On 1 July 2001, the Ministry of Premier and Cabinet [2] reverted to the title of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Notwithstanding several structural changes, the Department of Premier and Cabinet has remained dedicated to leading the public sector and providing support for the Premier and Cabinet.

It does this by providing two main services:

Administration of Government Services, which involves: administrative support to the Premier, Ministers, the Leader of the Opposition, the Executive Council and Members (and former members of Parliament); promotion of Western Australia’s interests overseas, management of State occasions and official visits; Constitutional Centre programs; and publishing services for Parliament and Government.

Government Policy Management, which involves: policy advice and coordination for the Premier and Cabinet; leadership and cross-agency solutions to complex policy issues including Native Title; management and coordination of input and advice for intergovernmental negotiations with the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) and the Council for Australian Federation (CAF); support for Cabinet and Parliament processes; emergency management policy advice; whole of government management and coordination of security incident and emergencies.

Structural changes within the Department of Premier and Cabinet since 2001:

2001
The Office of Citizenship and Multicultural Interests was absorbed by the Department on 1 July 2001. The Office reverted to its former title of Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI) and was responsible for the promotion and support of multiculturalism and cultural diversity in Western Australia. Citizenship activities were transferred internally to the Policy Office of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The OMI remained with the Department until 2007 when it was transferred to the Department for Communities.

Premier Dr Geoff Gallop instigated the Physical Activities Taskforce in 2001 to address levels of inactivity in the community.

2002
The Office of Science and Innovation was established on 1 July 2002, to manage Government Science and Innovation policy, programs and provide support to the Premier’s Council. The Office of Science and Innovation remained within the Department until 1 April 2006, when it was transferred to the Department of Industry and Resources.

The Office of Road Safety was transferred from the Department of Transport on 1 July 2002, and remained until 1 July 2009, when it was then transferred to Main Roads Western Australia.

2003

The Office of E-Government was established to oversee the technological transformation of Government operations. The Office of E-Government commenced operation on 3 February 2003, and remained with the Department until it was transferred to the Public Sector Commission on 28 November 2008.

2004

The Office of Crime Prevention was established on 1 July 2004.

The Office of Water Strategy was established in 2004/2005.

2005

The Office of Development Approvals Coordination was established in November 2005. The Office of Development Approvals Coordination was responsible for improving approvals processes for industrial and resource development projects, and remained with the Department of Premier and Cabinet until 1 January 2009 when it was transferred to the Department of State Development.

Following the 2005 State election, a Citizens and Civics unit was established as a discrete office within the Department, responsible for the development and implementation of policy in the citizenship portfolio.

The Office of Shared Services was launched on 1 July 2005.

2006

Premier and Cabinet underwent a significant restructure in 2006:

The Office of Science and Innovation was absorbed by the Department of Industry and Resources on 1 April 2006.

The Office of Native Title became a business unit of Department of Treasury and Finance on 6 April 2006; later becoming independent entity within Treasury and Finance on 1 July that same year.

The Office of Citizens and Civics was closed on 31 December 2006. The responsibilities of this Office were then transferred to the Office of Multicultural Interests.

Functions of the Office of Crime Prevention were split between the WA Police Force and the Department of Community Development, effective 1 July 2006.

The Physical Activity Taskforce, established in 2001, was transferred to the Department of Sport and Recreation on 1 July 2006. The Office of Water Strategy was moved to the Department of Water on 1 July 2006.

2006 also saw the establishment of the Office of the Special Advisor on Indigenous Affairs, with the appointment of the former Western Australian Governor, Lieutenant General John Sanderson AC, to the office. This position was held by General Sanderson until August 2008.

2007

The Office of Multicultural Interests was transferred to the Department for Communities on 1 July 2007.

Responsibility for the Office of Shared Services was transferred to the Department of Treasury and Finance.

2008
The Accountability Support Unit was established in January 2008 to design and coordinate a whole-of-government training program to raise awareness of accountability and ethics.

A number of functions were transferred to the newly created Public Sector Commission on 28 November 2008. The functions transferred included the Public Sector Management Division, Office of e-Government, the Accountability Support Unit, support to the Office of the Director General and the secretariat support provided to the Salaries and Allowances Tribunal.

2009

The Office of Development Approvals Coordination was transferred to the Department of State Development on 1 January 2009.

The Office of Road Safety was transferred to Main Roads Western Australia effective 1 July 2009.

2011
On 1 April 2011, the Office of Native Title was transferred from the Department of the Attorney General to become part of the specialised Land, Approvals and Native Title Unit with the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

2013
The Office of Science was established in July 2013, following Premier Barnett’s inclusion of the Science portfolio within his responsibilities after the 2013 State election.

2017
As part of broader machinery of government changes, the Department of Premier and Cabinet assumed responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs policy and established the Public Sector Reform Unit.