- Definitions & explanations
- 10 page guideline
- 28-day rule
- Administrator of the Government
- Appointments
- Cabinet
- Cabinet committees
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- Distribution lists: how to read
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- Format of standard Cabinet papers
- Forms to accompany Cabinet papers
- Government bodies: balanced representation
- Governor-General
- Issues needing to go to a Cabinet committee
- Ministerial List
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- Official Information Act: release of Cabinet papers
- Oral items for Cabinet and committees
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- Power to Act
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- Shoulder numbers explained
- Waybill
- What do I do if I have not received an agenda, paper or minute?
- Getting started
- Writing papers
What issues need to be submitted to a Cabinet committee?
Only Ministers may submit papers or authorise papers for submission to Cabinet and Cabinet committees.
As a general rule, Ministers should put before their colleagues the sorts of issues on which they themselves would wish to be consulted. Ministers should keep their colleagues informed about matters of public interest, importance, or controversy. Where there is uncertainty about the level and type of consideration needed, Ministers should seeks advice from the Prime Minister or the Secretary of the Cabinet. Similarly, departments should seeks advice from the office of the portfolio Minister, or from the Cabinet Office (link only available to those with access to the Public Sector Intranet).
The following matters must be submitted to a Cabinet (through the appropriate Cabinet committee):
- significant policy issues;
- controversial matters;
- proposals that will affect the government's financial position, or important financial commitments;
- proposals that affect the New Zealand's constitutional arrangements (see paragraph 5.72 of the Cabinet Manual);
- matters concerning the machinery of government;
- discussion and public consultation documents (before release);
- reports of a substantive nature relating to government policy or government agencies;
- proposals involving new legislation or regulations;
- government responses to select committee recommendations and Law Commission reports;
- matters concerning the portfolio interests of a number of Ministers (particularly where agreement cannot be reached);
- significant statutory decisions (see paragraphs 5.31 - 5.35 of the Cabinet Manual);
- all but the most minor public appointments;
- international treaties and agreements (see paragraphs 5.73 - 5.74 of the Cabinet Manual and the CabGuide section on the international treaty-making process);
- any proposals to amend the provisions of the Cabinet Manual.
Matters that should not, as a general rule, be brought to Cabinet include:
- matters concerning the day-to-day management of a portfolio that have been delegated to a department;
- operational (non-policy) statutory functions;
- the excise of statutory decision-making powers (within existing policy) concerning individuals.
It may, nonetheless, be appropriate to bring an item in the above list to Cabinet's attention if it is significant or likely to be controversial.
