Support Services for Government Operations

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What we do

PM&C provides a wide range of support services for government operations. These services are provided by our:

  • Cabinet Division
  • Government Division
  • People Resources and Communications Division, and
  • International Division.

How we measure our performance

This is a very diverse output group and a number of specific targets apply. Our overall focus is on ensuring that:

  • the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and other stakeholders are satisfied with the timeliness and quality of our work
  • meetings and events are organised as and when required by government, and
  • grants and entitlements are administered appropriately.

Key results in 2005–06

PM&C delivers a wide range of support services for government operations. In 2005–06 our services included:

  • Cabinet support—we provided support for 122 Cabinet, Cabinet committee and Federal Executive Council meetings and promoted better practice in policy implementation (see page 53)
  • Machinery of government—among other things, we helped establish the Cole Royal Commission (page 56) and launched a new website to promote the Australian honours system (page 58)
  • Government communications—we facilitated government information campaigns and completed a record number of photographic assignments (page 60)
  • Official establishments—we continued to manage the Prime Minister's official residences and provide secretariat support to the Official establishments Trust (page 62), and
  • Ceremonial and hospitality—we organised 26 official visits to Australia, the Prime Minister's eight overseas visits, and 14 other events (page 64).

Feedback obtained from many different stakeholders confirmed that our services were timely and of high quality.

In addition, three staff received 2006 Australia Day Achievement Awards in recognition of their individual contributions 'behind the scenes':

  • for providing a high standard of support for ceremonial and hospitality events (see photo at left)
  • for supporting Cabinet consideration of up to 900 appointments a year (photo opposite), and
  • for coordinating the tabling of significant documents from across government.

Cabinet support

The Cabinet is the government's key decision making body and is chaired by the Prime Minister. Cabinet and its committees meet regularly, usually in the Cabinet Suite in Parliament House.

PM&C schedules and provides secretariat support for Cabinet and committee meetings. As part of this, we:

  • check that documents lodged with us comply with relevant requirements
  • arrange secure distribution of meeting papers and outcomes
  • coordinate Cabinet briefings to the Prime Minister from our policy advice areas, and
  • maintain the records of Cabinet.

Details of trends in services to Cabinet and other decision makers are provided in Table 6.1.

Our Cabinet secretariat workload in 2005–06 involved:

  • 93 meetings of the Cabinet and its committees, including one meeting in Sydney and one in Melbourne, and
  • 29 meetings of Federal executive Council—under Australia's constitution, the council advises the Governor-General on government of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Feedback on our secretariat services was obtained from the Prime Minister, the Governor-General and other stakeholders, often immediately after meetings. Feedback continued to be very positive. Timeliness also improved:

  • over 99 per cent of all Cabinet minutes were settled and circulated within 24 hours of the end of each meeting, and
  • 95 per cent of papers for consideration by the Governor-General were delivered to Government House two full working days before each meeting.

Our Cabinet Implementation Unit also worked with agencies to promote early and effective planning for policy delivery, and followed up to see that key decisions were implemented on time, on budget and to Cabinet expectations. Our cabinet implementation workload increased substantially over 2005–06:

  • the number of initiatives that we were asked to monitor rose, from an average of 21 initiatives comprising 134 individual measures in 2004–05 to 63 initiatives comprising 196 measures
  • as part of a programme of outreach, we delivered 19 presentations on aspects of successful policy implementation to agencies and external stakeholders
  • we set up a reference group of senior officials from 14 agencies to discuss emerging implementation issues and priorities, and
  • we also developed a Better Practice Guide on Implementation in partnership with the Australian National Audit Office, for launch in 2006–07.

Feedback from stakeholders on our Cabinet implementation services was positive.

Table 6.1—Trends in services to Cabinet and other decision makers
  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
MEETINGS HELD OF THE CABINET AND ITS COMMITTEES
Cabinet 27 32 30 26 26
Ministry not reported 3 3 3 3
National Security Committee (NSC)a 16 36 16 10 23
Parliamentary Business Committeeb 14 20 21 14 19
Other Cabinet committees 38 26 21 21 11
Secretaries' Committee on National Security (SCNS)a 16 20 15 11 11
TOTAL 111 137 106 85 93
Number of Cabinet meetings held outside Canberra 14 6 4 2 2
CABINET MINUTE AVAILABILITY WITHIN 24 HOURS OF MEETING
NSC not reported not reported 70% 100% 99%
Cabinet and all other committees >95% 92% 99% 97% 99%
OTHER INDICATORS OF CABINET WORKLOAD
Cabinet documents lodged not reported 789 706 641 740
Cabinet minutes recorded not reported 965 856 696 832
Initiatives monitored through the Cabinet Implementation Unitc n/a n/a n/a 20 51
SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL IN COUNCIL (THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL)
Meetings held 31 34 28 28 29
Papers considered not reported 567 591 542 547
Availability of papers two working days before meeting not reported 91% 91% 94% 95%
  1. until 30 June 2003 secretariat support for nSC and SCnS was provided under our international and national security output group.
  2. this committee is mainly serviced by PM&C's government division rather than the Cabinet division.
  3. the Cabinet implementation unit was set up during 2003–04.

Special feature—international leadership and learning

The Thailand Delegation. Our first delegation to Thailand witnessed arrangements for a Thai Cabinet meeting and is shown with celebrities outside the meeting.

Our first delegation to Thailand witnessed arrangements for a Thai Cabinet meeting and is shown with celebrities outside the meeting.

While responding to the needs of the Australian Government is PM&C's top priority, we also aspire to learn from and share information with the public service in other nations. In 2005–06 we hosted visits from:

  • Samoa's Cabinet Secretariat. The Assistant CEO, Ms Vaosa epa, completed a two month secondment at PM&C in late 2005, under the Australia and New Zealand School of Government's Pacific Scholarships for Governance Scheme.
  • Afghanistan's Office of Administration and Council of Ministers Secretariat. Sponsored by AusAid, the Director General Mr Farooq Wardak visited us in November 2005 to observe Australia's government processes; the government of Afghanistan was considering what form of Cabinet system to implement.
  • Indonesia. A delegation of officials from Indonesia's Cabinet Secretariat and related agencies visited us in January 2006 under the Government Partnerships Fund of the Australia Indonesian Partnership for Reconstruction and Development. We expect to host several more visits from Indonesia over 2006–07.
  • Ireland. A delegation of senior public servants visited us in April 2006 to discuss Cabinet and government policy processes, including implementation of key decisions.
  • Papua New Guinea's Central Agencies Coordination Committee Secretariat. The Director-General, Ms Felecia Dobunaba OBE, visited us in June 2006 to discuss Australian Cabinet and whole-of-government processes.

Our staff also visited the Royal Thai Secretariat of Cabinet in July 2005 and March 2006, to help them to develop an online system for Cabinet documents similar to our CABNeT. This followed visits to us by Thai officials in mid 2002 and late 2004.

Our delegations provided some interesting insights into Thai Cabinet processes:

  • journalists wait outside to interview the ministers heading into and out of meetings, and
  • celebrities also stand on the steps of the building to be photographed with ministers, and invited charities raise funds by selling items to the crowd.

Machinery of government

The term 'machinery of government' refers to the allocation of functions to ministers and agencies, and to the institutions and structures that are established to deliver government policies and programmes.

In this context, PM&C assists the Prime Minister by:

  • advising the Prime Minister on and preparing the Administrative Arrangements Order
  • preparing the documentation required to establish a Royal Commission and administering relevant legislation
  • assisting government to manage its legislative programme
  • providing guidance to other agencies on a range of whole-of-government processes, and
  • advising on and promoting Australia's national symbols and honours.

The Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) is a formal order signed by the Governor-General. It sets out the matters dealt with by each department and the legislation administered by each minister.

PM&C provides advice and support to the Prime Minister on these issues as required. During 2005–06 the AAO was amended on two occasions:

  • 21 July 2005 to reflect legislative changes since the previous AAO was issued in December 2004, and
  • 27 January 2006 to reflect changes announced by the Prime Minister on 24 January 2006.

Royal Commissions may also be set up from time to time, to inquire into specific matters referred to them by government.

PM&C prepares the documentation required to establish a Royal Commission and administers the Royal Commissions Act 1902. In 2005–06 we:

  • prepared Letters Patent for the appointment of the Hon T R H Cole AO RFD QC on 10 November 2005 to conduct an inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil for Food Programme
  • prepared additional Letters Patent which were made by the executive Council on 6 February, 10 March, 17 March and 22 June 2006
  • contributed to briefing counsel in the matter of AWB v Cole & Commonwealth (No. 1), which sought to clarify the power of a Commission to require production of documents for the purpose of deciding whether or not to accept a claim of legal professional privilege, and
  • in response to a request by Commissioner Cole, prepared a bill to amend the Royal Commissions Act to address the doubt raised by the Federal Court's ruling on this matter.

The Royal Commissions Amendment Bill 2006 was introduced in the House of Representatives on 25 May 2006, passed by parliament and took effect on 15 June 2006.

A further matter involving PM&C and others, AWB v Cole and Commonwealth (No 2), was ongoing at 30 June 2006. In this matter, AWB seeks to establish legal professional privilege in respect of a large number of documents not involved in the first case.

Legislation. Before a minister introduces a bill to the parliament, he or she must obtain policy approval for the measures it contains. Approval must be obtained from:

  • the Cabinet for proposals with significant policy implications, or
  • the Prime Minister for proposals with minor policy significance.

The relevant minister may approve technical amendments that do not affect existing policy.

As well as obtaining policy approval, ministers must also bid for a bill containing those measures to be included in the government's legislation programme. Bids are then prioritised by the Parliamentary Business Committee of Cabinet.

The highest priority of bill, Category T, is for bills which the government considers must be introduced and passed in the same sitting period. Category A bills are intended for introduction in one sitting period and passage in the next. Category B and C bills are for lower priority legislation.

Once a bill is drafted, final approval to introduce the bill must be obtained from the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.

PM&C plays a central role in tracking the progress of legislative proposals and bills.

As each of the three sitting periods a year approaches, we work closely with the Parliamentary Business Committee to document the government's complete legislation programme.

We also provide all senators and members with a list of the bills that the government plans to introduce and/or debate in the coming sitting period (the public list).

Then, as each sitting week approaches, we prepare a Cabinet memorandum on any proposed changes to the legislation programme and the parliamentary debate programme for the coming week.

We also provide a submission to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister on each request for approval to introduce a bill or government amendments—a total of 206 briefs in 2005–06—and ensure that relevant ministers have been consulted on measures.

Finally, in accordance with Senate Standing Orders, we prepare an annual report on unproclaimed legislation for tabling in the parliament in August each year.

Guidelines are issued to agencies on a number of whole-of-government processes. Our major publications include the:

  • Cabinet Handbook
  • Federal executive Council Handbook
  • Legislation Handbook
  • guidance on caretaker conventions
  • guidelines for official witnesses before parliamentary committees
  • guidelines on presenting government documents to the parliament, and the
  • Annual Report Requirements for departments, agencies and other bodies subject to the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (the FMA Act).

One major publication was updated in 2005–06: the annual report requirements. This was reissued in June 2006 after minor updates and approval by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.

Other publications issued in 2005–06 included 16 circulars on various matters including arrangements for tabling annual reports in October 2006 and the timetable for finalising the government's legislation programme.

The Australian honours system began in 1975, when a new system of honours was developed to replace the British Imperial honours and to recognise other areas of service valued by Australians.

Australia's honours system includes:

  • the Order of Australia, the pre-eminent way we recognise the achievements and service of our fellow Australians
  • the Australian Bravery Decorations, which recognise acts of bravery by members of the community, and
  • honours and awards recognising military and other service.

A complete list of Australia's honours and awards is provided on our website www.itsanhonour.gov.au.

PM&C advises the Prime Minister on the overall operation of Australia's honours system. In 2005–06 we provided advice on issues including:

  • finalising the regulations for the Australian Defence Medal to recognise military service since 3 September 1945
  • allowing service with certain marine and helicopter rescue services to count towards the National Medal
  • extending the operational area in Thailand affected by the tsunamis to enable service in additional areas to count towards the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM), and
  • recognising service with eligible organisations in Afghanistan for the HOSM from 8 December 1979.

The nomination process varies depending on the honour. It may involve the Honours Secretariat at Government House, the Directorate of Honours and Awards in the Department of Defence, and/or PM&C. PM&C's role varies:

  • We are represented on the Council for the Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations Council.
  • We advise the Prime Minister on nominations of non-Australians for the Order of Australia.
  • We also advise the Prime Minister on proposals by foreign governments to grant Australians foreign honours.
  • We provide secretariat services to the committees that consider public service honours e.g. the Public Service Medal.
  • We process applications for a small number of awards including the HOSM.

We were particularly busy in 2005–06, processing 1,300 applications for the HOSM relating to international relief and recovery efforts after the Indian Ocean tsunamis of 26 December 2004.

PM&C also promotes awareness of the honours system and of honours recipients, working closely with the Honours Secretariat at Government House. Promotional activities in 2005–06 included:

  • information sessions and exhibitions in Darwin and Brisbane (see photo opposite)
  • Celebrating Australians, an email digest of the latest honours news and info
  • It's an Honour, a biannual magazine with more in-depth coverage of the honours and their recipients, and
  • the It's an Honour website, which was redeveloped over 2005–06.

The website has been a real success, with many visitors complimenting its content and accessibility. It attracted almost 90 000 visits in June 2006—the month of The Queen's Birthday honours announcements.

The site was designed to be accessible to the widest possible audience, and was only launched after testing by Vision Australia confirmed that it was accessible to people with a variety of visual impairments.

It features a wide range of information on Australia's honours and symbols, and is located at www.itsanhonour.gov.au.

National symbols are another significant area of work for PM&C. While our national symbols have not changed in many years, areas of ongoing work relate to:

  • the Australian National Flag
  • the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, and
  • annual Australia Day celebrations.

The Australian National Flag—our nation's foremost symbol—is to be treated with respect and dignity. PM&C provides information on protocols for flying the flag, and how to fly the flag on special occasions.

In 2005–06 the flag was flown at half mast on Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and on 16 other occasions to recognise State funerals and events such as the anniversary of the Bali bombings.

The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is the official symbol of the Commonwealth of Australia. The Arms are not available for general public use. However, exceptions may be granted for educational materials and for teams representing Australia in international competitions.

Australia Day celebrations are coordinated by the National Australia Day Council (NADC), which heads a network of state, territory and local bodies. PM&C supports the work of the NADC by providing:

  • advice to the Prime Minister on appointments to its board, and
  • government grants to support Australia Day celebrations and the Australian of the Year awards.

A total of $1.9 million was provided to the NADC in 2005–06.

Government communications

The Government Communications Unit (GCU) provides analysis, advice and support to the Ministerial Committee on Government Communications.

The committee makes decisions on all major and/or sensitive information activities undertaken by agencies subject to the FMA Act.

In 2005–06 the committee met 57 times and discussed 39 activities. Major areas of work related to:

  • Defence Force recruitment advertising ($14.8 million)
  • the 'Get Moving' physical activity campaign featuring the red chair ($4.6 million)
  • light and mild tobacco ($7.8 million)
  • the National Go for 2&5™ campaign to promote healthy eating ($0.6 million)
  • the 'Support the System that Supports You' campaign ($10.1 million)
  • Welfare to Work reforms ($5.8 million), and
  • Work Choices industrial relations reforms ($31.8 million).

Agenda papers were generally provided to us seven working days prior to committee meetings as required. Waivers to the seven-day rule from the chair of the committee were obtained where appropriate, for example, due to urgent or unforeseen issues.

Feedback was obtained from the committee after each meeting, as well as from agencies and our executive throughout the year. This feedback confirmed that the vast majority of our advice and support was timely and of high quality.

Other significant areas of work included:

  • An audit of newspapers and other publications. This ongoing audit is looking into the circulation claims of various media outlets. While it will not be complete until 2006–07, it is already helping us to refine our advertising strategies and to target government advertising to those publications with a proven audience reach.
  • The Central Advertising System (CAS). Customer satisfaction surveys were undertaken for, and recorded good levels of satisfaction with, both master media placement agencies (Universal McCann for campaign advertising and hma Blaze for non-campaign advertising). Following a review of their performance including satisfaction levels, both contracts were extended to 30 June 2008.
  • A central register of creative advertising and other communications experts. We maintain a register of firms who are interested in taking on government communications work. Almost 600 firms were on the register at 30 June 2006; 135 firms registered for the first time or updated their entry during the year.
  • Seminars for agency staff. We ran 10 seminars on topics ranging from strategic media planning, targeting hard to reach audiences, and the role of research in communication activities. Seminars generated considerable interest, attracting 56 per cent more people than in recent years.

More information on government requirements and upcoming seminars is available at our website www.gcu.gov.au.

Table 6.2—Trends in government communications services
  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS
Meetings held 36 46 46 30 57
Information activities considered 22 25 30 24 39
OTHER GCU SERVICES
Seminars organised 14 13 11 8 10
Attendance at seminars (approximate) 778 874 441 482 750
AUSPIC GOVERNMENT PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE
Assignments not reported 1 017 1 264 1 154 1 348

AUSPIC also had a busy year, undertaking photographic assignments for members of parliament and government agencies. An AUSPIC photographer also accompanied the Prime Minister on each of his official overseas visits (see page 66).

In 2005–06 we undertook a record level of assignments. Despite the increase in workload, we continued to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and repeat business. We received more than 200 emails complimenting AUSPIC's responsiveness, professionalism and quality of photography.

We also achieved a break-even financial position as planned from AUSPIC activities, which are funded on a fee-for-service basis.

Official establishments

Our Official Establishments team ponders a plan of The Lodge's grounds.

Our Official Establishments team ponders a plan of The Lodge's grounds.

The Prime Minister has two official residences, The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney.

PM&C manages both of these. We provide domestic staff at both residences—a total of 7.4 full time equivalent staff. Staffing levels have remained constant since 1996 and are not expected to change in 2006–07.

Contractors are used to provide specialist skills, such as building and grounds maintenance. A consulting firm was engaged to provide heritage architect services for both residences.

We also work closely with relevant bodies including:

  • the Australian Federal Police Protective Service and other security agencies, and
  • the Official establishments Trust and Australiana Fund (see opposite).

Feedback confirmed that our services were timely and of high quality. In addition:

  • both residences are being maintained in line with their heritage status, and
  • the presentation of the grounds of both residences has improved noticeably.

This improvement was a real achievement given the water restrictions in place and adhered to at both residences over 2005–06.

Open days held at both residences attracted an estimated 4700 visitors and raised around $16 000 for the Australiana Fund.

Repairs and maintenance were carried out at both residences over 2005–06. At The Lodge:

  • the refit of the reception rooms was completed with new carpets installed in the foyer, staircase and back alcove
  • guard facilities were painted and repaired
  • the surface of the courtyard was treated to make it less slippery, and
  • a major garden bed was completely replanted and more efficient irrigation systems installed.

At Kirribilli House:

  • external painting and minor internal painting was undertaken
  • the fire panel was replaced and circuit breakers were installed throughout the residence, and
  • the grounds, gardens and irrigation systems were further improved.

In addition, and in line with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, we are developing a heritage strategy for both residences with the assistance of conservation experts.

The strategy is nearing final approval and will set out how we will manage the heritage values of these properties now and into the future.

The Official Establishments Trust advises the Prime Minister on his official residences and the two official residences of the Governor-General. The trust focuses on conserving and developing the public areas of residences.

PM&C assists the trust to formulate its advice to the Prime Minister. In 2005–06 we provided:

  • secretariat services for four meetings of the trust and its committees
  • modest funding to cover trust expenses such as members' sitting fees and travel ($25 000), and
  • advice to the Prime Minister on appointments to the trust.

Mr Bruce Buchanan was reappointed to and will serve as a member of the trust until 8 June 2008. Another three appointments to the trust are due to expire in mid 2007.

More information on the trust is provided in its annual report, available at our website www.dpmc.gov.au/annual_reports.

The Australiana Fund collects and provides items of quality for use in the public areas of Australia's official establishments. It focuses on items which reflect and illustrate Australia's heritage.

PM&C liaises with the fund to ensure proper care of and accountability for items on loan to the Prime Minister's residences—these are valued at approximately $1.8 million.

We also provide a small amount of funding to enable the fund to obtain professional assistance to meet its objectives and account for funds raised. In 2005–06 we provided $93 500 towards the fund's operations. No part of this grant is used for acquisitions.

More information on the fund is available at its website www.theaustralianafund.org.au.

Ceremonial and hospitality (CERHOS)

State occasions and official visits provide opportunities for people to acknowledge national events and for face-to-face meetings between leaders on important issues.

PM&C plays a major role in planning and coordinating such events. For an official visit—our most common task—we develop the programme in partnership with the visitor's diplomatic representatives, airlines, hotels, security and many other agencies.

We facilitate visitors' arrivals and departures including their security, immigration, customs and quarantine clearance . We ensure there are appropriate welcome and farewell arrangements (see photo below).

A member of our staff will often travel with the official party. This can mean getting up at 5.30am to catch up on emails, confirming the day's programme over breakfast with colleagues, and attending official functions throughout the day and into the night.

Our staff may also travel to venues ahead of time, to ensure that the greeting party and seating arrangements are in place.

We stage other events as required by government including state funerals. Other events, such as the May 2006 reception to honour those involved in the Beaconsfield mine rescue, can involve complex logistics and hundreds of guests.

In 2005–06 we organised an average of four visits and events a month, slightly more than in 2004–05 (see Table 6.3 opposite). Our workload peaked in February and March 2006, when we coordinated a total of 14 events including The Queen's visit.

Despite our workload, feedback from the Prime Minister, visitors and other stakeholders continued to be very positive. Feedback included:

  • letters of appreciation from visitors and their diplomatic representatives, and
  • cables submitted by Australia's overseas posts assessing the impact of each visit.
Table 6.3—Trends in ceremonial and hospitality services
  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
PRIME MINISTER'S OVERSEAS VISITS
Visits made 9 7 9 8 8
Nations visiteda 7 13 12 10 14
OFFICIAL VISITS TO AUSTRALIA BY GUESTS OF THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENTb
Heads of state 3 4 5 6
Heads of government 4 3 7 6 6
Ministers 17 15 14 13 12
Other guestsc 1 5 2 2
TOTAL VISITS 25 23 25 26 26
Airport facilitationsd 77 87 206 97 148
OTHER EVENTS OF STATE
State funerals 3 3 2 3
State memorial services 2 2 2 1 3
Other events 5 5 3 5 8
TOTAL OTHER EVENTS 10 7 8 8 14
  1. Nations may be visited on more than one trip in any given year.
  2. A visit may be made by several visitors with the same visit programme.
  3. Other guests have included visitors who are royalty but not heads of state.
  4. Airport facilitation involves coordinating airport and border control procedures for and greeting official visitors as they arrive, depart or move about within Australia.
Divison head Hugh Borrowman and other members of the Prime Minister's party grab lunch in New York.

Divison head Hugh Borrowman and other members of the Prime Minister's party grab lunch in New York.

The Prime Minister made eight overseas trips lasting from three to 13 days each. He visited 14 nations in all, some nations more than once. He visited:

  • the US, UK and the United Arab emirates—he also visited Australian troops stationed in Iraq (15–27 July 2005)
  • the US to address the 60th anniversary session of the United Nations in New York (11–18 September 2005)
  • Papua New Guinea to attend the 36th meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum (25–27 October 2005)
  • Korea to attend the annual APEC Leaders' Meeting, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Malta to attend the 18th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (16–28 November 2005)
  • Malaysia to attend the inaugural east Asia Summit (13–15 December 2005)
  • India, as the leader of a substantial Australian business delegation (5–9 March 2006)
  • the US, Canada and Ireland—the Prime Minister met with the US President and senior members of his administration, and addressed the Canadian and Irish parliaments (12–25 May 2006), and
  • Indonesia and the People's Republic of China for bilateral discussions including on the proposed Australia–China Free Trade Agreement (25–29 June 2006).

Guests of the government made 26 visits to Australia, lasting from two to nine days each. Visitors included:

  • Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of edinburgh
  • the heads of state of Chile, Lithuania, Solomon Islands, Sweden and Timor-Leste
  • the heads of government of the People's Republic of China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Turkey and the UK
  • twelve ministers including the US Secretary of State, and
  • two other guests, namely the Presidents of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Visits enabled bilateral discussions on numerous issues of interest to Australia. Highlights included:

  • The Queen's opening of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games in March 2006
  • the UK Prime Minister's address to the Members and Senators of the Parliament of Australia, and
  • the signing of government-to-government agreements on a range of issues.

Six state funeral or memorial services were held in 2005–06:

  • Mr Peter Casserly, Australia's last World War I veteran (1 July 2005)
  • the Right Hon Sir Harry Gibbs GCMC AC KBE, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia (11 July 2005)
  • the fourth anniversary of the Bali bomb attacks (12 October 2005)
  • the Hon Sir Reginald Swartz KBE MBE (Mil) eD, a former long-serving minister (9 February 2006)
  • Mr Kerry Packer AC, prominent businessman (17 February 2006), and
  • the Hon Sir John Wheeldon, another former long-serving minister (2 June 2006).

Other events we organised were:

  • two Council of Australian Government meetings (26–27 September 2005 and 9–10 February 2006, see also Chapter 2 page 16)
  • a reception for the Australian and World XI cricket teams (14 October 2005)
  • a dinner to mark the inaugural meeting of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (11 January 2006, see also Chapter 3 page 26)
  • a ceremony and a reception to mark Commonwealth Day (12 March 2006), and
  • a reception to honour those involved in the Beaconsfield mine rescue (26 May 2006).

Other services

Former Governors–General receive ongoing support due to the demands on their time after they leave office.

Entitlements are agreed between the outgoing Governor-General and the Prime Minister of the day. These may include:

  • a personal assistant and office in the city of their choice
  • a privately plated vehicle or access to a car with driver (Comcar)
  • domestic travel for duties relating to their former role, and
  • a final call on The Queen in the UK.

An allowance is also payable of 60 per cent of the salary payable to the Chief Justice of Australia less any other pensions from the Commonwealth, states or territories that are being received.

PM&C administers these allowances and entitlements. In 2005–06 we continued to support five former Governors-General:

  • the Right Hon Sir Zelman Cowen AK GCMG GCVO QC
  • the Right Hon Sir Ninian Stephen KG AK GCMG GCVO KBE
  • the Hon Bill Hayden AC
  • the Hon Sir William Deane AC KBE, and
  • the Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE.

Feedback on our services is mainly obtained through informal contact with personal assistants. No significant matters or concerns were raised with us in 2005–06.

The total cost of allowances and entitlements paid in 2005–06 was $1.8 million—well within historical norms.

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Last Updated: 5 December, 2006