• Policy Advisory Group
• Contact PAG

The Policy Advisory Group (PAG) was formally established in 1990 within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC). Prior to that time, policy advisory services were provided through the forerunners of DPMC.

PAG consists of a director and 13 policy advisors, with a range of skills and experience including commercial legal expertise, business experience, economic and social policy.

The role of PAG is to:

• Provide free and frank advice on issues of the day directly to the Prime Minister and, on occasion, to other ministers – whether this be immediate, medium or long-term strategic advice;
  
  
• Coordinate the advice coming in from different government departments, so that the Prime Minister is given coherent and impartial advice;
  
  
• Contribute to policy development across the full range of government issues, including coordinating the provision of advice across agencies; and
  
  
• Promote a greater collective approach to performance standards across the state sector.
  
  

The group also has an important role in providing the Prime Minister with up-to-date information on emerging policy issues and giving support to his office.

PAG puts a high value on maintaining excellent relations with public sector agencies. It is important for DPMC to be viewed as ‘honest brokers’, particularly in its coordinating role.