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Encyclopedia > Cabinet of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard with his Cabinet in 1999
Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard with his Cabinet in 1999

The Cabinet of Australia is the council of senior ministers, responsible to parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister and serve at his pleasure, although officially the Governor General controls their appointments. The strictly private Cabinet meetings occur once a week to discuss vital issues and formulate policy. Outside of the cabinet there are a number of junior ministers, responsible for a specific policy area and reporting directly to a senior minister. Download high resolution version (914x492, 113 KB)John Howard and Cabinet This work is copyrighted. ... Download high resolution version (914x492, 113 KB)John Howard and Cabinet This work is copyrighted. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... This article is about the governmental body. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Representatives Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker, Liberal Party since 16 November 2004 President of the Senate Alan Ferguson, Liberal Party since 14 August 2007 Members 226 (150 Representatives, 76 Senators) Political groups Liberal Party ALP National Party Country Liberal Party Greens... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... The Governor-General of Australia is the highest constitutional officer in the Commonwealth of Australia. ...


The Constitution of Australia does not recognise the Cabinet as a legal entity, and its decisions have no legal force. All members of the ministry are also members of the Executive Council (the Australian equivalent of the British Privy Council), a body which is – in theory, though rarely in practice – chaired by the Governor-General and which meets solely to endorse and give legal force to decisions already made by the Cabinet. For this reason, there is always a member of the ministry holding the title Vice-President of the Executive Council.[citation needed] Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... The Federal Executive Council is the formal body holding executive authority under the Australian Constitution. ... A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically in a monarchy. ... The Vice-President of the Executive Council is a Commonwealth position, whose holder acts as presiding officer of the Executive Council in the absence of the President of the Executive Council. ...

Contents

History

Until 1956 all members of the ministry were members of the Cabinet. The growth of the ministry in the 1940s and 1950s made this increasingly impractical, and in 1956 Robert Menzies created a two-tier ministry, with only senior ministers holding Cabinet rank. This practice has been continued by all governments except the Whitlam Government. A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A car from 1956 Year 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, FRS, QC (20 December 1894 – 15 May 1978), Australian politician, was the twelfth and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia, serving eighteen and a half years. ...


When the non-Labor parties have been in power, the Prime Minister has made all Cabinet and ministerial appointments at his own discretion, although in practice he consults with senior colleagues in making appointments. When the Liberal Party and its predecessors (the Nationalist Party and the United Australia Party) have been in coalition with the National Party or its predecessor the Country Party, the leader of the junior Coalition party has had the right to nominate his party's members of the Coalition ministry, and to be consulted by the Prime Minister on the allocation of their portfolios.[citation needed] The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party formed in 1917 from a merger of pro-conscription members of the Labor Party (who had been operating under the banner National Labor after their earlier split with the Labor party) with the Commonwealth Liberal Party. ... The United Australia Party or UAP was an Australian political party that was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ... The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party. ...


When the Labor Party first held office under Chris Watson, Watson assumed the right to choose members of his Cabinet. In 1907, however, the party decided that future Labor Cabinets would be elected by members of the Parliamentary Labor Party, the Caucus, and this practice has been followed ever since. The Prime Minister retains the right to allocate portfolios. In practice, Labor Prime Ministers have exercised a predominant influence over who has been elected to Labor Cabinets, although leaders of party factions also exercise considerable influence. ALP redirects here. ... For other uses, see Chris Watson (musician). ... Year 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A caucus is most generally defined as being a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement. ...


Composition

Since the introduction of the two-tier ministry, meetings of Cabinet are attended by senior ministers only, although other ministers may attend if an area of their portfolio is on the agenda. Cabinet meetings are chaired by the Prime Minister, and a senior public servant is present to write the minutes and record decisions.[1]


Powers

The Prime Minister and Cabinet, through the authority of the Defence Act 1903, have the power to commit Australian forces to armed conflict overseas without the support of the Parliament. The deployment of Australian forces to Iraq in 2003 was the first time that such a decision had been made without majority parliamentary approval, and the Australian Democrats unsuccessfully introduced an amendment Bill to place such powers in the hands of the Parliament.[2] An Australian SAS patrol in western Iraq. ... The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party which was formed in 1977 through a merger of the Australia Party and the Liberal Movement after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp as a high-profile leader[1]. The new party was based...


The Prime Minister is the "first among equals" in the cabinet because they have the right to appoint and dismiss ministers by advising the Governor-General. Secondly the Prime Minister controls the agenda and influences outcomes by being able to defer and promote decision at will. In this respect the Cabinet has been able to consolidate the Prime Minister's authority over other ministers.[3] An agenda is a list of meeting activities in the order in which they are to be taken up, beginning with the call to order and ending with adjournment. ...


Cabinet confidentiality

The Australian Cabinet follows the traditions of the British parliamentary cabinet system, in that the Cabinet is responsible to the parliament to make policy decisions, but Cabinet discussions are confidential and are not disclosed to the public apart from the announcement of decisions. This secrecy is necessary to ensure that items of national security are not made public, and so that ministers can speak freely and disagree with each other during discussions.[1] Look up policy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


Cabinet documents are held separately from other documents, and may be destroyed once no longer in use, or when a change of government occurs.[4] Since 1986, minutes and records of Cabinet meetings are embargoed from public release or disclosure for 30 years.[5]


Ministers are bound by a principle of Cabinet solidarity, meaning that once cabinet has made a decision, all ministers must publicly support and defend that decision, regardless of their personal views on the subject.[6]


Life Benefits

After a minister has left office, they get a pension of $73,000 and also have the right to hold a Life Gold Pass. Some former ministers serve in high ranking positions such as Judge of the High Court.


Current Cabinet

Kevin Rudd has yet to form his first Labor cabinet following his win in the 2007 federal election on 24 November. Kevin Michael Rudd (born 21 September 1957), is the leader of the federal Australian Labor Party and Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Parliament. ... The 2007 election for the federal Parliament of Australia, in which 13. ...


Shadow Cabinet

Main article: Shadow Cabinet of Australia

The Parliamentary Opposition appoints from its ranks a Shadow Cabinet to monitor Government ministers and present itself as an alternate Government. The portfolios of Shadow Ministers usually correspond with those of the Government, although the current Labor Opposition's portfolio of Homeland Security is not present in the Cabinet. Smaller opposition parties often appoint spokespersons for Cabinet portfolios, but do not comprise the Shadow Cabinet. Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... The Opposition in Australia fulfils the same function as the official opposition in other Commonwealth of Nations monarchies. ... The Present Opposition Shadow Cabinet or Opposition Front Bench is listed below. ...


See also

The current Commonwealth of Australia ministry is the Fourth Howard Ministry. ...

References

  1. ^ a b FAQ: Executive Government - The Cabinet, Parliamentary Education Office.
  2. ^ Andrew Bartlett: Senate Official Hansard, 26 June 2003.
  3. ^ Randal, G. Stewart; Ian Ward (1996). Politics One, 2nd edition, South Melbourne: Macmillan Education Australia. ISBN 0732931851. 
  4. ^ Cabinet Handbook, 5th Edition, p32, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia).
  5. ^ Introduction to the Cabinet and its records, National Archives of Australia.
  6. ^ Australia's system of government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia).
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Abbott · Andrews · Bishop · Brough · Coonan · Costello · Downer · Ellison · Hockey · Howard · Macfarlane · McGauran · Minchin · Nelson · Ruddock · Truss · Turnbull · Vaile
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Politics of Australia
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State/territory elections

ACT (2004 election) · NSW (2007 election) · NT (2005 election) · QLD (2006 election) · SA (2006 election) · TAS (2006 election) · VIC (2006 election) · WA (2005 election) Bartlett speaks at the launch of his campaign for re-election to the Australian Senate in July 2007 Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he... is the 177th day of the year (178th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is an Australian Government department. ... The National Archives of Australia building on Queen Victoria Terrace in Canberra, May 2007. ... The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is a department of the Commonwealth Government charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally. ... For other people called Tony Abbott, see Tony Abbott (disambiguation). ... Kevin James Andrews (born 9 November 1955), is an Australian politician and is currently the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship in the Liberal Howard Government. ... Hon Julie Bishop Julie Isabel Bishop (born 17 July 1956), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Curtin, Western Australia. ... Hon Mal Brough Malcolm Thomas Mal Brough (pronounced Bruff) (born 29 December 1961), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Longman, Queensland. ... Helen Lloyd Coonan (born 29 October 1947), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing New South Wales. ... Peter Howard Costello (born 14 August 1957) is an Australian politician. ... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996 This makes him the longest serving Foreign Minister in Australian history. ... Christopher Martin Ellison (born 15 June Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1993, representing Western Australia. ... Joseph Benedict Joe Hockey (born 2 August 1965), Australian politician, is the Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. ... John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian politician and the 25th Prime Minister of Australia. ... Ian Elgin Macfarlane (born 5 April 1955), Australian politician, has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives since October 1998, representing the Division of Groom, Queensland. ... Hon Peter McGauran Peter John McGauran (born 16 November 1955), Australian politician, has been a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1983, representing the Division of Gippsland, Victoria. ... Senator Nicholas Minchin Nicholas Hugh Minchin (born 15 April 1953), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since July 1993, representing South Australia. ... Dr. Brendan John Nelson (born 19 August 1958), Australian politician, has been a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives since March 1996, representing the Division of Bradfield, New South Wales. ... Philip Maxwell Ruddock (born March 12, 1943), is the Attorney-General in the Coalition Government of Australian Prime Minister John Howard. ... Hon Warren Truss The Hon Warren Errol Truss MP (born 8 October 1948), is an Australian politician. ... Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954), Australian politician, was the Federal Minister for Environment and Water Resources until November 2007. ... Hon Mark Vaile Eric William Day (born 18 April 1956), Australian politician, is the leader of the Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only country to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/Oceania. ... Type Bicameral Houses House of Representatives Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives David Hawker, Liberal Party since 16 November 2004 President of the Senate Alan Ferguson, Liberal Party since 14 August 2007 Members 226 (150 Representatives, 76 Senators) Political groups Liberal Party ALP National Party Country Liberal Party Greens... Type Lower house Speaker of the House David Hawker, Liberal since November 16, 2004 Members 150 Political groups Liberal Party (74) ALP (60) National Party (12) Country Liberal Party (1) Last elections 9 October 2004 Meeting place Parliament House, Canberra, ACT Web site House of Representatives Entrance to the House... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ... High Court entrance The High Court of Australia is the final court of appeal in Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy. ... In Melbourne, the Federal Court is housed with other federal courts such as the High Court and the Federal Magistrates Court in the Federal Court Building on the corner of La Trobe Street and William Street The Federal Court of Australia is the Australian court in which most civil disputes... Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, in 1952 and 2002 The title Queen of Australia has existed since 1973, when the Parliament of Australia passed the Royal Style and Titles Act (1973). ... The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... The Federal Executive Council is the formal body holding executive authority under the Australian Constitution. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (922x693, 1523 KB) Summary Transparent copy of [1] Edited by Ansett 1means the typographical arrangement and layout of a published work. ... This article deals with elections to the Australian Parliament. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on October 25, 1969. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 December 1972. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 May 1974. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 December 1977. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 1 December 1984. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 11 July 1987. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 24 March 1990. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 March 1993. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 2 March 1996. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 3 October 1998. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 November 2001. ... Federal elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ... The 2007 election for the federal Parliament of Australia, in which 13. ... The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... Capital Canberra Government Constitutional monarchy Administrator none Chief Minister Jon Stanhope (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 2  - Senate seats 2 Gross Territorial Product (2006)  - Product ($m)  $19,167 (6th)  - Product per capita  $57,303/person (1st) Population (End of November 2006)  - Population  333,667 (7th)  - Density  137. ... The ACT Legislative Assembly building, as seen from the front The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly (or, more formally and fully, the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory) is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory. ... The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Elections for the 54th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 24 March 2007. ... Judicial High Court Lower Courts Constitution State and territory governments Executive Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Legislative Parliaments and Assemblies State electoral systems ACT - NSW - NT - Qld. ... A general election was held in the Northern Territory, Australia, on June 18, 2005. ... Queensland Government Logo The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the Queensland Government. ... An election was held in the Australian state of Queensland on 9 September 2006 to elect the 89 members of the states Legislative Assembly, after being announced by Premier Peter Beattie on 15 August 2006. ... The form of the Government of South Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... The general election for the 51st Parliament of South Australia was held in the state of South Australia on 18 March 2006, and was conducted by the independent State Electoral Office. ... Tasmanian Coat of Arms featuring two Thylacines The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then. ... A general election for the House of Assembly (lower house) were held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 18 March 2006, the same day as the South Australian elections. ... The form of the Government of Victoria is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1855, although it has been amended many times since then. ... A general election for the 56th Parliament of Victoria took place on Saturday, 25 November 2006. ... The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then. ... A general election was held for parliamentary seats in the Australian state of Western Australia on Saturday 26 February 2005. ...

Political parties Australian Greens · Australian Labor Party · Family First Party · Liberal Party of Australia · National Party of Australia · Micro-parties

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