To assist in the planning of the Government’s Legislative Program, it is necessary for the Department of Premier and Cabinet to collate from Ministers the details of any legislative matters that they currently anticipate bringing to Parliament in 2013.

Ministers are therefore requested to provide details of any proposed bills that they intend to bring forward in 2013 using the attached form.

A separate form should be completed for each piece of legislation. (A form does not need to be completed for bills that have already been introduced into Parliament even if they have not yet passed all stages.)

Forms should be returned addressed to Cabinet Secretariat by no later than Friday, 21 December 2012.

In order to allow for the efficient scheduling of the Cabinet and Parliamentary agenda, as well as for the planning and allocation of drafting resources, Ministers are requested to ensure that Cabinet Minutes seeking in-principle approval for the drafting of legislation are lodged as early as possible.

The deadlines for legislation proposed for introduction into Parliament in the 2013 Budget Sittings are as follows:

• Any outstanding Cabinet Minutes seeking in-principle approval to draft legislation should be lodged with Cabinet Secretariat before the commencement of the sitting period on 19 February 2013 if possible and, in any event, must be lodged by Friday, 26 April 2013 at the very latest.
• Ministers are reminded of the “ten day rule” in respect of Cabinet Minutes as set out on page 17 of the Ministerial Handbook, as well as the requirement to consult with central agencies and other affected Ministers and agencies before finalising and lodging a Cabinet Minute.
• Agencies are required to provide drafting instructions to the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office within three working days of Cabinet’s in-principle approval.
• All Bills should be drafted and approved for introduction into Parliament by the Cabinet Standing Committee on Legislation (or Cabinet, where a Bill Minute is required) no later than the week commencing Monday, 20 May 2013.

Matters that do not comply with these deadlines will not be able to be included in the parliamentary program for the 2013 Budget Sittings unless there are exceptional circumstances where a case for urgency can be made out and the formal approval of the Premier is obtained.

Any enquiries should be directed to the Branch Manager, Cabinet Secretariat on
(02) 9228 4636.

Paul Miller
General Counsel