Policy Advice, Coordination and Cabinet Support (PACCS)

PACCS provides advice across the areas of social, legal, economic, environment, intergovernmental relations and performance policy through detailed briefings to the Premier on all matters before Cabinet and coordinates a broad range of whole-of- government activities. Key roles include the provision of expert advice to facilitate the operation of Cabinet and its related processes and administration of all Cabinet information, custodianship of Cabinet records from current and previous governments and direct logistical support to Ministers in Cabinet meetings.

The service contributes to DPC’s strategic objectives by providing:

• high-quality and timely support and advice for Cabinet and Cabinet Committee processes
• effective policy development and coordination.

1. This service standard is measured by an annual client survey of Ministers, Directors-General, agency Cabinet Legislation and Liaison Officers and Senior Policy Officers gauging satisfaction with support and advice provided on performance management and reporting.
2. This service standard is measured by an annual client survey of Ministers, Directors-General, agency Cabinet Legislation and Liaison Officers and Senior Policy Officers gauging satisfaction with support and advice provided by areas within Policy Division to assist agencies with the policy development process and provision of advice on Cabinet and CBRC submissions.
3. This service standard is measured by an annual client survey of Ministers, Directors-General, agency Cabinet Legislation and Liaison Officers and Senior Policy Officers gauging satisfaction with support and advice provided by the Cabinet Services area of the department. Services provided include support in completion of the cabinet bag, Cabinet Committees and Community Cabinet.
4. This service standard is measured by an annual client survey of Ministers, Directors-General, agency Cabinet Legislation and Liaison Officers and Senior Policy Officers gauging satisfaction with support and advice provided by the Intergovernmental Relations unit of Policy Division for Council of Australian Governments- related initiatives.
5. This measure has been discontinued for reporting purposes as it is not an indication of the efficiency or effectiveness of the service area.

2013–14 major achievements:

• Led the development of the government’s response to the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry Report.
• Supported preparations for Queensland’s transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme in collaboration with the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Queensland Treasury and Trade (QTT).
• Coordinated the development of the Safe Night Out Strategy to address alcohol and drug-fuelled violence.
• Worked with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG) to implement recommendations from the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee’s review of the Crime and Misconduct Commission (now the Crime and Corruption Commission) and the Callinan and Aroney review of the former Crime and Misconduct Act 2001.
• Provided policy advice to support the government's consideration of asset-structuring options for electricity, port and water government-owned corporations which informed the development of the Strong Choices plan.
• Worked with the Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE) on the implementation of Great teachers = Great results to support improved student outcomes by boosting school autonomy, elevating teaching standards, rewarding high performance and positioning those teachers where they are needed most.
  
• Provided strategic advice on the government’s planning reform agenda, including the implementation of a new infrastructure charges policy for Queensland, the Regional Planning Interests Act 2014, development of the Planning and Development Bill to replace the current regulatory framework for Queensland planning, statutory regional plans for the Darling Downs and Central Queensland, red tape reduction and legislative amendments.
• Contributed to the development of the Queensland Ports Strategy relating to port governance and planning activities, and the RegionsQ Framework to guide the future development of the state’s regional areas.
• Coordinated the development of The Queensland Plan, including grassroots engagement activities, the Brisbane summit and working draft public review period, with live online discussion forums. The development process resulted in the largest community engagement activity of its kind ever undertaken in Queensland.
• Supported the Premier at the December 2013 and May 2014 Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meetings, focussing on significant national productivity initiatives, national disability care, Indigenous issues, paid parental leave, inter-country adoption reforms and other COAG-related activities.
• Facilitated the government’s liaison with the Australian Defence Force through annual Queensland Defence Consultative Forums and two working groups established in May 2014.
• Coordinated and managed 392 Cabinet and 198 Cabinet Committee submissions.
• Provided support to 49 Cabinet meetings and 54 Cabinet Committee meetings.
• Organised and supported seven Community Cabinet meetings and two off-site Cabinet meetings.
• Coordinated the development and delivery of the six-month action plan for January to June 2014 and the preparation of the six-month action plan for July to December 2014.
• Represented Queensland on the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision and chaired the cross-jurisdictional Children’s Services Working Group for the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services.
• Published the Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Report Card for 2012 and 2013, which informed the government’s goal of halting and reversing the decline in the quality of water entering the Great Barrier Reef had been met.
• Commenced development of the Reef 2050 – Long Term Sustainability Plan for the Great Barrier Reef in partnership with the Australian Government and peak stakeholder organisations.

In 2014–15 PACCS will:

• provide strategic leadership in the development of the government response to the findings of the Queensland Racing Commission of Inquiry
• work with Projects Queensland and DJAG on the development of demand management and infrastructure solutions for the Queensland prison system
• coordinate the Safe Night Out Strategy
• continue to monitor completion of the rollout of significant reforms across Queensland Health
• implement  the remaining recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry final report
• work with QTT to deliver a fiscal surplus at the 2015–16 State Budget, the first in a decade
• work with DETE to establish the inaugural Queensland Education Accord, a new state school resourcing framework that enhances transparency and student outcomes, and implement the Great teachers = Great results and expanded Independent Public School programs.
• continue to provide advice to the Premier on delivery of DestinationQ and progress to deliver the shared government and industry target of doubling overnight visitor expenditure to $30 billion by 2020
• assist in the development of InfrastructureQ, the state’s infrastructure plan for the next ten years, and support the implementation of ResourcesQ
• finalise, release and prepare the government response to The Queensland Plan
• coordinate and develop options for reform of federal/state relations that align with the Queensland Government’s key objectives, to inform the Commonwealth’s white papers on reform of the federation and tax reform, through the Federal and Fiscal Reform Taskforce
• coordinate the opening of Parliament following the 2015 State Election
• implement a new performance information management system (PIMS) across government for the secure monitoring and reporting of government commitments, decisions and whole-of-government reports
• work closely with QTT to enhance the performance information presented in budget papers and support agencies to implement reforms that address Auditor-General Report No.18—monitoring and reporting performance.
• promote the Great Barrier Reef as the best-managed marine ecosystem in the world.
• complete the Long Term Sustainability Plan for the Great Barrier Reef in December 2015, and present it to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee
• develop and coordinate delivery of the Environment Action Plan, a blueprint of new strategic environmental initiatives for government
• finalise an overarching Program Management Plan for the Government Response to the Child Protection Commission of Inquiry
• work closely with the new Queensland Family and Child Commission to develop an evaluation strategy and evaluation baseline.

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