This page details Defence boards and committees and our corporate governance and management structure which streamline our decision making.
In response to First Principles Review recommendations, Defence has undertaken a significant body of work to review and restructure the organisation’s senior committees. The Defence Committee approved the Enterprise Committee Governance Structure in December 2018. The structure and supporting framework has been designed to better recognise the significance of Defence’s deliberations and decisions on strategic policy, intelligence and military operations and the Department’s commitment to Work Health and Safety. It introduces a tiered approach to enterprise committees, with the three-tiered model aiming to take decisions to the lowest level, increase accountability and streamline decision-making.
Defence has 11 Enterprise Committees.
The Defence Committee is the most senior and primary executive committee within the Department of Defence. It is responsible for setting top-level organisational goals and driving delivery of the department’s commitments to Government and the community.
The Defence Audit and Risk Committee was established to provide independent advice to the Secretary and the Chief of Defence Force (CDF) on the appropriateness of Defence’s financial reporting; performance reporting; system of risk oversight and management; and the system of internal control.
The Enterprise Business Committee is responsible for exercising strategic control and assurance over the management of the Defence organisation and focused on ensuring enterprise strategy, capability and resources are aligned with Government policy and legislative requirements.
The Investment Committee is responsible for bringing the future force and supporting enablers into being and ensures the investment portfolio for military capability, estate and information and communications technology meets Government requirements and the CDF’s Preparedness Directive.
The Strategic Policy Committee focusses on informing and guiding decision-making processes within Defence and across Government on key strategic policy issues and trends.
The Chiefs of Services Committee is the predominant Australian Defence Force (ADF) committee which considers ADF specific matters within the CDF accountabilities in full command of the ADF.
The Defence People Committee supports the workforce stewardship accountabilities of the Secretary and CDF, and is responsible for ensuring workforce planning and performance supports the business priorities and accountabilities of Defence.
The Defence Finance and Resourcing Committee is responsible for aligning Defence’s internal budget and resource management with the achievement of Government directed outcomes and internal strategic planning guidance.
The Defence Communications and Information Systems Capability Committee considers enterprise-level communications and information systems strategies to enable and develop Defence capability in line with strategic intent.
The Defence Security Committee is responsible for supporting the Chief Security Officer in implementing the requirements of the Protective Security Policy Framework and the Defence Security Principles Framework across the Defence organisation.
The Defence Joint Warfare Committee considers Joint Force Authority (JFA) matters and is responsible for providing advice, through the consideration of issues that affect the generation and management of ADF capabilities, to the VCDF as the JFA and Chair of the Investment Committee.
