Department of the Premier and Cabinet (South Australia)


The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is a department of the Government of South Australia. It is the main agency supporting the Premier and Cabinet by developing policy and delivering their programs.

Purpose and role

, DPC's purpose and role includes the following:
As of late 2018, after Steven Marshall's appointment as Premier after the March election, DPC took over most of the responsibilities previously under Arts South Australia, with others going to the Department of Innovation and Skills or Department of Education.
The statutory authorities taken over directly are:
The biennial Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature are managed by the State Library of South Australia.
In September 2019, the "Arts and Culture Plan, South Australia 2019–2024" was created by the Department. Marshall said when launching the plan: “The arts sector in South Australia is already very strong but it’s been operating without a plan for 20 years”. However the plan does not signal any new government support, even after the government’s cuts to arts funding when Arts South Australia was absorbed into DPC in 2018. Specific propoals within the plan include an “Adelaide in 100 Objects” walking tour, a new shared ticketing system for small to medium arts bodies, a five-year-plan to revitalise regional art centres, creation of an arts-focussed high school, and a new venue for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

Publications and online resources

The department's activities are summarised in its Annual Reports. Other publications include range of policies, guidelines, reports and other documentation.

Lobbyist Register

The Department maintains a register of all third-party political lobbyists who are currently lobbying in South Australia. The register includes the trading names of lobbying entities, names of persons engaged in lobbying and current lists of the clients they commercially represent.

Recent CEOs

When in opposition, then Shadow Treasurer Rob Lucas criticised the salary paid to Russell as CEO, but when McDowell was appointed, the annual salary was defended by Premier Marshall.