Charting a New Course: Charter Letters and ASEAN Engagement

After the trials and tribulations of job-seeking, receiving an employment contract that outlines your role and expectations is deeply satisfying. Similarly, for politicians, appointment to a ministerial position following intense preselection battles and gruelling election campaigns is a defining career moment.

Yet, despite the significance of these appointments, the charter letters that detail ministerial responsibilities often remain hidden from public view. Why are these documents kept secret? And why is cabinet confidentiality considered essential to maintaining proper parliamentary procedure and effective governance?

As Opposition Leader the Hon Sussan Ley MP issues her shadow ministers with specific performance indicators, join Nexus APAC as we explore the origins of charter letters and their role in maintaining cabinet confidentiality.

Charter Letters

Charter letters, also known as portfolio priority letters, are typically formal correspondences from a Prime Minister or state Premier to their ministers outlining key priorities and responsibilities within portfolio areas.

In addition to setting out expectations and focusing and coordinating government initiatives across portfolios, charter letters can also play a role in accountability by setting out deliverables or performance indicators.

For example, following his election, Queensland Premier the Hon David Crisafulli MP issued charter letters outlining ministerial performance indicators and published them online to signal a ‘Fresh Start for Queensland’. While some questioned whether the letters contained concrete or measurable indicators, their publication indicated a focus on transparency and accountability.

Last week, Senator Maria Kovacic made a freedom of information request to obtain charter letters issued by the Prime Minister. The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, as the responsible agency, blocked the release of 23 ministerial letters in full, stating that 21 are “cabinet documents”, six are “documents affecting national security, defence or international relations”, all are part of “deliberative processes”, and all could reveal “certain operations of agencies”.

The practice of refusing to release charter letters is not without precedent. In 2021 during the Morrison government, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet similarly refused access to charter letters because they were exempt under the cabinet documents rule.

The rationale behind cabinet confidentiality is that it safeguards the integrity of Cabinet processes. It allows members of the National Cabinet to engage in frank discussions, express differing views, and reach collective decisions without the pressure of immediate public scrutiny. This confidentiality is seen as essential to maintaining trust, cohesion, and effective decision-making within executive government.

In an era of heightened public and digital scrutiny of government operations, the secrecy surrounding ministerial charter letters highlights the persistent tension between institutional integrity and democratic transparency.

ASEAN Meeting

Australian Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Monday for the 2025 ASEAN Summit, just a week after his successful meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. Held from October 26–28 under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” the summit convened leaders from ASEAN’s now 11 member states, including newly admitted Timor-Leste, alongside key dialogue partners such as the United States, China, Japan, and Australia.

The Prime Minister’s visit underscored Australia’s deepening engagement with Southeast Asia amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. Building on momentum from Washington, he came with a clear agenda: to strengthen economic ties, promote regional stability, and reaffirm Australia’s role as a trusted Indo-Pacific partner.

During the summit, the Prime Minister participated in the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN-Australia Summit, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Leaders’ Meeting, advocating for open, rules-based trade and collaborative responses to regional challenges such as climate change, maritime security, and economic resilience.

A key highlight was the announcement of two major Australian investments: a $175 million commitment to IFM Investors’ Asia-Pacific Debt Fund and a $50 million contribution to a new public-private partnership fund led by Plenary Group. These initiatives aim to unlock private capital, support sustainable development, and create new opportunities for Australian businesses.

The Prime Minister also held bilateral talks with Malaysian Prime Minister the Hon Anwar Ibrahim, discussing expanded cooperation in education, trade, and infrastructure. The planned expansion of Monash University’s Kuala Lumpur campus was welcomed as a symbol of growing institutional and people-to-people ties.

Beyond formal engagements, the Prime Minister joined a roundtable with regional business and civil society leaders, emphasizing inclusive economic growth and sustainable innovation. He reiterated Australia’s support for ASEAN centrality and praised the bloc’s role in fostering regional dialogue amid global tensions.

Climate diplomacy was another focal point. In a joint statement with ASEAN leaders, the Prime Minister pledged support for the ASEAN Climate Resilience Network, committing technical expertise and funding to help member states adapt to climate risks. This initiative aligns with Australia’s ongoing climate change and resilience initiatives in the Pacific.

As the Prime Minister departed Kuala Lumpur, his visit was widely seen as a reaffirmation of Australia’s strategic commitment to ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific marked by new investments, strengthened partnerships, and a clear diplomatic vision for a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable regional future.

Stay tuned for more Nexus APAC insights as we continue to track the issues that matter most in Canberra.