Annual Child Safety Statement of Compliance 2026
Our commitment to child safety
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children. We remain compliant with the Commonwealth Child Safe Framework and have zero tolerance for child harm or abuse.
We are committed to continuous improvement in safeguarding children, and to regularly reviewing our policies, procedures and practices to strengthen child safety and wellbeing across all areas of our work.
Secretaries Board communique: 21 October 2026
The Secretaries Board met today at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to discuss the following matters.
Auditor-General update
The Board received an update from Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM, Auditor-General, on the work of the Australian National Audit Office.
High Risk Weather Season
The Board received an update from Pat Hetherington, Interim Coordinator-General, National Emergency Management Agency on preparations for the Higher Risk Weather Season.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Annual Report 2025-26
It has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act), the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule) and the Department of Finance Resource Management Guide No 135. The compliance index in Part 5 lists the information required by the PGPA Act and PGPA Rule and the corresponding page number within this report.
Report on legal services expenditure 2025-26
This is a statement of legal services expenditure by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for the 2025-26 financial year, published in accordance with paragraph 109(1)(d) of the Legal Services Directions 2025. All figures are GST exclusive.
Total legal services expenditure was $2,280,671. This comprised:
The PM&C Annual Report 2025–26 is now available
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's Annual Report 2025–26 is now available.
The report outlines PM&C’s activities, performance and achievements against the 3 key activities outlined in our Corporate Plan 2025–26:
State Memorial Service for the Honourable Neil Andrew AO
A State Memorial Service will be held for the Honourable Neil Andrew AO at Pilgrim Uniting Church, 12 Flinders Street, Adelaide on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at 2:00 pm.
Mr Andrew served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 2004, representing the electorate of Wakefield in South Australia for the Liberal Party. He became the 24th Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1998 to 2004. Mr Andrew retired in 2004.
Research on flexible work points the way to equality
A team of leading researchers has released research on the benefits of flexible work to drive gender equality and benefit Australia’s people, businesses and economy.
Instrument of appointment of Mr Simon Draper PSM
Public Service (Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources) Appointment 2026
I, the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under subsection 58(1) of the Public Service Act 1999, appoint Mr Simon Draper PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for a period of five years commencing on 6 October 2026.
Dated 6 August 2026
[Signature of Sam Mostyn AC]
Sam Mostyn AC
Governor-General