10. Once a minister has made the Cabinet aware of a particular private interest, it will not normally be necessary to repeat that declaration in subsequent Cabinet discussions.
11. If a significant time has elapsed since a declaration and the interest is one that might not be well known to colleagues, the minister might declare the interest again when the relevant matter is under discussion.
Declaration during discussions on appointments
12. A minister would withdraw from discussion of any proposal to appoint a person to an Australian Government body who is a relative of that minister (see Annex I – Appointments process).
Presentations to the Cabinet
13. Ministers must seek the Cabinet Secretary’s agreement to make a presentation to the Cabinet or a Cabinet Committee.
14. Presentations would usually be made where there is a need to:
- provide supporting explanation to a submission that has been lodged and contains complex proposals which would benefit from a short presentation
- outline complex issues to the Cabinet in order to seek the Cabinet's guidance.
15. In seeking approval to make a presentation ministers should:
- where possible, attach a copy of the proposed presentation (of not more than 10 slides), which must include appropriate security markings (depending on the contents)
- indicate the purpose of the presentation.
16. The presentation is lodged through the CabNet+ system and becomes part of the formal Cabinet record.
17. Where material from presentations, or presentations as a whole, were not explicitly created for the purpose of informing or advising the Cabinet, they may be used for other audiences—but there must be no reference to the material ever having been before the Cabinet.
Cabinet room attendants
18. The Cabinet attendant provides assistance and services to ministers during meetings of the Cabinet (and Cabinet Committees). Duties include passing messages between the Cabinet room and ministerial staff and the custody and distribution of documents circulated in the Cabinet room.
29
