Report on annual reports - Overview

1.1 This report was prepared pursuant to Standing Order 25 (21) relating to the consideration of annual reports by Committees.

Timeliness of reports

1.2 Most of the annual reports referred to the Committee were tabled out of session - as the Senate was not sitting during much of the reporting period due to the Federal election - and within the required time period, except for the reports of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Pricing Authority (for 2000-01) and the 1998-99 and 1999-00 reports of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency.

1.3 The Committee notes, in particular, that the 1998-99 and 1999-00 annual reports of the Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency were not tabled until August 2001. The Committee considers that this is an unacceptably long delay in tabling of these reports. The Committee notes that the Agency stated that the delays in presentation of these reports were ‘due to accreditation priorities’.[1] The Committee does not accept this as an acceptable reason for the delay in tabling of the reports and reminds the Agency that annual reports form an important part of the accountability process of government agencies to the Parliament and therefore need to be tabled within the specified period.

General comments

1.4 The Committee’s examination of annual reports has shown that the reports generally address the relevant reporting guidelines in a satisfactory manner. Most reports provide a detailed account of the activities of the relevant agencies with a focus on performance reporting. The format and layout of the reports continues to be of a high standard and information is presented in a concise and generally ‘reader friendly’ manner. While no major deficiencies have been identified in any reports, the Committee has, however made specific comments on several reports where reporting on certain aspects relating to the agency’s performance could be improved. As in previous years, the major weakness in some reports is that performance reporting is often less an evaluation of ‘performance’ than a description of ‘activities’. Reports need to focus not only on achievements but also on providing details of where outcomes have not been met.

1.5 The Committee is again pleased to note that several of the suggestions it made in its last report towards improving the format of annual reports, or suggestions that additional information be provided in these reports, have been incorporated in the current annual reports examined by the Committee.

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