The requirement, in our words
Clause 8(2) contains two definitions. Defence capability covers equipment, technology, platforms, networks, systems and services needed for Australia defence. Defence Minister means the Minister who administers the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982. The definitions apply for clause 8, the clause that contains the purposes. The explanatory statement repeats both in its attachment.
What the provision is doing
The definitions decide the reach of the purposes. Defence capability is deliberately broad: it is not limited to platforms or major equipment, and it includes technology, networks, systems and services. That breadth matters when the purpose map is built, because a sustainment service, a network or a software system can be as much a part of defence capability as a platform. The Defence Minister definition identifies the Minister for the purposes of the advice and other-task purposes. It is not the same concept as the responsible Minister for the PGPA Act, which is the Minister responsible for the entity and is identified in the establishment order.
What good practice looks like
Publish the glossary and the role map before the plan is drafted.
What changed
The terms are new for clause 8. They do not rewrite the definitions in the PGPA Act, and they do not change the meaning of responsible Minister elsewhere in the Act. A team that uses the two terms interchangeably will send the corporate plan, the annual report and the section 19 notifications to the wrong office.
Evidence an auditor or portfolio reviewer asks for
| Category | Record to keep | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Glossary | A glossary that defines both terms, states that they apply for clause 8 and distinguishes the Defence Minister from the responsible Minister under the Act. | Current. |
| Role map | A one-page map that names the Defence Minister, the Finance Minister plus the responsible Minister, with the instrument that confers each role. | Current, updated when appointments change. |
| Briefing note | A note to the accountable authority and the planning team explaining how the definitions affect the purpose map and the reporting line. | Current. |
Common gaps
- The team treats "Defence Minister" as the responsible Minister for every PGPA purpose.
- Defence capability is read as platforms only, so technology, network and service activities are left out of the purpose map.
- The glossary does not say that the definitions are limited to clause 8.
- The role map is not updated when a Minister or portfolio responsibility changes.
What to do before 1 July 2027
- Publish the glossary and the role map before the plan is drafted.
- Check the establishment order and the administrative arrangements for the responsible Minister.
- Use the broad defence capability definition when mapping activities to purposes.
- Review the role map whenever appointments or machinery-of-government arrangements change.
Dates and cross-references
Commences: 1 July 2027, stated in section 2 of F2026L01074. Retention: Not stated in the text.
Read with: purposes, officials, accountable-authority.
Source
This page reads Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Amendment (Defence Delivery Agency) Rules 2026 (F2026L01074) and its explanatory statement, against the PGPA Act 2013 and the PGPA Rule 2014 Compilation No. 64. Retrieved 2026-10-20. The requirement above is our own statement, not the instrument wording. Not legal advice; does not certify.