The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) marked the 50th anniversary of its formation last week.
PM&C said that on 12 March, 1971 the then Prime Minister, William McMahon announced the amalgamation of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Department of the Cabinet Office.
“He said that the previous arrangement was ‘inefficient, and had to be changed’ and that the associated changes were designed to support the operation of the Cabinet system of Government,” PM&C said.
“The Prime Minister’s Department was formed in 1911 by Prime Minister Andrew Fisher and began with six staff,” it said.
“Over time it grew and prior to 1968, the Department managed Cabinet operations.”
PM&C said that in 1968 the then Prime Minister, John Gorton announced the creation of the Department of the Cabinet Office, a decision which was reversed three years later by Mr McMahon.
“The Secretary to the newly formed Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet was Sir John Bunting, then Secretary of the Department of the Cabinet Office,” the Department said.
“Within the newly formed Department, a new division was created to manage the work of the previous Cabinet Office: Cabinet and Legislative Programming,” it said.
PM&C said that since the formation of the amalgamated Department, 11 Prime Ministers had served in the office and 13 Secretaries had led the Department.
