7.5 Approval for proactive release material

Cabinet approval is required to publish the final proactive release documents.

Once a submission has been reviewed for any information not suitable for release, and proposed redactions applied, this becomes the Proactive Release version.

The Proactive Release version must include a Coversheet.

The Proactive Release Coversheet is to be endorsed by the lead Minster, whose agency led development of the cabinet submission. It is the responsibility of the lead Minister to ensure any necessary consultation has been undertaken with other Ministers, including all other signatories to the submission, prior to Cabinet consideration of the material for proactive release. By endorsing the Proactive Release Coversheet, the Minister is certifying that the final proactive release cabinet submission is an exact replication of the submission considered by Cabinet, subject to redactions, and all information not suitable for release has been redacted.

The Proactive Release version and coversheet must be provided to Cabinet Services, DPC, at least 10 business days before the release deadline. In exceptional circumstances, where publication is planned for after 30 business days, the date of provision should be confirmed with Cabinet Services, DPC, at the earliest opportunity.

The Cabinet Secretariat will lodge the Proactive Release version and Coversheet in TCIS for Cabinet consideration. Cabinet will consider all Proactive Release versions at least one week prior to the publication deadline.  

Cabinet is responsible for approving the Proactive Release version for publication.