Chapter 16 - Committees
Referral
of matters to committees
Annual Reports
Annual
Reports of government departments and agencies are examined by committees in
accordance with standing order 25(20) and an order
of the Senate allocating portfolios to committees.
Under the procedure, committees are required to consider in more detail
those reports which are apparently not satisfactory and may select other annual
reports for more detailed consideration. In their examination of the reports,
the committees are also required to note late receipt of any reports and to
take into account any relevant remarks about the report made in debate in the
Senate and to draw to the Senate’s attention any significant matters relating
to the operations and performance of bodies furnishing annual reports. As well
as the ‘normal’ consideration of annual reports, committees may also consider
the annual reports of departments and budget-related agencies in conjunction
with their examination of estimates. Reports on annual reports tabled by 31
October each year are due by the tenth sitting day of the following year.
Reports on annual reports tabled by 30 April each year are due by the tenth
sitting day after 30 June that year. This timetable ensures regular and
timely information on annual reports. Finally, committees are required to
report to the Senate each year whether there are any bodies which do not
present annual reports to the Senate but which should do so.
Although it is still rare for committees to hold public hearings on
annual reports as such, scrutiny of annual reports is important for the
assessment of an agency’s performance.
The systematic
evaluation of annual reports by committees has its origin in a report by the
Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration in 1989, entitled The
Timeliness and Quality of Annual Reports (PP 468/1989). The committee
envisaged that examination of annual reports would go further than mere
examination of style, format and compliance with guidelines. The reviews would
focus on the operation and performance of executive agencies and would
complement the work of estimates committees.
Before 1989, committees dealt with annual reports on an ad hoc basis in
a variety of ways ranging from simple examination to the seeking of submissions
and holding of hearings. From 1973, successive resolutions of the Senate had
the effect of referring all annual reports of departments, authorities and
statutory corporations to the relevant legislative and general purpose standing
committee. Committees had a discretion to pursue or not pursue inquiries into
the reports. Orders of 14 December 1989 and 13 May 1993 formalised the process, until incorporation in the
standing orders in 1997.
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