Ministers are reminded that announcements or comments about new policy initiatives are not to be made without prior Cabinet approval.

Ministers and their agencies are not entitled to declare matters to be statements of Government policy unless they have been formally submitted to and approved by Cabinet, the Cabinet Standing Committee on Major Issues and Strategies, the Cabinet Standing Committee on the Budget, or the Premier. This requirement extends to so-called discussion papers, issues papers, vision statements, strategies, plans, "Green Papers" and "White Papers", as well as to any document announcing draft policies.

I expect all Ministers to comply with these arrangements at all times in the interests of collective responsibility and good management.

Morris Iemma MP
Premier

This Memorandum supersedes Memoranda M1995-35 and M1998-28 and T98-3