Another thread of the governance structures are the powers of Ministers. We have legislation (laws) and regulations and often these provide Ministers with defined powers for certain matters. So they can go ahead and rule in their own right in these matters without coming back to Parliament for approval.
I think Kevin Rudd MP is looking pretty happy with his powers as Minister for Foreign Affairs and is in a spot to make some huge decisions for Australia pretty well off his own bat without consulting the PM or anyone else.
Interesting to explore how this works.
It all percolates back down to us here in The Grove in one way or another whether it is as more security because of a nuclear disarmament agreement signed or more taxes and less carbon-induced global climate change because of another agreement signed.