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Public Service Act 2020

Summary of changes

These summaries explain recent changes to the law. They are generated by AI comparing versions of the legislation, so they might oversimplify, miss details, or get things wrong. Learn more about how we track these changes.

1 January 2026

  • Amendments have been made to briefing requirements, including the frequency and Minister's role in presenting briefings to the House of Representatives
  • Changes have been made to the list of public service agencies, including additions and removals
  • Clarifications have been made to employment provisions, including the requirement for appointments to be made, confirmed, or approved
  • Amendments have been made to the responsibilities, powers, and working arrangements of interdepartmental executive boards and functional chief executives

Affected provisions

  1. 2: Public service agencies
    Changes have been made to the list of public service agencies, including additions and removals
  2. 3: Other functions and powers of Commissioner
    Amendments have been made to briefing requirements, including the frequency and Minister's role in presenting briefings to the House of Representatives
  3. 5: Functional chief executives and host departments
    Amendments have been made to the responsibilities, powers, and working arrangements of interdepartmental executive boards and functional chief executives
  4. 6: Other functions and powers of public service chief executives
    Amendments have been made to briefing requirements, including the frequency and Minister's role in presenting briefings to the House of Representatives
  5. 8: Employment provisions
    Clarifications have been made to employment provisions, including the requirement for appointments to be made, confirmed, or approved
  6. 27: Responsibilities, powers, and working arrangements of interdepartmental executive boards
    Amendments have been made to the responsibilities, powers, and working arrangements of interdepartmental executive boards and functional chief executives

5 August 2025

  • Public service agencies have been updated in Schedule 2
  • Functional chief executives and host departments have been updated in Schedule 5

Affected provisions

  1. 2: Public service agencies
    Public service agencies have been updated in Schedule 2
  2. 5: Functional chief executives and host departments
    Functional chief executives and host departments have been updated in Schedule 5

1 October 2025

  • The responsible department for the National Emergency Management Agency has been amended to the Department of Internal Affairs

Affected provisions

  1. 2: Public service agencies
    The responsible department for the National Emergency Management Agency has been amended to the Department of Internal Affairs

25 December 2025

  • The briefing requirements for the Commissioner and public service chief executives have been amended to occur at least once in every 3-year period after 7 August 2020
  • The employment provisions have been clarified to specify that appointments must be made, confirmed, or approved by the chief executive of the relevant department or the board of the interdepartmental venture
  • The reference to clauses 2 to 4 of Schedule 6 has been removed from the provision relating to interdepartmental executive boards

Affected provisions

  1. 3: Other functions and powers of Commissioner
    The briefing requirements for the Commissioner and public service chief executives have been amended to occur at least once in every 3-year period after 7 August 2020
  2. 6: Other functions and powers of public service chief executives
    The briefing requirements for the Commissioner and public service chief executives have been amended to occur at least once in every 3-year period after 7 August 2020
  3. 8: Employment provisions
    The employment provisions have been clarified to specify that appointments must be made, confirmed, or approved by the chief executive of the relevant department or the board of the interdepartmental venture
  4. 27: Responsibilities, powers, and working arrangements of interdepartmental executive boards
    The reference to clauses 2 to 4 of Schedule 6 has been removed from the provision relating to interdepartmental executive boards