Executive Council advising the Governor
The Executive Council is the formal body that advises the Governor on the exercise of statutory duties and powers.
Executive Council meetings
The Governor appoints the Premier and all other ministers as Executive Councillors. The Governor presides at meetings of the Executive Council. The minimum for a meeting of the Executive Council is 2 members.
The Executive Council meets weekly, and generally acts on the advice of Cabinet. ministers attend the weekly meetings according to a roster. Special Executive Council meetings are held when urgent matters arise that must be dealt with before the next scheduled meeting.
Further information about the Executive Council is available in the NSW Government Ministerial Handbook (PDF 1.09MB).
Executive Council minutes
Matters are placed before the Executive Council in the form of minutes conveying recommendations from Ministers.
Each minute is accompanied by an explanatory note outlining the background or purpose of the minute.
The Executive Council minute templates (DOCX 86.14KB) must be used. Please refer to the Guidelines for Executive Council Minutes (PDF 1.39MB) for directions on filling out the templates and requirements for Explanatory Notes and other attachments.
In eCabinet, the Executive Council Minute should be lodged as a submission with all other relevant documentation as attachments.
Executive Council minutes are not Cabinet documents.
Lodging an Executive Council minute
An Executive Council minute and attachments must be lodged no later than midday on the Friday before the Executive Council meeting (which is usually held each Wednesday). Exemptions should only be sought (through Cabinet Secretariat) in exceptional circumstances where urgent consideration of the minute is necessary.
Each minute is reviewed by The Cabinet Office and then the matter is listed on the Executive Council agenda by the Governor's Official Secretary. Minutes will only be put forward if the matter has received any necessary Cabinet approval, and compliance with the NSW Government Guide to Better Regulation and the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989 has been documented.
Executive Council decisions
After the meeting, the relevant minister is notified of the decision. The minister's office or relevant agency can then make any necessary administrative arrangements in relation to the decision, for example publication of legislation on the NSW Legislation website or notification of a matter through the Government Gazette.
Matters put forward to the Executive Council must remain confidential until they have been approved. While it is convention that the Governor should only act on the advice of ministers, the Governor may seek further information or, in exceptional circumstances, dissent from this advice.