The basics

Cabinet is the group of the most senior ministers in the government. It's chaired by the Prime Minister and is where the big decisions about national policy, spending and law-making are made.

Cabinet isn't mentioned in the Constitution — it's a convention inherited from the British Westminster system.

Who's in Cabinet?

• The Prime Minister (chair)
• Cabinet Ministers running the most important portfolios (Treasury, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Health, etc.)
• Other ministers may be invited when an item touches their portfolio.

The full list of ministers (Cabinet + outer ministry + assistant ministers) is called the Ministry.

What Cabinet does

• Sets the government's overall direction.
• Approves major policies before public announcement.
• Decides what bills go to Parliament and in what form.
• Approves major spending and the federal Budget.

Solidarity and confidentiality

• Cabinet solidarity — once a decision is made, every Cabinet Minister must publicly support it, even if they argued against it. If they can't, they resign.
• Cabinet confidentiality — discussions are kept secret (usually for 20–30 years) so ministers can speak freely.

These conventions let the government present a single, united position to Parliament and the public.