The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) supports the Prime Minister in his many roles – leader of the Australian Government, Chair of the Cabinet, Chair of the National Cabinet and Minister for the Australian Public Service (APS). We also support the Secretary as head of the APS and Chair of the Secretaries Board.
The COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery has dominated much of the Department’s work and focus over the last year. The impacts of the pandemic are far reaching and will continue to influence our operating environment into the foreseeable future. Domestic recovery will be important to keep in touch with global re-opening. In 2021–22, PM&C will support the Government to achieve strong economic recovery alongside continued momentum of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response by leading advice to National Cabinet through the First Secretaries Group and coordinating across governments.
This year, we will continue to assist the Government to keep Australians safe and deliver for the country through continuing focus on the social and economic recovery as well as other wider agendas. Building business and consumer confidence through delivery of Government priorities will be critical to economic recovery – through reliable and affordable energy, the digital economy strategy, delivery of essential services and other priority areas. PM&C’s support for the newly established Policy Implementation Committee to oversee delivery of Government programs and priorities will play a critical role in this.
Our work in supporting the Prime Minister and our central policy coordination role gives us a unique whole-of-government perspective which we draw upon in our daily work.
We provide integrated, coherent and balanced advice on Commonwealth policy incorporating the many views of our stakeholders. We coordinate and support government decision-making through Cabinet and its committees and contribute to a nationwide perspective through our support to the National Cabinet.
Complex global economic and strategic trends require an integrated, coordinated and cross-cutting policy effort across the APS enterprise, underpinned by our national values and commitment to an open, inclusive and resilient Indo-Pacific. Australia is investing even more in our bedrock partnerships, especially with the US and Japan, while also cultivating deeper links with other international partners such as the UK and EU and important regional countries like India, Indonesia and Vietnam. We are responding to economic coercion through pursuing market diversification, building resilience in our supply chains and supporting our partners’ economic sovereignty. We remain a responsible actor in multilateral settings, and continue to show our abiding friendship and leadership in the Pacific, which is our home.
Globally, the challenge posed by climate change continues to attract attention and effort, both domestically and in multilateral forums. Assisted by the OCC, PM&C is working closely with relevant agencies in the lead up to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 26th Conference of the Parties to develop Australia’s Long-term Emissions Reduction Strategy. We will, with other agencies prepare and present a strong whole-of-government international advocacy strategy that increases awareness of Australia’s emissions reduction achievements and leadership on practical solutions to address climate change.
Similarly, the importance of resilient supply chains has come into sharp focus over the past year and a half. The pandemic has highlighted the complexity of global supply chains and given rise to some disruption. Both show that we cannot take access to critical products for granted. We have established the Office of Supply Chain Resilience (OSCR) to monitor vulnerabilities in critical supply chains and coordinate responses to improve ongoing access to essential goods. OSCR will work alongside the Critical Technologies Policy Coordination Office in PM&C and the Critical Minerals Facilitation Office in the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
2021–22 will see the dissolution of the 46th Parliament of Australia and a Federal election. PM&C will support election integrity measures, manage an effective care-taker period and a smooth incoming government process.
Our priority will be to ensure government can continue to deliver for the Australian public – and that the incoming government, whether returned or new, is supported to hit the ground running.
The events of 2020 and early 2021 resulted in a strong government focus on responding to COVID-19 and other natural disasters.
In 2020, the Department created a new branch focused on emergency management, collaboration and coordination across the APS and communication of Commonwealth responses to emergencies to states and territories, individuals, households and businesses.
As the whole-of-government policy owner of the crisis management function, our continued focus on disaster management and support will remain. The National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board’s work on behalf of the Australian Government concluded in early 2021. Additionally, the National Bushfire Recovery Agency was absorbed by the National Recovery and Resiliency Agency within our portfolio.
Satisfaction and trust in the APS and other public institutions is the foundation of a healthy, well-functioning democracy. In 2020 the Citizen’s Survey results indicated an increase in trust in Australia’s public institutions. Building on this, our goal is to support the Secretaries Board to strengthen the APS by entrenching a culture and practice of continuous reform and to promote a united public service operating as one APS enterprise.