As you would be aware, Cabinet and its. sub-committees are a fundamental part of the Westminster style of Government. Their effective operation and the full involvement of relevant Ministers are essential if collective ministerial responsibility is to be properly maintained. The system of sub-committees is designed to make the operation of the full Cabinet more efficient. As a result, Minister's are accountable and responsible for the outcomes of Cabinet sub-committees.

It is in this context that I remind Ministers of the importance of making themselves available to attend meetings of all Cabinet sub-committees of which they are members. Where matters are listed for consideration at sub-committee meetings, Ministers should come prepared to speak to those matters. If the relevant Minister is not in attendance the matter should not be dealt with. (A current list of sub-committees is annexed).

Attendance of bureaucrats and ministerial advisors

As Cabinet committees are serviced by The Cabinet Office, relevant officers from The Cabinet Office should always be in attendance.

It is appropriate for officers from Treasury to attend the Expenditure Review Committee and Capital Works Committee. It is also appropriate for relevant officers from the Premiers Department to attend the Capital Works Committee, Olympics Committee and the Economic Development Committee.

It may be appropriate for senior agency officers to attend other sub-committees where an agenda item is relevant to the agency and advice will assist the sub-committee. It is not appropriate for bureaucrats, other than those listed above, to attend Cabinet committees.

If ministerial advisors are required to provide expert advice to Cabinet sub-committees, they may only attend for the time it takes to provide the information required from them. Generally, however, Ministers are expected to present their own cases.

I would ask that the Ministers who chair Cabinet sub-committees ensure that these requirements are adhered to.

John Fahey
Premier