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New South Wales Premier's Department
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2023
Preceding agency
  • Department of Premier and Cabinet
JurisdictionNew South Wales
Headquarters52 Martin Place, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Employees687 (2010)
Ministers responsible
Agency executive
Child agency
Websitewww.nsw.gov.au/premiers-department

The New South Wales Premier's Department, a department of the New South Wales Government, is responsible for leading the New South Wales public sector to deliver on the Government's commitments and priorities. The department provides administrative support that enables the cabinet to identify, design and implement a coordinated policy, project and reform agenda that boosts the efficiency, productivity and effectiveness across the State. The department consults and work closely with other New South Wales government departments, the Commonwealth Government, local government, business and the community to ensure responses to community needs are effective.

The Department is led by its Secretary, presently Simon Draper, who reports to the Premier, and in absence, the Deputy Premier. The Premier is assisted in administration of the portfolio by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, the Minister for the Arts, and the Minister for Youth.

On 1 July 2023, the Department of Premier and Cabinet was split into the Premier’s Department and The Cabinet Office, reverting to the way it was before 2007.[1][2]

Agency activities

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The Premier's Department s directly responsible for the administration and implementation of government reform agenda through policy and project support. The department also plays a key coordinating role in disaster management, delivery of infrastructure such as major projects and industry and business development. Premier and Cabinet also manages workforce reforms, employee relations and essential services to support the government of the day, such as ministerial services, parliamentary counsel, cabinet secretariat and policy support.[3]

The Department is responsible for investigating various matters as directed by the Premier and the agency Secretary.

Current structural groups and divisions

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As of April 2021, the Department of Premier and Cabinet is divided into five groups: the Strategy and Delivery Group; the Transformation Group; the Community Engagement Group; Office of the General Counsel; and the People Group. Each group comprises a number of branches (in the People Group, teams).[4] These groups are responsible for a number of functional areas, agencies and cabinet committees. [5]

The five branches of the Community Engagement Group are: Employee Relations; Aboriginal Affairs NSW; Create NSW; Heritage NSW; State Archives Records Authority (SARA); and the Sydney Living Museums.[4] Heritage NSW will be transferred to the Department of Planning and Environment on 1 April 2022.[6]

Premier and Cabinet cluster

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NSW Government agencies are broadly organised into eight groups, referred to as clusters. The following agencies are included in the Premier and Cabinet cluster, administered by the Department:[7]

Executive agencies

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Non-executive agencies

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Agency history

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In 2006 the New South Wales Government commissioned an inquiry into government administration by Dr Michael Vertigan AC and Nigel Stokes, entitled New South Wales audit of expenditure and assets report or more commonly the Vertigan Report.[8]

Prior to 2007 separate agencies existed, entitled the Premier's Department of New South Wales and the New South Wales Cabinet Office, the latter established in 1988. Premier Morris Iemma merged the two agencies into the new Department of Premier and Cabinet[9] under the direction of Robyn Kruk after the 2006 resignation of the Director General of the Cabinet Office, Roger Wilkins,[10] and replacing the long-term Director General of Premier's Department, Col Gellatly,[11] who served under Premier Carr.[12]

In 2008, following the resignation of Premier Iemma, Nathan Rees replaced Kruk with John Lee, a senior public servant in the New South Wales Department of Transport and brother of Michael Lee, a former Labor Federal Minister and Councillor of the City of Sydney.[13][14] In June 2009, Rees announced a restructure of the New South Wales Government and the creation of 13 super departments aimed at delivering better government services. The Department of Premier and Cabinet was named as the lead agency; responsible for the implementation of the new plan.[15] Additionally, the Department of Premier and Cabinet became responsible to a number of Ministers. In addition to the Premier, the Ministers for the Central Coast, the Hunter, the Illawarra, Infrastructure, Local Government, Police, Public Sector Reform, Regulatory Reform, Women, and the Assisting the Premier on Veterans’ Affairs, and the Special Minister of State all were responsible for various functions administered by the Department of Premier and Cabinet.[16] Following the December 2009 appointment of Kristina Keneally as Premier, Keneally announced that the restructure plan would continue to be implemented, whilst at the same time replacing Lees with Brendan O'Reilly.[17]

Following the NSW coalition's victory at the 2011 state election, Liberal Premier Barry O'Farrell replaced O'Reilly with Chris Eccles on 4 April 2011.[18] By August 2011, a revised agency structure was formalised,[19] together with an overlying management structure[20] that led to the creation of offices and divisions covering local government, planning and infrastructure including strategic lands, environment and heritage including environment and climate change, national parks and wildlife, western Sydney, parliamentary counsel, and general counsel. A further restructure took place following the 2015 state election when Premier Mike Baird transferred the functions of investment attraction, trade and tourism, and major events from the Trade and Industry to Premier and Cabinet.[21] Minor changes to the portfolio were made following the 2019 state election when the number of clusters were reduced from ten to eight.[7]

In April 2023, new Labor Premier Chris Minns announced that the Department of Premier and Cabinet would be split back into the Premier's Department and The Cabinet Office on 1 July 2023.[1][2]

Agency executives

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Premier's Department

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Order Officeholder Position title Start date End date Term in office Ref
Premier's Department
1 James Leslie Williams Under Secretary 2 October 1907 22 October 1910 3 years, 20 days [22]
2 John William Holliman 22 October 1910 1 December 1911 1 year, 40 days [23]
3 Frederick Albert Coghlan 1 December 1911 1 March 1914 2 years, 90 days [24]
4 Edward Burns Harkness CMG Secretary 1 March 1914 19 May 1916 2 years, 79 days [25]
5 Clifford Henderson Hay CMG, CBE, MVO 19 May 1916 1 July 1924 23 years, 323 days [26][27][28]
Under Secretary 1 July 1924 6 April 1940
6 Joshua William Ferguson ISO, MBE 7 April 1940 31 December 1947 7 years, 268 days [29][30][31]
7 Philip Hampden Roper CVO 2 January 1948 6 October 1956 8 years, 278 days [32][33][34][35]
8 Sir George Gray CVO, CBE 8 October 1956 25 August 1973 16 years, 321 days [36][37]
9 Bruce Richard Davies 27 August 1973 17 January 1977 3 years, 143 days [38]
10 Gerald Gleeson AC 17 January 1977 14 August 1978 11 years, 145 days [39][40][41][42]
Secretary 14 August 1978 10 June 1988
Premier's Office
11 Richard Humphry Director 1 August 1988 14 September 1988 5 years, 225 days [43][44][45][46][47][48]
Director-General 14 September 1988 7 December 1988
Premier's Department
– Richard Humphry AO Director-General 7 December 1988 14 March 1994
12 Dr Col Gellatly 18 May 1994 1 May 1995 348 days [49][50]
13 Ken Baxter AM 1 May 1995 4 April 1996 339 days [51][52][53]
– Roger Wilkins (acting) 10 April 1996 29 September 1996 172 days [54][55]
– Dr Col Gellatly AO 30 September 1996 7 May 2007 10 years, 219 days [56]
14 Simon Draper Secretary 1 September 2023 incumbent 1 year, 70 days

Premier & Cabinet

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Order Officeholder Position title Start date End date Term in office Ref
1 Robyn Kruk AO Director General 7 May 2007 27 October 2008 1 year, 173 days [57][58]
2 John Lee 27 October 2008 31 December 2009 1 year, 65 days [14][59]
3 Brendan O'Reilly 1 January 2010 4 April 2011 1 year, 93 days [59][60]
4 Chris Eccles 4 April 2011 24 February 2014 3 years, 83 days [61][62][63][64]
Secretary 24 February 2014 26 June 2014
– Simon Smith (acting) 26 June 2014 7 October 2014 103 days [65]
5 Blair Comley PSM 7 October 2014 18 November 2017 3 years, 42 days [65][66]
6 Tim Reardon 18 November 2017 31 October 2021 3 years, 347 days [67]
7 Michael Coutts-Trotter 31 October 2021 14 April 2023 1 year, 165 days [68]
(acting) Peter Duncan AM 15 April 2023 1 September 2023 139 days [1][2]

Agency inquiries

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In 2007, the Director General of the Department referred a matter to NSW Police following allegation that Paul Gibson had allegedly assaulted Sandra Nori, a parliamentary colleague of Gibson's with whom he had a relationship.[69] In 2010, the Department coordinated investigations into claims that Ian Macdonald, a disgraced former Minister, had rorted his travel allowances.[70] During 2010, the Auditor General of New South Wales accused the agency of establishing special deals with contracted public servants which resulted in them receiving a form of golden handshake. Premier Keneally defended the Department and stated that, "nobody in my government has those sorts of arrangements".[71]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Minns Government public service changes to tackle state's challenges". NSW Government. 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Senior bosses of NSW education, transport and treasury sacked by new Labor government". ABC News. 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ "About the Department". Department of Premier and Cabinet. Government of New South Wales. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  4. ^ a b "About the Department". Department of Premier and Cabinet. 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  5. ^ cabinet committees
  6. ^ "Administrative Arrangements (Second Perrottet Ministry—Transitional) Order 2021 [NSW]". NSW Legislation. 21 December 2021. p. 8. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Public Service Agencies) Order 2019 [NSW] (159)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 7-8. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  8. ^ Vertigan, Michael; Stokes, Nigel (23 February 2006). New South Wales audit of expenditure and assets (Report). Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  9. ^ "About us". Department of Premier and Cabinet. Government of New South Wales. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Full Day Hansard Transcript Legislative Assembly, 29 August 2006, Corrected Copy)". Hansard - Legislative Assembly of New South Wales. Parliament of New South Wales. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  11. ^ Murray, Stephen (19 March 2007). "NSW: never has so much been accomplished by so few with so little". Crikey. Private Media Pty Limited. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  12. ^ Totaro, Paula (26 April 2004). "Power behind the throne". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  13. ^ Hildebrand, Joe (16 October 2008). "Nathan Rees axes Premier's Department head Robyn Kruk". The Daily Telegraph. Australia. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  14. ^ a b Clennell, Andrew (1 August 2009). "Hands on the wheel". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  15. ^ "Premier announces historic public sector reform" (PDF) (Press release). Premier of New South Wales. 11 June 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 March 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  16. ^ "NSW Government Confirms Departmental Restructure". Occasional paper. Hawker Britton. July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  17. ^ Clennell, Andrew; Hall, Louise (9 December 2009). "We will be stable, promises Premier of her new cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  18. ^ Salusinszky, Imre (1 April 2011). "Another mandarin gone". The Australian. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  19. ^ "NSW Public Sector: Principal Departments and Other Bodies" (PDF). Department of Premier and Cabinet. 17 August 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.
  20. ^ "Reorganisation - Phase 1 Group descriptions" (PDF). Department of Premier and Cabinet. 29 September 2011. Retrieved 12 November 2011.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ Bajkowski, Julian (9 April 2015). "Fresh hunt for NSW agency chiefs after departmental shake-up". Government News. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Government Gazette Appointments and Employment". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 431. New South Wales, Australia. 18 August 1905. p. 5616. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902." APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 51. New South Wales, Australia. 6 April 1910. p. 2007. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ "APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 131. New South Wales, Australia. 24 August 1910. p. 4629. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902." PREMIER'S DEPARTMENT". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 71. New South Wales, Australia. 22 April 1914. p. 2467. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902." APPOINTMENT". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 90. New South Wales, Australia. 19 May 1916. p. 2873. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902." APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 2. New South Wales, Australia. 2 January 1925. p. 39. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "RETIREMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 48. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1940. p. 1496. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902."". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 48. New South Wales, Australia. 21 March 1940. p. 1495. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "PUBLIC SERVICE CHANGES". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 14 March 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  31. ^ "SENIOR PUBLIC SERVANT RESIGNS". National Advocate. Bathurst, New South Wales. 2 January 1948. p. 2. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ "NEW OFFICIAL FOR PREMIER". The Daily Telegraph. New South Wales, Australia. 26 December 1947. p. 9. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  33. ^ "PUBLIC SERVICE APPOINTMENT". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 26 December 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  34. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902."". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 2. New South Wales, Australia. 2 January 1948. p. 23. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  35. ^ "Funeral of Mr. P. H. Roper". The Sydney Morning Herald. 9 October 1956. p. 4.
  36. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902." APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 114. New South Wales, Australia. 19 October 1956. p. 3095. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ "Premier pays tribute to his top aide". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 August 1973. p. 13.
  38. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902" APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 122. New South Wales, Australia. 14 September 1973. p. 4141. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  39. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902" APPOINTMENTS". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 158. New South Wales, Australia. 10 December 1976. p. 5541. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  40. ^ "SPECIAL GAZETTE UNDER THE "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT, 1902" CHANGES OF DESIGNATION". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 110. New South Wales, Australia. 8 September 1978. p. 3887. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  41. ^ Grealy, Michael (29 May 1988). "How Wran picked the best man to run NSW". The Sun-Herald. p. 26.
  42. ^ "CONSTITUTION ACT 1902—PROCLAMATION". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 101. New South Wales, Australia. 15 June 1988. p. 3167. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  43. ^ Murphy, Damien; Frail, Rod (15 July 1988). "Humphry resigns as auditor-general for top job with Greiner". The Age. p. 4.
  44. ^ "PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 1979". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 123. New South Wales, Australia. 29 July 1988. p. 3984. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ "ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES ACT 1976—ORDER". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 145. New South Wales, Australia. 16 September 1988. p. 4875. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  46. ^ "ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES ACT 1976—ORDER". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 180. New South Wales, Australia. 9 December 1988. p. 6309. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  47. ^ Kennedy, Alan (13 December 1988). "What's in a name?". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 26.
  48. ^ Coultan, Mark (24 February 1994). "Premier's man goes private". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
  49. ^ "PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT ACT 1988". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 71. New South Wales, Australia. 20 May 1994. p. 2311. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  50. ^ "REMOVAL FROM OFFICE". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 39. New South Wales, Australia. 5 April 1995. p. 1871. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  51. ^ "APPOINTMENTS TO SENIOR POSITIONS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 13 April 1995. p. 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  52. ^ Humphries, David (27 April 1996). "The Testing of Bob Carr". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 25.
  53. ^ Skatssoon, Judy (25 January 2020). "Reflections of a public service reformer". Government News. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  54. ^ "PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT ACT 1988". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 46. New South Wales, Australia. 12 April 1996. p. 1686. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  55. ^ "PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT ACT 1988". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 113. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1996. p. 6793. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  56. ^ "PUBLIC SECTOR MANAGEMENT ACT 1988". Government Gazette Of The State Of New South Wales. No. 113. New South Wales, Australia. 4 October 1996. p. 6793. Retrieved 22 April 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  57. ^ "Public Sector Notices - NSW Government Gazette No 67" (PDF). Legislation.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government. 11 May 2007. p. 2739. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  58. ^ Clennell, Andrew (17 October 2008). "Top public servant too tired to continue". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010.
  59. ^ a b "New Director-General of NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet". Hawker Britton. December 2009. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  60. ^ "First NSW department heads roll". ABC News. 1 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  61. ^ "Public Sector Notices - NSW Government Gazette No 40" (PDF). Legislation.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government. 29 April 2011. p. 2729. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  62. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order 2014 (NSW)". Legislation.nsw.gov.au. NSW Government. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  63. ^ Hasham, Nicole (26 June 2014). "Chris Eccles, top NSW bureaucrat, resigns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  64. ^ "Secretary: Department of Premier and Cabinet" (Media Release). NSW Government. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  65. ^ a b "Appointment of Secretary, DPC" (Media Release). NSW Government. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  66. ^ Towell, Noel (9 September 2014). "Former public service head Blair Comley gets new job at NSW Premier and Cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014.
  67. ^ "Appointment of new Secretary to DPC" (Media Release). NSW Government. 10 November 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  68. ^ Smith, Alexandra (7 October 2021). "Coutts-Trotter to head Premier's Department in Perrottet shake-up". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  69. ^ Norington, Brad (4 April 2007). "I don't trade in rumours: Iemma". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  70. ^ Besser, Linton (14 July 2010). "Macdonald travel rort staffer gets new government role". The Land. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
  71. ^ "Staffers' golden handshakes cost NSW $180k". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 June 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2011.
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