SENATE

Monday, 27 February 2017 Senate Page 47
Ms Kelly: I will have to get some assistance from Ms Cass, First Assistant Secretary of the Cabinet Division.
Yes, he does, Senator Wong.
Senator WONG: Does he attend all cabinet and cabinet committee meetings?
Ms Cass: The cabinet secretary, Simon Atkinson, attends as a note taker in cabinet meetings and cabinet
committee meetings.
Senator WONG: I understand that. Does he attend all cabinet committee and cabinet meetings?
Ms Cass: I think that is the case. I will check that for you and take it on notice.
Senator WONG: Thank you. Does Senator Ryan attend cabinet and cabinet committee meetings?
Ms Cass: I will also take that on notice and we will come back and give you advice.
Senator Brandis: I can answer that. Senator Ryan is in attendance at cabinet meetings. He does not always
attend meetings of cabinet subcommittees.
Senator WONG: Is he in attendance at all cabinet meetings even if he does not have a relevant item on the
agenda. Does he attend as the minister assisting the Prime Minister for cabinet?
Senator Brandis: That is my understanding of the capacity in which she attends.
Senator WONG: Does he take notes, too, for the purposes of minutes? The role of the cabinet secretary
would be also as what the Cabinet Handbook says, that you would look at minutes of decisions and confirm they
are correct. Yes? I am just asking: does he have that role or is that Mr Atkinson's role?
Ms Cass: The Cabinet Handbook, as you have referred to it, is a useful document. It needs some updating
given the January change in positions and that is what will be done.
Senator WONG: Sure, and I will come to that and I will give you an opportunity to talk about that Ms Cass,
but I actually trying to understand who has the job.
Senator Brandis: There are various note takers, Senator Wong.
Senator WONG: I know there are various note takers, but in relation to the authorising of Cabinet minutes,
who does that?
Ms Cass: There are the standard three note takers from the public service: the Secretary of the Department of
the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Cabinet Division note taker and the subject matters experts. The cabinet
minutes are then authorised through the minister assisting and the cabinet secretary.
Senator WONG: That is the question. So, the authorising of the minutes is a sign-off by both Senator Ryan
and Mr Atkinson?
Ms Cass: In consultation with the Prime Minister.
Senator WONG: Sure, but if you get a paper trail of the process of authorising, who is the authoriser? Are
you saying there is now a dual authorisation process?
Ms Cass: Ultimately, I believe it is the Prime Minister.
Senator WONG: Let's try it this way. Has Mr Atkinson ever worked for the Department of Prime Minister
and Cabinet to your knowledge, Ms Kelly?
Ms Kelly: He is formerly a public servant.
Senator WONG: That was not the question. If you do not know, that is fair enough. I was asking if he worked
for PM&C?
Ms Kelly: Can I take that on notice?
Senator WONG: Sure. He was Senator Cormann's chief of staff most recently, prior to becoming Cabinet
Secretary, is that right?
Dr Gruen: He has certainly worked in the finance department. I also do not know whether he has worked in
the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet. He was certainly in Minister Cormann's office—I think as chief of
staff.
Senator WONG: Was that the position he held prior to this appointment, or was it an interim step?
Dr Gruen: No, he has been in the Prime Minister's office before this step.
Senator WONG: So, Senator Cormann's office, the Prime Minister's office, Cabinet Secretary is the
sequence—is that right?
Dr Gruen: Yes.
FINANCE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATION COMMITTEE