National Cabinet (Australia)

Australian intergovernmental forum

"National Cabinet" redirects here. For other uses, see Cabinet (government).

This article is about Australia's primary intergovernmental forum. For Australia's federal executive cabinet, see Cabinet of Australia. For the economic advisory board during the pandemic, see National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board.

National Cabinet

Chair| Anthony Albanese (Prime Minister)
Current members| Chris Minns (NSW)
Jacinta Allan (Vic)
David Crisafulli (Qld)
Roger Cook (WA)
Peter Malinauskas (SA)
Jeremy Rockliff (Tas)
Andrew Barr (ACT)
Lia Finocchiaro (NT)
Founded| 2020; 5 years ago (2020)
Preceded by| Council of Australian Governments
Affiliated| Australian federal government and the state and territory premiers and chief ministers
Website
federation.gov.au/national-cabinet

* Politics of Australia
* Political parties
* Elections

This article is part of a series on the

Politics of
Australia
Constitution

Monarchy

* Monarch

* Charles III

* Governor-General

* Sam Mostyn

Executive

* Prime Minister

* Anthony Albanese (ALP)

* Deputy Prime Minister

* Richard Marles (ALP)

* * *

* Federal Executive Council

* Ministry
* Second Albanese ministry
* Cabinet

Legislature

* Australian Parliament

* * *

* Senate

* President Sue Lines (ALP)

* Leader Penny Wong (ALP)

* * *

* House of Representatives

* Speaker Milton Dick (ALP)

* Leader Tony Burke (ALP)

* * *

* Opposition

* Leader Sussan Ley (LP)

* Shadow Ministry

Judiciary

* High Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Stephen Gageler

* Keane
* Gordon
* Edelman
* Steward
* Gleeson
* Beech-Jones

* * *

* Federal Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Debra Mortimer

* List of Judges

* * *

* Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

* Chief Justice Will Alstergren

* List of Judges

* * *

* State and territory courts
* Australian legal system

Elections

* Recent elections

* 2025
* 2022
* 2019
* 2016
* 2013
* 2010

* * *

* Federal electoral system
* Electoral divisions
* By-elections
* Referendums and plebiscites

* * *

* Voter registration
* Leadership spill
* Political parties
* Political funding

States and territories

* Governors and administrators
* Premiers and chief ministers
* Parliaments and assemblies

* * *

* State courts
* State electoral systems

Local government

* NSW
* Vic
* Qld
* WA
* SA
* Tas
* NT
* Political parties

Foreign relations

* Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

* Foreign Minister Penny Wong

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in Australia

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passports
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* * *

* Australia and the United Nations

* * *

* G20
* APEC

* * *

* New Zealand
* United Kingdom
* United States
* Canada
* European Union
* China
* India

Ideologies

* Anarchism
* Christian
* Conservatism
* Environmentalism
* Far-right
* Hansonism
* Liberalism
* Monarchism
* Multiculturalism
* Nationalism
* Republicanism
* Secularism
* Socialism

Australia portal

* New South Wales
* Victoria
* Queensland
* Western Australia
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Australian Capital Territory
* Northern Territory

* v
* t
* e

The National Cabinet is the primary Australian intergovernmental decision-making forum composed of the prime minister and state and territory premiers and chief ministers of Australia’s six states and two mainland territories.

Originally established on 13 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, National Cabinet replaced the now-defunct Council of Australian Governments (COAG) as the primary intergovernmental forum on 29 May 2020, citing excessive bureaucracy and infrequent meetings.[1] National Cabinet is composed of the main forum (prime minister, premiers, and chief ministers), and specialised committees focusing on: rural and regional Australia, skills, infrastructure, health, transport, population and migration, and energy.[2]

## History and description

[edit]

The formation of the National Cabinet was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 13 March 2020,[3] following a meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).[4] It was created via the "National Partnership on COVID-19 Response" agreement[5] to "coordinate and deliver a consistent national response to COVID-19" during the global COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7][8]

The New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, joined a National Cabinet meeting in May 2020 to discuss the economic benefits of trans-Tasman travel between the two nations.[9]

It has been described as akin to Australia's War Cabinet during the Second World War.[10] At the heights of the pandemic (prior to the widespread rollout of COVID-19 vaccines), meetings of National Cabinet were held using secure video conferencing.[8] National Cabinet has been criticised for its secrecy.[11]

## Role and responsibilities

[edit]

The National Cabinet is responsible for endorsing and coordinating national actions in Australia in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It is advised and supported by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC),[12] an ongoing body composed of the Chief Medical Officer of the Commonwealth and the Chief Health Officers of each of the states and territories.[13] The AHPPC uses the currently available modelling, research and data to inform the decisions made by the National Cabinet.[14]

The prime minister at the time, Scott Morrison, has said that the National Cabinet has "the status of a cabinet meeting" at a federal level, meaning it has the same confidentiality and Freedom of Information protections as the federal cabinet, under the Freedom of Information Act 1982.[8] However, this was later rejected in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, which found that the body was not a Cabinet committee and was subject to ordinary freedom of information laws.[15]

Public policy specialist Jennifer Menzies describes the National Cabinet as "COAG by another name", which has taken on a leadership role during a time of national crisis. She writes "Though called a cabinet, the national cabinet is technically an intergovernmental forum. The conventions and rules of cabinet, such as cabinet solidarity and the secrecy provisions, do not apply to the national cabinet. Its power is that which the leaders of all Australian jurisdictions bring to negotiate on behalf of their people, and to implement the decisions reached." This model has been called executive federalism.[14]

## Current membership

[edit]

Name | Office held | In office since | Party

|
|
|

Anthony Albanese | Prime Minister of Australia (Chair) | 23 May 2022 |  | Labor
Chris Minns | Premier of New South Wales | 28 March 2023 |  | Labor
Jacinta Allan | Premier of Victoria | 27 September 2023 |  | Labor
David Crisafulli | Premier of Queensland | 28 October 2024 |  | Liberal National
Roger Cook | Premier of Western Australia | 8 June 2023 |  | Labor
Peter Malinauskas | Premier of South Australia | 21 March 2022 |  | Labor
Jeremy Rockliff | Premier of Tasmania | 8 April 2022 |  | Liberal
Andrew Barr | Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory | 11 December 2014 |  | Labor
Lia Finocchiaro | Chief Minister of the Northern Territory | 28 August 2024 |  | Country Liberal

## Former membership

[edit]

Name | Office held | Member from  | Member until  | Party

|
|
|
|

James Merlino | Acting Premier of Victoria | 9 March 2021  | 28 June 2021  |  | Labor
Gladys Berejiklian | Premier of New South Wales | 13 March 2020  | 5 October 2021  |  | Liberal
Steven Marshall | Premier of South Australia | 13 March 2020  | 21 March 2022  |  | Liberal
Peter Gutwein | Premier of Tasmania | 13 March 2020  | 8 April 2022  |  | Liberal
Michael Gunner | Chief Minister of the Northern Territory | 13 March 2020  | 13 May 2022  |  | Labor
Scott Morrison | Prime Minister of Australia | 13 March 2020  | 23 May 2022  |  | Liberal
Dominic Perrottet | Premier of New South Wales | 5 October 2021  | 28 March 2023  |  | Liberal
Mark McGowan | Premier of Western Australia | 13 March 2020  | 8 June 2023  |  | Labor
Daniel Andrews | Premier of Victoria | 13 March 2020  | 27 September 2023  |  | Labor
Annastacia Palaszczuk | Premier of Queensland | 13 March 2020  | 15 December 2023  |  | Labor
Natasha Fyles | Chief Minister of the Northern Territory | 13 May 2022  | 21 December 2023  |  | Labor
Eva Lawler | Chief Minister of the Northern Territory | 21 December 2023  | 28 August 2024  |  | Labor
Steven Miles | Premier of Queensland | 15 December 2023  | 28 October 2024  |  | Labor

## Meetings and press releases

[edit]

This section is missing information about meeting information between 13 November 2020 and 22 January 2021, and weekly meetings which began sometime after 4 June. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page. (August 2021)

|

* 16 March 2020: Announcement of a "significant step-up" to the pandemic, upon the advice of the AHPPC, with additional measures in order to reduce community transmission. These included banning cruise ships from docking, enhanced screening of arrivals, and mandatory self-isolation for everyone arriving in Australia. National Cabinet also activated the second stage of the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus, which "enables governments to undertake targeted action... and ensures that resources are properly allocated where needed and the risks to vulnerable people in the community are mitigated".[16]
* 25 March 2020: PM announces creation of the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC), and clarifies role of various bodies: the National Cabinet "continues to lead the national response at a government level. The National Security Committee of Cabinet's COVID-19 Taskforce and the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet continue to take decisions that determine the Commonwealth's response to the global COVID-19 pandemic".[17]
* 29 March 2020: National Cabinet noted that the rate of increase of the spread of COVID-19 was slowing, but overall numbers were still increasing and welcomed the new coronavirus app and WhatsApp channel released by the Government. It announced new limits to indoor and outdoor gatherings to two persons only (with some exceptions); discussed further social distancing measures; gave further advice to senior citizens; and agreed to a moratorium on evictions for the coming six months for both commercial and residential tenancies suffering financial distress.[18]
* 4 May 2020: Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, was invited to join the National Cabinet in a meeting on 5 May, to discuss strategies in dealing with the virus and the Australian COVIDSafe app.[19]
* 29 May 2020: PM announces that the National Cabinet will replace COAG on a permanent basis, meeting monthly once the pandemic is over.[20]
* 18 September 2020: National Cabinet met to discuss Australia's COVID-19 response, recent progress following the Victorian outbreak and easing restrictions (including international border measures).[21]
* 16 October 2020: National Cabinet meeting postponed to "technical problems" with Prime Minister Morrison's plane.[22]
* 23 October 2020: National Cabinet discussed and made announcements regarding progress following the Victorian outbreak, the budget, and made announcements on the newly-developed "Framework for National Reopening Australia by Christmas", improving quarantine systems, returning citizens, the Mental Health National Cabinet Reform Committee, Aged Care Emergency Response Centres, and the establishment of a Taskforce on Veterans’ Wellbeing.[23]
* 13 November 2020 (31st meeting): National Cabinet discussed Australia's COVID-19 response, COVID-19 vaccination policy, the Framework for National Reopening by Christmas, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment, getting the economy moving again, a review of contact tracing and outbreak management systems, returning Australians, international students and other matters.[24]
* 22 January 2021: National Cabinet convened to discuss international return limits and COVID-19 vaccines.[25] The forum decided to remain at a reduced rate, following the introduction of the more infectious UK strain into Australia, until 15 February.[26] National Cabinet also agreed that the COVID-19 vaccine is not currently planned to be mandatory for aged care workers, but may become so later, noting concerns from the industry that it should be mandatory.[27]
* 4 June 2021: National Cabinet met to discuss Australia’s COVID-19 response and changes to the Australian COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.[28]
* 6 December 2023: National Cabinet met to discuss reforms around gun control – implementing a National Firearms Registry triggered by the aftermath of the Wieambilla shootings, healthcare – boosting funding for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (an election promise of the Albanese Government),[29] the National Disability Insurance Scheme – to cap growth at 8 per cent and controlling growth, Goods and Services Tax – extending the No Worse Off Guarantee until 2027–28 to ensure states are funded equitably.[30]

## Succession of COAG

[edit]

There had been suggestions for the National Cabinet to continue on a permanent basis after the pandemic is over, effectively replacing COAG. On 14 April 2020, Prime Minister Morrison was reported saying, "The processes we've established for the National Cabinet may prove to be a better way for our federal system to work in the future, but this will be a matter for another time", and Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said no other state leaders had objected when he had brought up the idea of continuing the National Cabinet. He also told The Australian newspaper, "The National Cabinet process has removed the political boundaries that can hamper COAG".[31][32]

Former Labor premier of South Australia Jay Weatherill called it a "fantastic innovation [that] should continue", adding that it had "achieved more in the last few months than many COAGs have achieved over many years".[33]

On 29 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the National Cabinet would replace COAG (with COAG being abolished) and meetings after the pandemic would be held monthly, instead of the biannual meetings of COAG.[1] According to Simon Benson of The Australian newspaper, an analogy used to describe the significance of this was "as if the United Nations had been turned into a government".[34]

## See also

[edit]

* Cabinet of Australia – Chief group heading the Australian government
* Council of Australian Governments – Defunct Australian intergovernmental forum
* National Security Committee – National security and major foreign policy body in Australia
* War Cabinet of Australia – Government committee formed to conduct a war

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Hitch, Georgia (29 May 2020). "Scott Morrison says National Cabinet here to stay, will replace COAG meetings in wake of coronavirus". ABC News. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
2. ^ Hitch, Georgia (12 June 2020). "Key moments from the Prime Minister's latest coronavirus press conference after National Cabinet meeting". ABC News. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
3. ^ Prime Minister; Minister for Health; Chief Medical Officer (13 March 2020). "Advice on coronavirus". Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). Archived from the original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
4. ^ Martin, Sarah (18 March 2020). "PM tells Australians to 'stop hoarding' as he announces sweeping measures to slow spread of coronavirus". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
5. ^ National Partnership on COVID-19 Response Archived 7 March 2021 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ Shoebridge, Michael (18 March 2020). "The national cabinet is key to our coronavirus response. Here's how it will need to work". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
7. ^ "Transcript - Press Conference" (Press release). Canberra: Prime Minister's Office. 15 March 2020.
8. ^ a b c Burton, Tom (18 March 2020). "National cabinet creates a new federal model". Australian Financial Review. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
9. ^ Dziedzic, Stephen (4 May 2020). "Jacinda Ardern says travel with Australia amid coronavirus pandemic could have 'huge advantages'". ABC News. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
10. ^ Middleton, Karen (21–27 March 2020). "Inside Morrison's Covid-19 war cabinet". The Saturday Paper. No. 293\. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
11. ^ Karp, Paul (17 June 2022). "Anthony Albanese backflips on national cabinet secrecy and refuses to say why". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023.
12. ^ "Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC)". Australian Government Department of Health. 6 February 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
13. ^ "Coronavirus measures endorsed by National Cabinet". Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). Prime Minister's Office. 16 March 2020. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
14. ^ a b Menzies, Jennifer (31 March 2020). "Explainer: what is the national cabinet and is it democratic?". The Conversation. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
15. ^ Twomey, Anne (6 August 2021). "Nowhere to hide: the significance of national cabinet not being a cabinet". The Conversation. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
16. ^ "Coronavirus measures endorsed by National Cabinet". Prime Minister of Australia. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
17. ^ "National Covid-19 Coordination Commission". Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). 25 March 2020. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
18. ^ "National Cabinet Statement". Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). 29 March 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
19. ^ Murphy, Katharine (4 May 2020). "Jacinda Ardern joins national cabinet meeting as Australia, New Zealand share coronavirus strategy". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
20. ^ "Update following National Cabinet meeting". Prime Minister of Australia. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
21. ^ "Media Statement, 18 Sep 2020, Prime Minister". Prime Minister of Australia. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
22. ^ "National Cabinet postponed after PM Scott Morrison's plane suffers 'technical problems'". ABC News. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
23. ^ "National Cabinet: Media Release". Prime Minister of Australia. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
24. ^ "National Cabinet: Media Statement". Prime Minister of Australia. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
25. ^ Macmillan, Jade (22 January 2021). "National Cabinet to meet again with coronavirus vaccine, international arrivals on the agenda". ABC News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
26. ^ Worthington, Brett (22 January 2021). "International arrival caps to remain unchanged with National Cabinet dashing hopes of Australians stranded by COVID". ABC News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
27. ^ Scott, Sophie; Lloyd, Mary; Hermant, Norman (22 January 2021). "COVID-19 vaccines not mandatory for aged care workers, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces after National Cabinet". ABC News. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
28. ^ "National Cabinet Statement - 4 June 2021". Retrieved 13 June 2021.
29. ^ Martin, Sarah (13 April 2022). "Labor to commit $135m to trial 50 urgent care clinics intended to ease pressure on hospitals". The Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
30. ^ The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia (6 December 2023). "Meeting of National Cabinet – the Federation working for Australia" (Press release). Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600: Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.`{{cite press release}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
31. ^ "Ditch COAG, keep virus team 'Ditch COAG, keep national cabinet'". The Australian. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
32. ^ "Scott Morrison considers making National Cabinet permanent". SBS News. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
33. ^ Richardson, Tom (6 May 2020). "Retain national cabinet post-pandemic: ex-Premier". InDaily. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
34. ^ Benson, Simon (29 May 2020). "All parties eager for new national forum". The Australian. Retrieved 30 May 2020.

## Further reading

[edit]

* Saunders, Cheryl (14 April 2020). COVID-19: What is Australia's National Cabinet? [Law and Covid-19: Australia's National Cabinet. YouTube. University of Melbourne. Melbourne Law School. (5 mins 50 secs)
* Saunders, Cheryl (1 July 2020). "A New Federalism? The Role and Future of the National Cabinet" (PDF). University of Melbourne.

* v
* t
* e

Politics of Australia

Commonwealth|

* Monarch
* Governor-General
* Prime Minister
* Cabinet (Shadow Cabinet)
* Federal Executive Council
* Ministry
* Foreign relations
* Parliament
* House of Representatives
* Senate
* Opposition Leader
* High Court
* Lower Courts
* Constitution
* Statute of Westminster
* Australia Act
* Electoral system
* Elections
* By-elections
* Referendums
* Timeline

State/territory
governments|

* Governors and Administrators
* Premiers and Chief Ministers
* Parliaments and Assemblies
* State and Territory Shadow Cabinet
* NSW
* Vic
* Qld
* WA
* SA
* Tas
* ACT
* NT

Local
government|

* New South Wales (list)
* Northern Territory (list)
* Queensland (list)
* South Australia (list)
* Tasmania (list)
* Victoria (list)
* Western Australia (list)

Political
parties|

* Centre Alliance
* Country Liberal
* Greens
* Katter
* Labor
* Lambie
* Liberal
* Liberal National
* National
* One Nation
* UAP
* Other parties
* Historical

Political
terminology|

* Battlers
* Bjelkemander
* Branch stacking
* Casual vacancy
* Caucus revolt
* Chardonnay socialist
* Contempt of parliament
* Despatch box
* Donkey vote
* Dorothy Dixer
* Double dissolution
* Faceless men
* Forgotten People
* Group voting ticket
* Hardworking families
* How-to-vote card
* Independent politicians
* Kirribilli agreement
* Langer vote
* Leadership spill
* Liberal–National Coalition
* Mortgage belt
* Nationalism
* Parliamentary secretary
* Playmander
* Pub test
* Quiet Australians
* Responsible government
* Stolen Generations
* Teal independents
* Working family
* Worm

* v
* t
* e

COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

* Clusters
* Statistics
* Timeline
* 2020
* 2021
* January–June
* July–December
* 2022
* Vaccination

Locations|

| States and territories|

* Australian Capital Territory
* New South Wales
* Northern Territory
* Queensland
* South Australia
* Tasmania
* Victoria
* Western Australia

|

External territories|

* Christmas Island
* Cocos (Keeling) Islands
* Norfolk Island

Government response|

* Biosecurity Act 2015
* Coronavirus Australia
* COVIDSafe
* JobKeeper
* Lockdowns
* National Cabinet
* National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board
* Zero-COVID

Key people|

| Federal|

* Greg Hunt
* Paul Kelly
* Scott Morrison → Anthony Albanese
* Brendan Murphy

|

State|

* Daniel Andrews → Jacinta Allan
* Andrew Barr
* Gladys Berejiklian → Dominic Perrottet → Chris Minns
* Kerry Chant
* Michael Gunner → Natasha Fyles
* Peter Gutwein → Jeremy Rockliff
* Steven Marshall → Peter Malinauskas
* Mark McGowan → Roger Cook
* Annastacia Palaszczuk
* Andrew Robertson
* Nicola Spurrier
* Brett Sutton
* Jeannette Young → John Gerrard

Miscellaneous|

* Biosecurity in Australia
* COVID-19 protests
* Convoy to Canberra
* Impact on elections
* Notable deaths
* Canberra Coronavirus Field Hospital
* Ruby Princess

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template