Report on the examination of annual reports - No.2 of 2001
Members of the Committee
Core
Members
Senator B Gibson
(Chair) (Tasmania, LP)
Senator S Murphy
(Deputy Chair) (Tasmania, ALP)
Senator G Chapman (South
Australia, LP)
Senator G Campbell (New South Wales, ALP)
Senator A Murray (Western Australia, AD)
Senator J Watson (Tasmania, LP)
Substitute
Members
Senator Allison
to substitute for Senator Murray for resources issues.
Participating
Members
Senator E Abetz (Tasmania,
LP)
Senator R Boswell (Queensland,
NPA)
Senator B Brown (Tasmania,
AG)
Senator P Calvert (Tasmania,
LP)
Senator S Conroy (Victoria,
ALP)
Senator the Hon P
Cook (Western Australia, ALP)
Senator H Coonan (New
South Wales, LP)
Senator W Crane (Western
Australia, LP)
Senator A Eggleston
(Western Australia, LP)
Senator J Faulkner (New
South Wales, ALP)
Senator A Ferguson (South
Australia, LP)
Senator J Ferris (South
Australia, LP)
Senator B Harradine
(Tasmania, Ind)
Senator Harris (Queensland,
PHON)
Senator S Knowles (Western
Australia, LP)
Senator R Lightfoot
(Western Australia, LP)
Senator K Lundy (Australian
Capital Territory, ALP)
Senator B Mason (Queensland,
LP)
Senator J McGauran (Victoria,
NPA)
Senator M Payne (New
South Wales, LP)
Senator A Ridgeway (New
South Wales, AD)
Senator C Schacht (South
Australia, ALP)
Senator N Sherry (Tasmania,
ALP)
Senator T Tchen (Victoria,
LP)
Senator J Tierney
(New South Wales, LP)
Secretariat
Peter Hallahan,
Secretary
Matthew Lemm,
Research Officer
SG.64,
Parliament House
Canberra ACT
2600
Tel: 02 6277
3540
Fax: 02
6277 5719
Report to the Senate
Preface
This report was prepared
pursuant to the resolution of the Senate of 24 August 1994[1],
and subsequent amendment of 1 May 1996[2],
relating to the consideration of annual reports by Committees.
Under
Senate Standing Order 25(21) annual reports of departments and agencies are
referred to legislation committees in accordance with the above resolution.
Each committee is required to:
- Examine
each annual report referred to it and report to the Senate whether the report
is apparently satisfactory.
- Consider
in more detail, and report to the Senate on, each annual report which is not
apparently satisfactory, and on the other annual reports which it selects for
more detailed consideration.
- Investigate
and report to the Senate on any lateness in the presentation of annual reports.
- In
considering an annual report, take into account any relevant remarks about the
report made in debate in the Senate.
- If the
committee so determines, consider annual reports of departments and
budget-related agencies in conjunction with examination of estimates.
- Report
on annual reports tabled by 31 October each year by the tenth sitting day of
the following year, and on annual reports tabled by 30 April each year by
the tenth sitting day after 30 June of that year.
- Draw to
the attention of the Senate any significant matters relating to the operations
and performance of the bodies furnishing the annual reports.
- Report
to the Senate each year whether there are any bodies which do not present
annual reports to the Senate and which should present such reports.[3]
Requirements
The information contained in annual reports is an important
tool in the process of accountability to Parliament. Such information gives
ministers and the Parliament an accurate report of the activities of an agency
over the financial year. To fulfil this role annual reports are required to
meet certain requirements as contained in:
- Requirements for Departmental Annual Reports, produced by
the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; and the
- Commonwealth Authorities Act 1997, in relation to
Commonwealth companies.
Documents referred—Apparently
Satisfactory
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee is responsible
for the examination of annual reports within the portfolios of the Treasury and
the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The reports that were tabled
after 31 October 2000 which fall within these portfolio areas are as follows:
Treasury portfolio
- Commissioner of Taxation-Data-matching program
- Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board
- Corporations and Securities Panel
- Foreign Investment Review Board
- Payments System Board
- Pooled Development Funds Registration Board
- Commissioner of Taxation - Corrigenda to Report of 1999-2000
Industry, Science and Resources
- Australian Sports Commission
- Australian Sports Drug Agency
- Australian Industry Development Corporation
-
Australian Technology Group Limited
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources-Energy use in
Commonwealth operations
- National Standards Commission
- National Competition Council
- Productivity Commission
- Snowy Mountains Council
The Committee has examined these reports and considers them
to be apparently satisfactory.
IIF (CM) Investments Pty
Limited and IIF Investments Pty Limited – Annual Reports
As noted previously by the Committee in Report on Annual
Reports No. 1 of 2001, both IIF (CM) Investments Pty Limited and IIF
Investments Pty Limited had failed to present their annual reports. Since the
tabling of the Committee’s report both bodies have presented their annual
reports. These documents were due to be presented by 15 October 2000 but were
not received until 7 May 2001, when they were presented out of session.
Included in appendix 2 are copies of the correspondence which outline the
various difficulties which resulted in the two reports being tabled late.
The Committee has examined both reports and finds them to be
satisfactory. However, the Committee recommends the inclusion of a more
detailed contents page to enhance the ease of use of the documents.
Senator the
Hon B Gibson
Chairman
Appendix 1 - List of Reports and Tabling Dates
LIST OF REPORTS
AND TABLING DATES FOR THE PERIOD 1 NOVEMBER 2000 AND 30 APRIL 2001
| Portfolio |
Date Tabled |
| Industry, Science and Resources portfolio |
|
| Australian Sports Commission |
7 November 2000 |
| Australian Sports Drug Agency |
6 February 2001 |
| Australian Industry Development Corporation |
1 November 2000 |
| Australian Technology Group Limited |
27 February 2001 |
Department of Industry, Science and Resources-
Energy use in Commonwealth operations |
6 February 2001 |
| IIF (CM) Investments Pty Limited |
7 May 2001[4] |
| IIF Investments Pty Limited |
7 May 2001[5] |
| National Standards Commission |
28 November 2000 |
| National Competition Council |
6 December 2000 |
| Productivity Commission |
5 December 2000 |
| Snowy Mountains Council |
5 December 2000 |
| Treasury portfolio |
|
| Commissioner of Taxation-Data-matching program |
6 December 2000 |
| Commissioner of Taxation - Corrigenda to Report of 1999-2000 |
26 March 2001 |
| Companies Auditors and Liquidators Disciplinary Board |
6 February 2001 |
| Corporations and Securities Panel |
6 February 2001 |
| Foreign Investment Review Board |
6 February 2001 |
| Payments System Board |
8 November 2000 |
| Pooled Development Funds Registration Board |
5 December 2000 |
Appendix 2 - Correspondence regarding IIF (CM) Investments Pty Limited and IIF Investments Pty Limited
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