Originally established on 13 March 2020 in response to theCOVID-19 pandemic, National Cabinet replaced the now-defunctCouncil 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]
The formation of the National Cabinet was announced by Prime MinisterScott Morrison on 13 March 2020,[3] following a meeting of theCouncil 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 toCOVID-19" during the globalCOVID-19 pandemic.[6][7][8]
TheNew 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 toAustralia's War Cabinet during the Second World War.[10] At the heights of the pandemic (prior to the widespread rollout ofCOVID-19 vaccines), meetings of National Cabinet were held using securevideo conferencing.[8] National Cabinet has been criticised for its secrecy.[11]
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 andFreedom of Information protections as thefederal cabinet, under theFreedom 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 calledexecutive federalism.[14]
This sectionis 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 thetalk 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 banningcruise ships from docking, enhanced screening of arrivals, and mandatoryself-isolation for everyone arriving in Australia. National Cabinet also activated the second stage of theAustralian 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 theNational COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC), and clarifies role of various bodies: the National Cabinet "continues to lead the national response at a government level. TheNational 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 coronavirusapp andWhatsApp channel released by the Government. It announced new limits to indoor and outdoor gatherings to two persons only (with some exceptions); discussed furthersocial distancing measures; gave further advice tosenior citizens; and agreed to amoratorium onevictions for the coming six months for both commercial and residentialtenancies suffering financial distress.[18]
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 ofcontact 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 infectiousUK 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 theWieambilla shootings, healthcare – boosting funding for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (an election promise of theAlbanese 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]
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 PremierMark McGowan said no other state leaders had objected when he had brought up the idea of continuing the National Cabinet. He also toldThe Australian newspaper, "The National Cabinet process has removed the political boundaries that can hamper COAG".[31][32]
Former Laborpremier of South AustraliaJay 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 ofThe Australian newspaper, an analogy used to describe the significance of this was "as if theUnited Nations had been turned into a government".[34]
^Prime Minister; Minister for Health; Chief Medical Officer (13 March 2020)."Advice on coronavirus".Prime Minister of Australia (Press release). Archived fromthe original on 8 April 2020. Retrieved1 April 2020.
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