Chapter 1 - Annual reports of departments
1.1
The following reports of departments for the financial year 2005‑06
were referred to the committee for examination and report:
- Attorney-General's Department; and
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs[1].
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA)
1.2
On 27 January 2006, responsibility for Indigenous affairs (formerly
outcome 3) was transferred to the renamed Department of Families, Community
Services, and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA). DIMA reported that the unspent
administered appropriations were transferred to FaCSIA together with the
administration of the Grants Management System.[2]
1.3
DIMA reported on the progress of its reform and improvement program.
The improvement program is part of the 'Palmer Plus' package of measures aimed
at addressing criticisms contained in the Palmer and Comrie Reports.[3]
DIMA identified several important aspects of the package that have been, or are
in the process of being, delivered, including:
- enhanced detention health service delivery;
- major improvements to client service delivery; and
- stronger stakeholder engagement and feedback mechanisms.
1.4
The committee maintains a keen interest in the progress of DIMA's reform
program and welcomes comments made by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission (HREOC) that: '....DIMA has gone to great lengths to improve the
attitude of staff towards detainees in immigration detention centres over the
past year.'[4]
1.5
The committee also agrees with the Secretary of DIMA that:
The scale of change I have asked of my staff in 2005-06 has been
substantial and challenging and, while I believe we are making good progress,
there is always more to do.[5]
1.6
After receiving approval from the Minister for Finance and
Administration to budget for an operating loss of $28 million, DIMA incurred a
deficit of $39.5 million for 2005-06 financial year. DIMA cited several factors
that contributed to the increase in the expected loss, including:
- additional costs related to the implementation of projects arising
out of the Palmer and Comrie reports;
- refugee caseloads with a high proportion of difficult cases
requiring more intensive investigations; and
- higher costs for security checks.[6]
1.7
The committee finds the annual report of DIMA to be 'apparently
satisfactory'.
Attorney General's Department
1.8
Despite receiving approval from the Minister for Finance and
Administration to budget for a deficit of $10 million, AGD achieved a surplus
of $18.4 million for the financial year. AGD attributed the surplus to greater
than expected independent revenue receipts and lower than expected employee
expenses.[7]
1.9
AGD cited several highlights during the 2005-06 period, including:
- a new family law system;
- security and counter-terrorism activities;
- international engagement; and
- combating identity crime.[8]
1.10
AGD assisted with the development and implementation of significant
family law reforms including the passage of the Family Law Amendment (Shared
Parental Responsibility) Act 2006. AGD also reported on the establishment
of a network of Family Relationship Centres and a Family Relationship Advice
Line.[9]
1.11
The annual report noted AGD had an ongoing focus on national security,
in particular counter-terrorism. Most significantly, the 2005-06 period saw the
passage of the Anti-Terrorism Act 2005 and Anti-Terrorism Act (No 2)
2005 providing new measures relating to control orders and preventative
detention. AGD also continued to play a co-ordinating role in Australia's
counter-terrorism arrangements through the Protective Security Coordination
Centre, as well as continuing to operate the National Security Hotline and
Watch Office.[10]
1.12
As demonstrated in the annual report and highlighted by the Secretary,
the AGD now performs:
...an increasing range of important but discrete functions which,
on the surface, have little to do with each other. They range from national
security and emergency management to advice on constitutional and international
law...to family law reform; and so the list goes on.[11]
1.13
The AGD assisted in the negotiation of treaties with Malaysia, China
and Hong Kong on mutual legal assistance and extradition. AGD also reported
representing the Australian Government in a number of international forums such
as the Committee on the Rights of the Child and the United Nations Convention
Against Corruption.
1.14
During the reporting period AGD continued work on the National Document
Verification Service which will allow authorised government agencies to check
on a range of identification documents online and in real time.
1.15
The committee finds the annual report of the AGD to be 'apparently
satisfactory'.
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