To enable all Ministers to fully participate in the decision-making process of Cabinet, it is important that strict rules concerning the lodgement of Cabinet Minutes and Bill Minutes are adhered to. To this end, the following rules apply:

• All matters for 'in principle' consideration by Cabinet are to be lodged with the Cabinet Secretariat at least ten working days prior to the Cabinet meeting at which the Minister wishes the matter to be listed (the ten day rule).
• All Bill Minutes for consideration by Cabinet are to be lodged with the Cabinet Secretariat at least four working days prior to the Cabinet meeting at which the Minister wishes the matter to be listed (the four day rule). Bill Minutes must attach a copy of the draft Bill and where the draft Bill varies from Cabinet's original decision, reasons for the variation must be detailed.

Both the ten day rule and the four day rule will be applied strictly. Minutes not complying with these rules will be listed for consideration at a subsequent meeting of Cabinet. It should be noted that compliance with the ten day rule and the four day rule will not mean that the Minute is automatically listed ten or four days after receipt (as the case may be).

Exemptions to the ten day rule and the four day rule will only be considered where circumstances make urgent consideration of the Minute necessary. Ministers seeking an exemption must present the Minute with a letter requesting waiver of the relevant rule and setting out the grounds for urgency and the reasons why it is not possible to deal with the Minute in the normal timeframe. Requests will only be agreed to in the most urgent cases and where the need is clear.

Many requests for urgent consideration result from departmental delays and inadequate planning. Ministers should ensure that procedures are implemented to anticipate deadlines and so avoid requests for exemption.

Ministers must also ensure that all departmental and Ministerial responses to Cabinet Minutes are submitted to Cabinet Secretariat by the deadline specified by The Cabinet Office when the advice is requested, to enable all views to be properly considered.

I would be pleased if you would ensure that these rules are brought to the attention of all officers within your administration.

Morris Iemma MP
Premier and Treasurer