The Online and Communications Council (OCC) operates as the peak ministerial forum across governments to consider and reach agreement on strategic approaches on information and communications issues of a national importance..

The OCC operates within the Council of Australian Governments protocols for Ministerial Councils.

The OCC is chaired by the Australian Government Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Membership includes senior ministers from state and territory governments and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). The Australian Government Minister for Finance and Deregulation is also a member and chairs agenda items relating to e-government. The Council meets annually to discuss policy issues relating to the information economy with a focus on online and communications issues.

OCC members are supported by two committees:

1. The Online and Communications Council Standing Committee chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. Membership includes senior officials representing ministers from each state and territory, the ALGA and the Australian Government Information Management Office.
2. The Cross-Jurisdictional Chief Information Officers Committee chaired by the Australian Government Chief Information Officer. Membership includes Chief Information Officers, or equivalent, from each state and territory, and ALGA. New Zealand has been invited to have observer status on the Committee.

The Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy provides secretariat support to the OCC, the Standing Committee and its working groups.

The Australian Government Information Management Office provides secretariat support to the Cross-Jurisdiction Chief Information Officers Committee and its working groups.

The National Broadband Development Group is an OCC working group. Its primary objectives are to develop national policy settings, and support cooperative arrangements and a strategic approach to stimulating sustainable industry investment, in scalable next generation broadband infrastructure.