Key events and significant changes in PM&C

July 2017

  • Towards 2025: An Australian Government strategy to boost women’s workforce participation released.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits Germany for the G20 Leaders’ Summit, then France and the United Kingdom.

Leaders of the G20 nations and their partners pose for a family photo at 'Elbphilharmonie' during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Friday, July 7, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Leaders of the G20 nations and their partners pose for a family photo at 'Elbphilharmonie' during the G20 summit in Hamburg, Friday, July 7, 2017. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

August 2017

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes The Honourable Manasseh Damukana Sogavare MP, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, on his official visit to Australia.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes Her Excellency Ms Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, President of Croatia, on her State Visit to Australia.

September 2017

  • Some Australian Government data functions transfered to the Digital Transformation Agency.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull attends the Pacific Islands Forum in Samoa.

October 2017

  • Special Counter-Terrorism Meeting of the Council of Australian Governments.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes His Excellency Mr Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland, on his State Visit to Australia.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes His Excellency Mr Mahamadou Issoufou, President of Niger, on his State Visit to Australia.

November 2017

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces a review to examine whether Australian law adequately protects the human right to religious freedom.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes His Excellency Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Germany, on his State Visit to Australia
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern MP, Prime Minister of New Zealand, on her official visit to Australia.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held a joint press conference at Kirribilli House, in Sydney. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held a joint press conference at Kirribilli House, in Sydney. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

December 2017

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announces two new major portfolios focusing on job creation and national security. The subsequent machinery of government changes see the Cities portfolio move from PM&C to the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities. Some National Security and Cyber Security functions move to the Department of Home Affairs and the Attorney-General’s Department.

January 2018

  • Australia Day honours and awards are held, with quantum physics Professor Michelle Simmons announced Australian of the Year.
  • Media reporting reveals an unauthorised disclosure of Commonwealth documents. PM&C takes immediate action to recover documents, identify the cause of the security breach and boost protective security arrangements across the Department and the APS.

(L –R) Young Australian of the Year Samantha Kerr, Local Hero Eddie Woo, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons, and Senior Australian of the Year Dr Graham Farquhar at the 2018 Australian of the Year Awards at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, January 25, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
(L –R) Young Australian of the Year Samantha Kerr, Local Hero Eddie Woo, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Australian of the Year Professor Michelle Yvonne Simmons, and Senior Australian of the Year Dr Graham Farquhar at the 2018 Australian of the Year Awards at Parliament House in Canberra, Thursday, January 25, 2018. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

February 2018

  • The 10th Closing the Gap report is released. Three of the seven targets are on track to be met.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks on the Closing the Gap report in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull speaks on the Closing the Gap report in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

March 2018

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes The Right Honourable Jacinda Ardern MP, Prime Minister of New Zealand, on her official visit to Australia.
  • Australia hosts Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders for the first time at the ASEAN–Australia Special Summit in Sydney.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes His Excellency Mr Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam and Her Excellency Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, State Counsellor, Myanmar to Australia.
  • PM&C attends the 62nd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, which is focused on empowering rural women and girls.

Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove meets with Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his visit to Australia.
Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove meets with Prime Minister of Vietnam Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his visit to Australia.

April 2018

  • Australia hosts a visit by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to open the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visits the United Kingdom to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, then Germany, Belgium, and France for ANZAC Day commemorations.

May 2018

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull commissions an independent review of the APS. A PM&C Taskforce will support the independent board.
  • The 2018–19 Federal Budget is handed down.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of France, on his State Visit to Australia.

Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison hands down his third Federal Budget at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Federal Treasurer Scott Morrison hands down his third Federal Budget at Parliament House in Canberra, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

June 2018

  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes The Honourable Rick Houenipwela MP, the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, on his official visit to Australia.
  • Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull welcomes The Honourable Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, on his official visit to Australia.
  • PM&C hosts the Behavioural Exchange Conference—a conversation on behavioural insights involving policymakers, academics, economists and behavioural insights enthusiasts.

Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) Managing Director Tara Oliver (R) interviews behavioural insights luminary Cass Sunstein (L) at the international Behavioural Exchange conference, hosted by BETA in Sydney on 25–26 June 2018.
Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA) Managing Director Tara Oliver (R) interviews behavioural insights luminary Cass Sunstein (L) at the international Behavioural Exchange conference, hosted by BETA in Sydney on 25–26 June 2018.