinet. The key difference is that, with the exception of the Parliamentary Business Committee of Cabinet (PBC) and the National Security Committee of Cabinet (NSC), Cabinet Committee decisions are not final and must be endorsed or considered by the Cabinet before they become operative. The PBC and NSC may, however, decide that a particular matter within their authority should be referred to the Cabinet for endorsement.

5. Officials and advisers may attend Cabinet Committee meetings, although the numbers and seniority of attendees are restricted. Requests for attendance by advisers and officials require the specific agreement of the Cabinet Secretary.

6. Where the Prime Minister does not Chair a Cabinet Committee, Chairs are supported by the Cabinet Division.

Endorsement of Cabinet Committee minutes

7. The Cabinet Committee system is designed to ensure that outcomes are reached after thorough discussion and on the basis of consensus. The Cabinet’s endorsement of Cabinet Committee minutes is a formal process not usually involving the re‐opening of discussion. Cabinet Committee Chairs will advise the Cabinet Secretary where Cabinet Committee minutes require discussion so that they can be identified for discussion on the Cabinet agenda. Other ministers may also advise the Cabinet Secretary that they wish to discuss a Cabinet Committee minute in the Cabinet (noting that if the request is made by a non‐Cabinet minister then that minister would be co‐opted to the Cabinet's discussion, subject to agreement by the Cabinet Secretary). The matter may then be raised for discussion when the Cabinet Committee minute is brought forward to the Cabinet for endorsement.

8. Changes of substance are not normally made in endorsing a Cabinet Committee minute unless the minister responsible seeks an amendment.

9. If a matter of substance is raised, the Cabinet may refer the matter back to the Cabinet Committee for further consideration. Similarly, if there is a Cabinet request for an additional submission, or for a corrigendum to a document already before it, the matter may be returned to the appropriate Cabinet Committee for consideration before being considered by the Cabinet again.