“There are only two ways of getting into the Cabinet. One is to crawl up the staircase of preferment on your belly; the other way is to kick them in the teeth. But for God’s sake don’t mix the two methods.” – Aneurin Bevan (British Labour politician)
The Executive Government consists of the Cabinet and the Ministry led by the Prime Minister.
The Ministry is derived from the party or parties that command a majority in the House of Representatives.
Constitutionally, the Governor-General heads the Executive Government, but in practice the Governor-General acts on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The Ministry consists of all those Members of Parliament chosen by the Prime Minister. The Liberal Party has always given its prime minister the power to choose the ministry. The ALP traditionally allowed the Caucus to elect the ministry, whilst the Prime Minister allocated portfolios. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd (2007-10 & 2013) was allowed to abandon this process and choose his own ministry, a practice also followed by Julia Gillard (2010-13).
Ministers serve as members of the executive arm of government and administer the various government departments. The most senior Ministers, including the Prime Minister form the Cabinet, which is often referred to as the engine-room of government.
The principles of cabinet government are not well understood in the wider community. There is often confusion between the ministry and the cabinet, as well as uncertainty about how the Executive Government operates.
Key Terms
- Key Term: Executive Government
- What is the Executive Government?
- Constitutional and Executive Government Conventions
- The Executive Council
Cabinet & the Ministry In Operation
The responsibility of ministers to the Parliament and the people is an important ingredient of the Westminster parliamentary system. The principles of Collective and Individual Ministerial Responsibility govern this chain of accountability. The application of these principles varies considerably depending on the Prime Minister, the political position of the minister in question and public reaction.
- Cabinet Secrecy – Why? – an explanation of the necessity for secrecy in the operation of the Cabinet.
- Ministerial Resignations Since 1901 – a complete list of the ministers who have resigned or been sacked because of breaches of the individual or collective responsibility principles, or because of personal impropriety.
- Cabinet and Ministry Numbers Since 1949 – a breakdown of Cabinet and outer ministry numbers in each government since Menzies in 1949
Cabinet Committees
- Dec 13, 2001: Howard Government Cabinet Committees
- Dec 13, 1984: Hawke Government Cabinet Committees
Ministerial Guidelines
Theses guidelines cover the principles of collective ministerial responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility. The first deals with the obligations and duties of ministers collectively in supporting government decisions. The second deals with personal behaviour of ministers in relation to administration of their portfolio, as well as their financial interests and conflicts.
Ministerial Responsibility
- Scott Morrison: Statement of Ministerial Standards August 30, 2018
- Sussan Ley Stands Aside From Ministry; Investigation Into Gold Coast Travel Expenses January 9, 2017
- Malcolm Turnbull: Statement Of Ministerial Standards November 20, 2015
- Tony Abbott: Statement Of Ministerial Standards December 11, 2013
- Ex-Ministers: Jobs After Government February 20, 2002
- Ministerial Guidelines 1998 – Howard Government December 15, 1998
- John Howard’s 1996 Ministerial Code Of Conduct April 13, 1996
Cabinet Handbooks
- Mar 30, 2015: Federal Cabinet Handbook (8th edition)
- Mar 15, 2012: Federal Cabinet Handbook (7th edition)
- Oct 15, 2011: The Cabinet Manual (UK)
- Apr 15, 2002: ACT Cabinet Handbook
- Apr 06, 2001: The Budget Lockup – every year when the Government presents the annual Budget to Parliament, the media is able to attend a “lock-up” several hours before the Budget is made available. This statement from the Treasurer’s office explains the rules governing the lock-up.
- May 15, 2000: Legislation Handbook – official handbook that guides ministers on the procedures for developing legislation for Cabinet and Parliamentary approval.
Caretaker Conventions
Caretaker Conventions apply during election periods when the Parliament has been dissolved. DETAILED INFORMATION HERE.
Caretaker Conventions
- Caretaker Conventions During The Federal Election May 7, 2016
- Federal Government Caretaker Conventions – 2001 September 15, 2001
- Caretaker Government Arrangements – ACT 2001 July 15, 2001
- Federal Government Caretaker Conventions – 1998 August 30, 1998
Ministerial Lists
- Barton-Deakin Ministries – 1901-04
- Watson Ministry – 1904 – Australia’s first federal Labor government
Federal Ministries
- Scott Morrison Announces Third Term Coalition Ministry May 26, 2019
- The First Morrison Ministry – Statistical Analysis August 26, 2018
- The Second Turnbull Ministry Reshuffled – Statistical Analysis December 19, 2017
- Turnbull Ministry: Revised Statistical Analysis January 18, 2017
- Greg Hunt New Health Minister; Ken Wyatt First Indigenous Minister; Turnbull Minimises Changes Following Ley’s Resignation January 18, 2017
- Cabinet And Ministry Numbers Since 1949 July 19, 2016
- Administrative Arrangements For The Second Turnbull Government July 19, 2016
- The Second Turnbull Ministry – Statistical Analysis July 18, 2016
- Turnbull Announces New Ministry July 18, 2016
- The Ages Of The Shorten ALP Shadow Ministry April 11, 2016
- The Ages Of The Turnbull Government Ministers April 10, 2016
- Administrative Arrangements Order – Amendments February 18, 2016
- Turnbull’s New Ministers Sworn In; Joyce Now Deputy PM February 18, 2016
- Turnbull Reshuffles Ministry February 13, 2016
- Mal Brough Resigns From Turnbull Ministry February 13, 2016
- On This Day In 1966: Menzies Retires, Holt Government Takes Office January 26, 2016
- First Turnbull Ministry – Revised December 29, 2015
- First Turnbull Ministry Announced; More Women Into Cabinet, Abbott Supporters Axed September 20, 2015
- The Abbott Ministry – Revised List Following Sinodinos Departure March 20, 2014
- Abbott Government: Administrative Arrangements Order September 18, 2013
- Tony Abbott Sworn In As Australia’s 28th Prime Minister September 18, 2013
- The First Abbott Ministry: Statistical Analysis September 16, 2013
- The First Abbott Ministry Announced September 16, 2013
- The Rudd Ministry: Age, Sex, State And Factional Breakdown July 6, 2013
- The Second Rudd Ministry July 1, 2013
- Gillard Reshuffles Ministry; Supporters Promoted; Four New Ministers March 25, 2013
- The Second Gillard Ministry – Revised 2013 February 4, 2013
- Second Gillard Ministry – Revised 2011 September 12, 2011
- The Second Gillard Ministry September 11, 2010
- The First Rudd Ministry December 3, 2007
- Rudd Announces New Labor Government Ministry November 29, 2007
- Howard Reshuffle: Ellison Promoted, New Minister From WA March 6, 2007
- Fourth Howard Ministry Sworn In October 26, 2004
- The Third Howard Ministry – Revised 2003 October 7, 2003
- A Statistical Analysis Of The Howard Ministry – 2001 April 1, 2001
- The Reshuffled Howard Ministry – February 2001 February 14, 2001
- Howard Government Ministerial Reshuffle December 19, 2000
- The First Howard Ministry – October 1997 October 20, 1997
- The First Howard Ministry 1996 March 11, 1996
- Second Keating Ministry – 1993 March 24, 1993
- The Second Whitlam Ministry – December 19, 1972 December 19, 1972
- The First Whitlam Ministry: December 5-19, 1972 December 5, 1972
Federal Shadow Ministries
Archived Posts
- Shorten ALP Shadow Ministry – Statistical Analysis (Revised) September 13, 2016
- Shorten Announces Minor Changes To Shadow Ministry; O’Neill Promoted September 13, 2016
- Dastyari Resigns From ALP Frontbench September 7, 2016
- ALP Shadow Ministry 2016 – Statistical Analysis July 23, 2016
- Shorten Announces ALP Shadow Ministry Portfolio Allocations July 23, 2016
- ALP Caucus Elects Expanded Shadow Ministry Of 32; Carr Survives July 22, 2016
- Minor Changes To Opposition Shadow Ministry; Dodson Promoted To Executive In First Week As A Senator May 4, 2016
- The Ages Of The Shorten ALP Shadow Ministry April 11, 2016
- Minor Changes To ALP Shadow Ministry; Parke Gone, Jones And MacTiernan Promoted March 4, 2014
- Bill Shorten’s ALP Shadow Ministry – Full List October 18, 2013
- Plibersek New ALP Deputy Leader; Wong And Conroy Take Senate Positions; Shadow Ministry Elected October 14, 2013
- Tony Abbott’s Revised Coalition Shadow Ministry September 19, 2012
- Malcolm Turnbull’s Shadow Ministry September 22, 2008
- Nelson Announces Shadow Ministry December 6, 2007
- Coalition Shadow Ministry From December 6, 2007 December 6, 2007
- Mark Latham Announces His New Shadow Ministry October 26, 2004
- Latham Announces New Shadow Ministry December 8, 2003
- Mark Latham’s Shadow Ministry December 8, 2003
- Crean Reshuffles Shadow Ministry After Defeating Beazley Challenge July 2, 2003
- Latham Promoted In Crean’s Shadow Ministry August 23, 2002
- Simon Crean’s New ALP Shadow Ministry August 23, 2002
- Beazley ALP Shadow Ministry 2001 February 27, 2001
- Kim Beazley’s ALP Shadow Ministry 1996 March 19, 1996
Archived Posts
- The Second Turnbull Ministry Reshuffled – Statistical Analysis December 19, 2017
- Turnbull Ministry: Revised Statistical Analysis January 18, 2017
- Sussan Ley Resigns From Ministry; Turnbull Announces Reforms To Politicians’ Entitlements January 13, 2017
- Sussan Ley Stands Aside From Ministry; Investigation Into Gold Coast Travel Expenses January 9, 2017
- How The Turnbull Government Lost Control Of The House September 2, 2016
- Administrative Arrangements For The Second Turnbull Government July 19, 2016
- The Ages Of The Turnbull Government Ministers April 10, 2016
- Senator Arthur Sinodinos Denies Wrongdoing Or Illegality March 26, 2016
- Turnbull’s New Ministers Sworn In; Joyce Now Deputy PM February 18, 2016
- Malcolm Turnbull: Statement Of Ministerial Standards November 20, 2015
- Cabinet Handbook – 2015 March 30, 2015
- Assistant Treasurer Senator Arthur Sinodinos Stands Aside Over ICAC Investigations March 19, 2014
- Tony Abbott: Statement Of Ministerial Standards December 11, 2013
- Abbott Abolishes Twenty Advisory Bodies November 8, 2013
- Abbott Government Advertises Jobs For Ministerial Staff September 20, 2013
- BAILLIEU RESIGNS – DENIS NAPTHINE NEW VICTORIAN PREMIER March 6, 2013
- Cabinet Handbook 7th Edition 2012 March 15, 2012
- Rudd Resigns From Gillard Ministry; Late Night Move In Washington February 22, 2012
- UK Cabinet Manual – 2011 October 15, 2011
- Agreement To Form Government: The Windsor-Oakeshott-Gillard Deal September 7, 2010
- Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon Resigns From Rudd Ministry June 4, 2009
- Whitlam-Fraser Call For Strengthening Of Ministerial Accountability November 12, 2007
- Cabinet Secrecy – Why? September 3, 2002
- ACT Cabinet Handbook 2002 April 15, 2002
- Stem Cell Research: A Case Study Of How Cabinet Works February 25, 2002
- Ex-Ministers: Jobs After Government February 20, 2002
- Howard Government 2001 Cabinet Committees December 13, 2001
- Howard Sworn In For Third Term As Prime Minister November 26, 2001
- The Budget Lockup April 6, 2001
- Satire: Welcome To ReithCard December 1, 2000
- Making The Bastards Honest: Democrats’ Accountability Package August 1, 2000
- Legislation Handbook – 2000 May 15, 2000
- Ministerial Guidelines 1998 – Howard Government December 15, 1998
- What Is the Executive Government? July 16, 1996
- John Howard’s 1996 Ministerial Code Of Conduct April 13, 1996
- Howard Government 1996 Cabinet Committees March 17, 1996
- Cabinet Committees: Hawke Government 1984 December 13, 1984
