What we do
The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has undergone considerable change since its beginnings as an Office of only five members more than 110 years ago. The most recent major change was in November 2008, when the Department’s responsibilities for evaluating the public sector’s performance and developing management policies and reform agendas were transferred to the newly formed Public Sector Commission.
This change means the Department will now have a stronger policy focus, and concentrate on delivering the following:
- strategic policy advice, support and solutions to the Premier;
- facilitation of the business of Cabinet and Executive Council;
- support services to Ministers and members of Parliament to assist them to meet their purposes;
- coordination and facilitation of Government policies, programmes and operations;
- education services relating to the Constitution and systems of government; and
- a secure and confidential government publishing service.
The Department's Strategic Plan outlines how we will fulfil this role.
With a focus on outcome delivery, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet has determined two key service delivery areas:
Service 1: Administration of Executive Government Services
- Administrative support to the Premier.
- Administrative policy advice and support to ministerial offices and Leader(s) of the Opposition.
- Promotion of Western Australia's interests overseas .
- Communication of Government policies and activities.
- Support for the Executive Council.
- Administration of entitlements for Members and former Members of Parliament.
- Management of the State occasions and official visits program.
- Secure, confidential and time-critical printing and publishing service for Parliament and Government.
- Management of exhibitions and programs at the Constitutional Centre.
- Coordination of government services provided for the Indian Ocean Territories on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Service 2: Government policy management
- Strategic policy advice and coordination to the Premier and Cabinet.
- Leadership, coordination and support of cross-agency solutions to complex problems.
- Managing and coordinating WA Government input into intergovernmental negotiations, and advice on whole-of-government positions on federal reform, treaties, defence and other matters raised through Council of Australian Governments and Council for Australian Federation.
- Policy research, advice and development through the Land, Approvals and Native Title Unit.
- Support for the functions of Cabinet and Parliament.
- Emergency management policy advice to the Premier, Ministers and Government agencies, and whole-of-government management and coordination of significant security incidents and emergencies.