This experience is the basis in several Commonwealth nations of the doctrines of cabinet confidentiality and cabinet solidarity. Cabinet's ability to reach dec

This experience is the basis in several Commonwealth nations of the doctrines of cabinet confidentiality and cabinet solidarity. Cabinet's ability to reach decisions effectively requires frank discussions, which are only possible without having to posture for the cameras. Cabinet papers (submissions and minutes) are classified and only released several decades later -- 30 years, in Australia. Similarly, cabinet solidarity (sometimes called collective responsibility) holds that when Cabinet reaches a decision, all members of the Cabinet must support it in public. This is partly to maintain confidentiality, but also a practical matter of having the numbers on the floor of Parliament. The flip side is Question Time: when the Cabinet is asked questions in open Parliament (usually alternating between government and opposition members). Question Time is performance art, ritual combat. Rap battles before rap battles. But it is not the main vehicle for decision-making. Nor should it be.