The structure of PM&C is organised along four policy and program groups: the Domestic Policy Group (responsible for cities, women's policy, science and innovation, economic policy, infrastructure, social policy, and environmental policy), the National Security and International Policy Group (responsible for counterterrorism, intelligence, national security, cybersecurity, international policy, and defence strategy), the Governance Group, and the Indigenous Affairs Group. In addition to the National Office in Canberra, the department has 33 offices and an in-community presence in another 60 locations across Australia for the Indigenous Affairs regional network. Staff are employed as
Australian Public Service officials under the
Public Service Act 1999. In February 2014,
The Canberra Times examined pay conditions and staffing records and found that PM&C is one of the public service's best-paid departments and among its least culturally diverse. The following month, then Secretary
Ian Watt told his staff that the department was battling to balance its budget and deliver its programs, and that staff would be cut and service delivery reviewed.
Domestic Policy Group The
Domestic Policy Group has responsibilities for supporting the development of policy and coordinating implementation across economic, social, and environmental, industry, and infrastructure policy. The Group also coordinates the implementation of whole of government reform, supports government priorities for gender equality and the empowerment of women, coordinates the
Council of Australian Governments (COAG) arrangements, provides advice and support for
Australian federal budget process, and formulates national policy on public data. The Group is led by Deputy Secretary (Economic), Deputy Secretary (Social Policy), Deputy Secretary (Jobs and Industry).
National Security and International Policy Group The
National Security and International Policy Group provides the Prime Minister with high quality advice on foreign policy, international trade, overseas aid, international treaties, engagement with foreign governments and international organisations, defence strategy, non-proliferation, information sharing, law enforcement, border security, and crisis coordination and emergency management. The Group also plays a coordinating role in the development of whole of government national security policy, provides secretariat functions to the
National Security Committee of Cabinet, and policy settings for the
Australian Intelligence Community. The Group also coordinates the foreign affairs, trade and national security aspects of the
Australian federal budget. The Group is led by the Deputy Secretary (National Security). The Group was formerly led by the post of National Security Adviser (NSA) which was established in December 2008 by Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd and disbanded in 2013 by Prime Minister
Tony Abbott with responsibilities transferred back to the Deputy Secretary of the National Security and International Policy Group. The inaugural NSA was
Major General Duncan Lewis serving until 2011. The second and final NSA was Dr Margot McCarthy serving from 2011 to 2013.
Governance Group The
Governance Group, led by the Deputy Secretary (Governance) provides advice on legal policy, parliamentary and government matters and honours and symbols policy. In addition it provides support services to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, Cabinet committees, and the department's portfolio ministers and assistant ministers. The group delivers the department's enabling and support functions and also oversees the implementation and ongoing delivery of key Government programmes, policies and initiatives.
Portfolio agencies •
National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) •
Indigenous Advisory Council (NIA) •
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation •
Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations •
Office of National Intelligence •
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General •
Australian National Audit Office •
Australian Public Service Commission •
National Australia Day Council •
Workplace Gender Equality Agency •
Central Land Council •
Northern Land Council • Aboriginal Land Commissioner • Executive Director of Township Leasing •
Aboriginal Hostels Limited • Indigenous Business Australia • Anindilyakwa Land Council • Tiwi Land Council • Outback Stores Pty Ltd •
Torres Strait Regional Authority •
Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council ==See also==