Chapter 2 - Annual reports of statutory authorities
2.1
The following reports of statutory authorities for the financial year
2006-07 were referred to the committee for examination and report:
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity;
- Australian Customs Service;
- Australian Federal Police;
- Australian Government Solicitor;
- Australian Institute of Criminology and Criminology Research
Council;
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO);
- Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC);
- CrimTrac;
- Director of Public Prosecutions;
- Family Law Council;
- Federal Court of Australia;
- Federal Magistrates Court;
- National Native Title Tribunal; and
- Office of Parliamentary Council.
2.2
The committee decided to examine in more detail the annual reports of
the following agencies.
Australian Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC)
2.3
AUSTRAC reported a surplus of $0.38 million for 2006-07, as compared
with a surplus of $0.03 million in 2005-06.[1]
AUSTRAC also reported total revenue of $33.55 million, an increase of $12.34
million compared to the previous year.[2]
AUSTRAC attributed this increase to additional funding for the implementation
of the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) reform
program.[3]
Deterring money laundering, serious
crime and tax evasion
2.4
During the reporting period, AUSTRAC engaged in a range of activities to
deter money laundering, serious crime and tax evasion. These activities sought
to 'educate businesses' as well as 'adopt a cooperative approach in order to
promote voluntary compliance with relevant legislation'.[4]
Examples included:
- conducting 78 education visits to regulated entities in order to
raise awareness of their obligations under the FTR Act and AML/CTF Acts[5];
- engaging in a comprehensive public education campaign using
advertisements in major newspapers and in ethnic media;[6]
- establishing two new industry consultative forums, the Finance
Industry Consultative Forum and the Gaming Industry Consultative Forum[7];
and
- distributing five new AUSTRAC information circulars on a range of
topics.[8]
2.5
The committee is pleased to see that AUSTRAC has dedicated significant
time and resources to education and awareness of the AML/CTF and FTR regimes. The
committee has previously acknowledged the efforts of AUSTRAC to consult extensively
with stakeholders.[9]
The committee is pleased to see that this is continuing and considers it to be
of significant value to both stakeholders and AUSTRAC.
Privacy issues
2.6
The committee was interested to read about AUSTRAC's efforts to ensure
complance with the Privacy Act. AUSTRAC reported that 'it ensures all personnel
are aware of AUSTRAC's privacy requirements and that this awareness is
reinforced through training.'[10]
AUSTRAC also advised that it published privacy statement guidelines and
conducted an internal privacy audit.[11]
The committee is pleased that there were no significant incidents relating to
privacy or complaints against AUSTRAC during the reporting period.[12]
2.7
The inclusion of a compliance index greatly assisted the committee in
its examination of AUSTRAC's annual report.
2.8
The committee considers the annual report of AUSTRAC to be apparently
satisfactory.
Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC)
2.9
OPC reported a profit of $492,756 for the 2006-07 financial year, compared
to a profit of $1,057,637 for 2005-06.[13]
OPC also reported an increase of $856,483 in staffing costs owing to the employment
of additional drafters.[14]
2.10
During the reporting period OPC drafted 204 bills totalling 8,225 pages
which were subsequently introduced into Parliament.[15]
Of particular interest to the committee were bills introduced in the
Attorney-General's portfolio, with OPC drafting 30 bills totalling around 1,500
pages.[16]
OPC noted that there 'continued to be a substantial increase in demand for
drafting resources for legislation for the Attorney-General's Portfolio.[17]
OPC reported that all 'time critical bills'[18]
were drafted on time.[19]
The committee congratulates OPC on this achievement.
2.11
In its annual report, OPC provided comprehensive information on its
management of human resources. OPC reported that as of 30 June 2007 it employed a total of 49 ongoing staff, with nil non-ongoing staff. This represented
an increase of 1 employee compared with 30 June 2006. On staff development, OPC
advised that it takes approximately 5-6 years to train a legislative drafter to
the point at which they can take sole responsibility for drafting bills.
2.12
OPC identified the following measures as being required to ensure
sufficient drafting resources will be available in the long term:
- a recruitment program to ensure that high quality lawyers are
recruited;
- an approach to training that ensures that recruits are given the
opportunity to develop high level drafting skills in the shortest possible
time; and
- the retention of trained drafters through the provision of
interesting work, good career opportunities, attractive working conditions, and
appropriate remuneration.
2.13
The committee considers the annual report of OPC to be apparently
satisfactory.
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