[Australia]: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Media Centre

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Overview​

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is an Australian Government public service central department of state with broad ranging responsibilities, primary of which is for intergovernmental and whole of government policy coordination and assisting the Prime Minister of Australia in managing the Cabinet of Australia. The PM&C was established in 1971 and traces its origins back to the Prime Minister's Department established in 1911. The role of PM&C is to support the policy agendas of the Prime Minister and Cabinet through high quality policy advice and the coordination of the implementation of key government programs, to manage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy and programs and to promote reconciliation, to provide leadership for the Australian Public Service alongside the Australian Public Service Commission, to oversee the honours and symbols of the Commonwealth, to provide support to ceremonies and official visits, and to coordinate national security, regulatory reform, public data, and women's policy. The department is similar but not analogous to the United States Executive Office of the President, the United Kingdom Cabinet Office, the Canadian Privy Council Office, and the New Zealand Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

 

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AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MEDAL AND CROSS OF VALOUR ISSUED FOR THE EXPEDITION OF 1996-97​

10 December 1999

Today the Prime Minister has announced that he has made his recommendations to the Governor-General that all 116 scientists who were involved in the original Antarctic Expedition of 1996-97 be issued with the Australian Antarctic Medal for outstanding service to an Australian Antarctic Expedition and the Star of Courage for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril following their arrest and detainment by the Swedish Royal Navy. All recipients will receive their two medals in the mail in coming days. The Prime Minister thanks all of those who have served in Antarctica in the pursuit of scientific research in the face of adversity. ​

 

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CONDEMNATION OF THE TURKISH GOVERNMENT ACTIONS AGAINST JEWISH POPULATION​

26 December 1999

The Australian Government has unequivocally condemned the actions of the Turkish Government in detaining the Jewish population of Turkey in an overcrowded and ghettoised prison. This is a clear violation of morality, international norms and the rule of law. Australia asks that Turkey give free passage to these citizens to Australia, all 15,000 of which would be granted humanitarian visas by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. If Turkey is found to be committing a genocide, international military and economic action will follow. This is a threat Australia does not take lightly.

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​ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette PROCLAMATION​ BRYCE, AUSTRALIA​ ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come or whom the same may in anywise concern. A PROCLAMATION ​ Robert McClelland, Special Minister of State, Australia WHEREAS by and with the advice of Our Federal Executive Council We have signified Our Approval of the issue a Proclamation in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette declaring that a State of War with the Republic of Turkey exists and has existed in Our Commonwealth of Australia as and from the twenty eighth day of January, 2000; NOW THEREFOR We do hereby Declare and Proclaim that a State of War with the Republic of Turkey exists and has existed in Our Commonwealth of Australia as and from the twenty eighth day of January, 2000. OF ALL WHICH Our Loving Citizens and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Australia to be hereunto affixed. WITNESS: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Quentin Alice Louise Bryce, a Member of Our Most Honourable Federal Executive Council, Dame of Our Order of Australia, Commander of Our Royal Victorian Order, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Our Commonwealth of Australia. AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Canberra, this twenty eighth day of January, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and in the Forty Seventh year of Our Reign. By Command. KIM CHRISTIAN BEAZLEY Prime Minister of Australia. ​

 

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​ Commonwealth of Australia Gazette PROCLAMATION​ BRYCE, AUSTRALIA​ ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith. TO ALL WHOM these Presents shall come or whom the same may in anywise concern. A PROCLAMATION ​ Robert McClelland, Special Minister of State, Australia WHEREAS by and with the advice of Our Federal Executive Council We have signified Our Approval of the issue a Proclamation in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette declaring that a State of War with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exists and has existed in Our Commonwealth of Australia as and from the eighth day of February, 2000; NOW THEREFOR We do hereby Declare and Proclaim that a State of War with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia exists and has existed in Our Commonwealth of Australia as and from the eighth day of February, 2000. OF ALL WHICH Our Loving Citizens and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and govern themselves accordingly. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF We have these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Australia to be hereunto affixed. WITNESS: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Quentin Alice Louise Bryce, a Member of Our Most Honourable Federal Executive Council, Dame of Our Order of Australia, Commander of Our Royal Victorian Order, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Our Commonwealth of Australia. AT OUR GOVERNMENT HOUSE, in Our City of Canberra, this eighth day of February, in the year of Our Lord two thousand and in the Forty Eighth year of Our Reign. By Command. KIM CHRISTIAN BEAZLEY Prime Minister of Australia. ​

 

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REPLACEMENT OF HIGH COURT JUSTICE JOHN TOOHEY ANNOUNCED AS SUSAN KIEFEL​

16 June 2000

Today the Prime Minister has announced that in light of the mandatory resignation of Justice John Toohey of the High Court of Australia that his replacement shall be Federal Court Judge Susan Kiefel of Queensland. Justice Kiefel has a distinguished legal career with a Masters of Laws from Cambridge, the first female of Queen's Counsel in Queensland, served on the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island and the second woman appointed to the Federal Court by former Prime Minister Paul Keating. ​

 

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DEFENCE COMMITTEE RESHUFFLE​

4 April 2001

The Prime Minister has announced a reshuffle of the top brass of the Australian Defence Force, coinciding with a number of retirements, the new positions and holders are as follows: Chief of the Defence Force: General Peter Cosgrove Vice Chief of the Defence Force: Vice Admiral David Shackleton Chief of Army: Lieutenant General Peter Leahy Chief of Navy: Vice Admiral Chris Oxenbould Chief of Air Force: Air Marshal Angus Houston Chief of Joint Operations: Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie Chief of Joint Capabilities: Lieutenant General Mark Evans Chief of Defence Intelligence: Vice Admiral John Lord Deputy Chief of Army: Major General Ken Gillespie Deputy Chief of Navy: Rear Admiral David Campbell Deputy Chief of Air Force: Air Vice-Marshal Mark Binskin Commander Joint Health Command and Surgeon-General: Rear Admiral Robyn Walker Commander Forces Command: Major General David Morrison Commander Australian Fleet: Rear Admiral Geoffrey Smith Air Commander Australia: Air Vice-Marshal Geoff Brown Special Operations Commander Australia: Major General Mike Hindmarsh Commander Training Command: Major General David Hurley Flag Officer Commanding Navy Systems Command: Rear Admiral Russ Crane Air Officer Commanding Support Command: Air Vice-Marshal Leo Davies In addition, the following roles have been appointed seperate from the Committee: Judge Advocate General: Major General Len Roberts-Smith Liaision Officer to the Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff: Commodore Allison Norris Military Representative to the Transatlantic Security Arrangement: Air Vice Marshal Gavin Turnbull Secretary of the Department of Defence: Nick Warner, AO, PSM New Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove​