Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

A top national security and foreign affairs adviser has been named the next cabinet secretary, bumping up the number of vacancies in Australian intelligence agencies

Three Commonwealth diversity strategies took top priority at the Australian Public Service Secretaries Equality and Diversity Council meeting in July. The council discussed future directions for strategies, drawing on experiences from efforts to promote inclusion and diversity in several departments.

The inbound secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet was always a public servant, even when working as the Treasurer’s chief of staff. That’s the final word from Peter Costello, one of the two former treasurers who employed Phil Gaetjens in their office, before his return to Treasury late last year as the departmental secretary and his latest appointment to PM&C.

Government agencies are failing to follow recommendations made by top scrutiny bodies, the national auditor-general’s office has found.

Legislation has been passed that will allow royal commissions to hear evidence from individuals in private, according to Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ben Morton.

A government analytics hub called The Central Analytics Hub — a unit within PM&C that uses government data to lead projects — is using data to explore complex policy questions and support informed policy decisions. It is one of five analytical units funded through the $130.8 million Data Integration Partnership for Australia, started in 2017.

Last week’s major movements at the top of the Australian Public Service last week were followed by tributes, trepidation and congratulations, as well as a report that ASIO director-general Duncan Lewis would also retire at the end of his term.

Dr Martin Parkinson wants to make it clear for the record that he was never formally sacked as the secretary of the Treasury in 2013, despite being told his services were no longer required shortly after Tony Abbott became prime minister.

Treasury secretary Phil Gaetjens will lead the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from September, and be replaced by the secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development, Dr Steven Kennedy.

A new guide to preparation of Commonwealth Executive Council submissions has been published by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.The latest handbook — not to be confused with the cabinet handbook — contains all updates to drafting standards explained in circulars issued since the last edition was published in 2017.

Diane Smith-Gander AO will take over as Chair of the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA) from Paul McClintock AO in November.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appointed National Mental Health Commission chief executive Christine Morgan as the Commonwealth government’s suicide-prevention adviser.