PRIME MINISTE -6E17
FOR PRESS 4 FEBRUARY 1979
CHANGES IN CABINET ARRANGEMENTS
The Prime Minister announced today changes in the
structure and membership of the Standing Committees of Cabinet.
These changes flow from a review of Cabinet
arrangements asked for by the Prime Minister late last year.
The new structure of Standing Committees matches
more closely the present flow of Cabinet business. Some
Committees have been reduced in size to facilitate their
operations. However other Ministers are co-opted to Standing
Committees for particular policy items as required. Ministers
proposing policy items are automatically co-opted.
Major issues, particularly in relation to the economy
and employment, will continue to be taken in full Cabinet.
Standing Committees will meet throughout the year as the
workload requires. They will continue to be supported by
committees of officials.
The review of Cabinet arrangements confirmed a
significant and continuing increase in the volume of business
coming forward for decision, a continuing feature of federal
administration under the present and previous Governments.
Streamlining measures have been taken in the past to reduce
the workload on Cabinet. The Prime Minister has informed
Ministers of further changes designed to reduce the Cabinet
workload, including a request that Ministers handle more
matters on their own discretion. Cabinet has also authorised
the Minister for Finance to approve minor new expenditures
bilaterally with Ministers without Cabinet consideration.
The growing volume of Cabinet business comes from a
variety of reasons, particularly the complexity of government
and the increasing need at the federal and state level for
co-ordination of policies. The Cabinet Office has been asked
to continue its task of orderly programming of meetings and
improving the presentation of proposals for decision.
The practice will continue of establ ishing other
Cabinet Committees on an ad hoc basis for specific purposes.
The Ministerial Public Information Committee, chaired by the
Minister for Industry and Commerce, will also continue to
operate. The new Standing Committees of Cabinet and their
membership are shown in the attachment. 000---/ attachment. 9 pages
CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE ( CC)
Terms of Reference
To consider overall government strategy
and to deal with matters referred to it by the Prime
Minister. Membership
Mr Fraser
Mr Anthony
Mr Lynch
Mr Sinclair
Sen. Carrick Prime Minister ( Chairman)
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Industry and
Commerce
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Education
Permanent Heads Committee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of the Treasury
Secretary, Department of Trade and Resources
Secretary, Department of Finance
Chairman, Public Service Board
FOiEIGN AFFAIRS AD DEFENCE COM" IITTEE ( FAD)
Terrs of Reference
To consider matters concerned with
international relations and defence.
Membership
lir Fraser
MIr iAnthony
Mr Lynch
Z. r Sinclair
Sen. Carrick
Mr Howard
Mr Peacock
Mr Killen
Mr MacKellar Prime Tinister ( Chairman)
1Uinister for Trade and
Resources
Hinister for Industry
and Connerce
Minister for Primary Industry
. inister for Education
Treasurer Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Defence
! iinister for Immigration and
Ethnic Affairs and ! linister
Assisting the Treasurer
Permancnt Heads Cor, mmittee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of Defence
Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
Secretary, Department of the Treasury
Secretary, Dep) artment of Finance
Secretary, Department of Trade and Resources
INTELLIGENCE AND SECURITY COMMITTEE ( IS)
Terms of Reference
To set overall policy and oversee the work
of the intelligence community. Membership
Mr Fraser
Mr Anthony
Mr Sinclair
Mr Peacock
Mr Killen
Mr Robinson
Sen. Durack
Mr McLeay Prime Minister ( Chairman)
Minister for Trade and Resources
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Defence
Minister for Finance
Attorney-General
Minister for Administrative
Services and Minister
Assisting the Minister for
Defence
Permanent Heads Committee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs
Secretary, Department of Defence
Chief of Defence Force Staff
Secretary, Department of Finance
Director, Office of National
Assessments
Director-General of Security
MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE ( 1.1P)
Terms of Reference
To deal with matters relating to interest
rates, banking policy and currency e:.: change rates.
Membership
Mr Fraser
Mr Anthony
Mr Lynch
Mr Sinclair
Sen. Carrick
Mr Street
Mr Nixon
Mr Howard
Mr Robinson Prime Minister ( Chairman)
Minister for Trade and
Resources
Minister for Industry
and Commerce
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Education
Minister for Industrial
Relations
Minister for Transport
Treasurer Minister for Finance
Committee of Officials
Governor, Reserve Bank ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister
and Cabinet
Secretary, Department of the Treasury
Secretary, Department of Finance
WAGES POLICY COMMITTEE ( 14P)
Terms of Reference
To settle the Government's Submissions at
the National Wage Case and deal with related matters
referred to it by the Prime Minister or Cabinet.
Membership
Mr Lynch
Mr Sinclair
Mr Street
Mr Nixon
Mr Howard
Mr Peacock
Mr Viner
Sen. Durack
Mr Macphee
Mr Ellicott
Mr Groom Minister for Industry
and Commerce ( Chairman)
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Industrial
Relations
Minister for Transport
Treasurer
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Employment and
Youth Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Prime
Minister
Attorney-General
Minister for Productivity and
Minister Assisting the Minister
for Industry and Commerce
Minister for Home Affairs and
Minister for the Capital
Territory
Minister for Housing and
Construction
Task Group of Officials
Dept of Industrial Relations ( Chair)
Dept of Employment and Youth Affairs
Dept of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Dept of the Treasury
Public Service Board
SOCIAL WELFAIRE POLICY COMMITTEE ( SI P)
Tierms of Reference
To oversee and consider plans and
policies and review existing policies and programs in
the broad field of health, welfare and education.
Membership
Mr Lynch
Sen. Carrick
Sen. Guilfoyle
Mr Robinson
Mr Viner
Mr Hunt
Mr M1acKellar
Ilr Adermann
Ir Ellicott
i'lr Groom Minister for Industry
and Coimmerce ( Chairman)
Minister for Education
Minister for Social Security
Minister for Finance
Minister for Employment and
Youth Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Prime Minister
Minister for Health
Minister for Irmigration and
Ethnic Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Treasurer
Minister for Veterans'
Affairs and ilinister Assisting
the Minister for Primary
Industry
Minister for Home Affairs
and Minister for the
Capital Territory
Minister for Housing and
Construction
Permanent ieads Comraittee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Director-General, Department of Social Security
Director-General, Department of Health
Secretary, Department of Finance
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE ( LEG)
Terms of Reference
To examine draft Bills, and ensure
their compliance with the terms of Decisions of the
Cabinet or Cabinet Corunittees.
To consider minor legislative proposals,
determine priority and authorise drafting.
To develop and monitor the legislation
program for each Parliamentary sittings, including
oversight of priorities for drafting and passage.
To oversee the Parliamentary
proceedings and priorities. Membership
Mr Sinclair
Sen. Carrick
Mr Nixon
Mr Peacock
Mr Viner
Sen. Durack
Sen. Webster
Mr Macphee
Mr Garland
Mr Ellicott
Mr Groom Leader of the House
( Chairman)
Leader of the Government in
the Senate
Minister for Transport
Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Employment and
Youth Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Prime Minister
Attorney-General
Minister for Science and the
Environment
Minister for Productivity
and Minister Assisting the Minister
for Industry and Comnierce
Minister for Special Trade
Representations and Minister
Assisting the Minister for
Trade and Resources
Minister for Home Affairs and
Minister for the Capital
Territory
Minister for Housing and
Construction
Permanent Heads Committee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Attorney-General's Department
First Parliamentary Counsel
GENERAL POLICY COMMITTEE
Terms of Reference
To consider matters broadly within existing
policy guidelines, as referred by the Prime Minister.
To deal with organisational and
administrative matters. Membership
Mr Lynch
Mr Nixon
Sen. Guilfoyle
Mr Robinson
Mr Viner
Sen. Durack
Mr Hunt
Mr MacKellar
Mr Adermann
Mr Newman
Mr Staley
Sen. Chaney Minister for Industry and
Commerce ( Chairman)
Minister for Transport
Minister for Social Security
Minister for Finance
Minister for Employment and
Youth Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Prime Minister
Attorney-General
Minister for Health
Minister for Immigration and
Ethnic Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Treasurer
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
and Minister Assisting the
Minister for Primary
Industry
Minister for National
Development
Minister for Post and
Telecommunications
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
and Minister Assisting the
Minister for Education
Representing the Treasurer
Permanent Heads Committee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of Finance
Chairman, Public Service Board
Secretary, Department of Administrative Services
INDUSTRY POLICY COMMITTEE
Terms of Reference
To consider matters arising from reports
of the Industries Assistance Commission and the
Temporary Assistance Authority.
To oversee Government Purchasing policy,
including the acquisition of ADP capability.
To deal with matters affecting Australian
industry generally. Membership
Mr Lynch
Mr Sinclair
Mr Street
Mr Killen
Mr Robinson
Mr Viner
Mr MacKellar ( 1)
Mr McLeay
Sen. Webster
Mr Macphee
Mr Fife
Mr Garland Minister for Industry and
Commerce ( Chairman)
Minister for Primary Industry
Minister for Industrial
Relations
Minister for Defence
Minister for Finance
Minister for Employment and
Youth Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Prime M. inister
Minis ter for Immigration and
Ethnic Affairs and Minister
Assisting the Treasurer
Minister for Administrative
Services and Minister
Assisting the Minister
for Defence
Minister for Science and
the Environment
Minister-for Productivity
and Minister Assisting the
Minister for Industry and
Commerce
Minister for Business and
Consumer Affairs and
Minister Assisting the
Prime Minister in Federal
Affairs
Minister for Special Trade
Representations and Minister
Assisting the Minister for
Trade and Resources
Representing the Treasurer
Permanent Heads Committee
Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet ( Chairman)
Secretary, Department of Industry and Commerce
Secretary, Department of the Treasury
Secretary, Department of Business and Consumer Affairs