Role and outcome
The primary role of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
is to provide support to the Prime Minister and to achieve a coordinated
approach to the development and implementation of government policies.
The planned outcome for the department is:
sound and well coordinated government policies,
programmes and decision making processes.
Figure 2 shows the relationship between the department’s key
drivers, outcomes and outputs.
Figure 2 Performance framework, 2003–04
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image to view full size
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Structure and outputs
At 30 June 2004, the department comprised the Executive, nine divisions
and the Energy Taskforce Secretariat. The revised organisational structure
announced by the Secretary on 23 May 2003 and reported in last year’s
annual report was in place and operating effectively to ensure the
department was providing the highest level of support to the Prime
Minister.
During 2003–04, the department contributed to the achievement
of its outcome through four output groups:
- the group 1 output included policy advice on economic, industry,
infrastructure and environment and resource issues, and effective
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) operations
- the group 2 outputs included policy advice on social policy issues,
including income support, indigenous policy, health and aged care,
veterans’ affairs, housing, disabilities, employment, education
and training, immigration and multicultural affairs, families, youth
and community services, and women’s issues; and the administration
of a number of government programmes and initiatives for women, including
Partnerships Against Domestic Violence, the National Initiative to
Combat Sexual Assault and grants to women’s non-government
organisations
- the group 3 outputs included policy advice on international issues,
including trade and aid, and on national security issues, including
defence, intelligence, counter-terrorism and border protection
- the group 4 outputs included policy advice on parliamentary, machinery
of government, legal and cultural issues; and a range of support
services including coordination of Cabinet and Executive Council
business, coordination of government communications, coordination
and promotion of national awards and symbols, administration of the
Prime Minister’s official establishments, and administration
of the visits and hospitality programme.
The costs of corporate services were apportioned across the four output
groups, and are reflected in each group’s price of outputs.
Figure 3 sets out the organisational structure and the senior staff
responsible for each output. Some of the outputs involved administered
items; these are described in detail in the relevant reports on performance.
The outputs are set out in Figure 4.
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Figure 3 Organisational structure and senior staffing as at 30 June
2004
Figure 3 text description
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Figure 4 Departmental outcome and output groups
The Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet
|
Outcome: sound and well-coordinated
government policies, programmes and
decision making processes |
| Output Group
1: Economic policy advice and coordination |
Output Group
2: Social policy advice and coordination |
Output Group
3: International, and national security, policy advice and coordination |
Output Group
4: Support services for government operations |
Output 1.1
Economic and industry policy
Output 1.1—Energy Taskforce Secretariat |
Output 2.1
Social policy
Output 2.2
Women’s policy |
Output 3.1
International policy
Output 3.2
National security policy |
Output 4.1
Cabinet Secretariat
Output 4.2
Cabinet Implementation Unit
Output 4.3
Machinery of government
Output 4.4
Government communications
Output 4.5
Support to official establishments
Output 4.6
Support for ministerial offices
Output 4.7
Ceremonial and hospitality |
Responsibilities
The principal matters with which the department deals are:
- coordination of government administration—ensuring a whole-of-government
approach on issues ranging from national security and border protection
to programmes supporting individuals, families and communities
- assistance to the Cabinet and its committees—managing processes
and procedures to facilitate the decision-making role of Cabinet
- policy advice and administrative support to the Prime Minister—covering
the full spectrum of the Australian Government’s responsibilities,
including major domestic and international matters
- intergovernmental relations and communications with state and territory
governments—including coordinating arrangements for meetings
of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), developing strategies
and providing advice on a diverse range of matters from sport and
tourism to natural resources policy
- Australian honours and symbols policy—including support for
related public education and communications campaigns, nominations
for awards and applications for medals
- government ceremonial and hospitality activities—including
organising major events such as visits by heads of state, making
logistic arrangements for the Prime Minister’s overseas visits,
and organising memorial services and welcome home parades to honour
personnel who have contributed to overseas military operations
- status of women—ensuring awareness of gender issues is reflected
in government policy and programme development
- coordination of government communications and advertising—ensuring
the development and implementation of government information campaigns
and ensuring a reliable and cost-effective media placement service
for departments and agencies through the Central Advertising System.
The activities of the Prime Minister’s Energy Taskforce Secretariat
under the chairmanship of Associate Secretary Russell Higgins culminated
in the release on 15 June 2004 of the white paper, Securing Australia’s
Energy Future. The taskforce was established in January 2003 reporting
under Output Group 1.
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