Chapter 3
Annual reports of agencies
3.1
The committee considered all of the following reports to be 'apparently
satisfactory'.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio
Commonwealth authorities
Wine Australia
3.2
The committee is pleased to note that Wine Australia has again certified
its compliance with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines in the prescribed
manner.
3.3
The committee commends Wine Australia on its compliance index. The index
clearly outlines its reporting requirements under the Commonwealth
Authorities and Companies Act 1997, Commonwealth Authorities (Annual
Reporting) Orders 2011 (CAC Orders) and the Wine Australia Corporation
Act 1980.
Other agencies
Australian Landcare Council
3.4
The Australian Landcare Council Annual Report 2011-12 has been
prepared according to the requirements set out in the Natural Resources
Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992.
3.5
The committee notes the finalisation of the Community Call for Action,
which according to the report, was prepared on behalf of the Landcare community
and is a companion document and implementation guide for the Australian
Framework for Landcare. The Community Call for Action was formally
handed over to the Landcare community at the Australian Government Landcare
Conference held in September 2012.[1]
National Rural Advisory Council
3.6
The National Rural Advisory Council Annual Report 2011-12 has
been prepared in accordance with the requirements outlined in section 20 of the
Rural Adjustment Act 1992.
3.7
The committee is pleased to note that the remaining three exceptional
circumstances declared areas expired in March and April 2012. The report states
that Australia is drought free for the first time in more than a decade.[2]
Infrastructure and Transport portfolio
Commonwealth authorities
Airservices Australia
3.8
Airservices Australia has provided a comprehensive and well-structured
annual report. Airservices Australia's reporting under the Environmental
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), and the Work
Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) have been fulfilled to a high standard.
The information is comprehensive and well-laid out.[3]
3.9
The review of operations not only provides a description of activities,
but also provides an assessment of performance. The layout is clear, with
helpful tables that enhance readability.
3.10
However, the committee notes that despite comments made in its previous
reports, Airservices Australia has not included another column in its
performance reporting tables, to mark whether the activity was found to be
'achieved', 'partially achieved' or 'not achieved'.[4]
3.11
The committee notes that the report on corporate governance statements were
provided in the report, however, not listed in the compliance index.[5]
The committee reminds Airservices Australia of section 21 of the Commonwealth
Authorities (Annual Reporting) Orders 2011. The omission did not hinder the
committee's ability to review the report.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
(CASA)
3.12
The committee is pleased to note that CASA has again provided a clear
and well-structured report with comprehensive reporting under the EPBC and WHS
Acts.[6]
3.13
The compliance index is helpfully separated by legislative reporting requirements;
however, the inclusion of page numbers in the compliance index would greatly
assist the committee when assessing CASA's compliance with the reporting
requirements.[7]
Overall, the omission was not problematic for the committee to assess the
report against the relevant requirements.
3.14
CASA's report on performance is comprehensive, well-structured and
includes case studies and summaries. CASA has used a tick symbol to represent
the status of result, with a key provided at the beginning of the report on
performance. The committee notes however that, following comments in its
previous report, CASA has not included a statement providing further
information for the results listed with one or two ticks, that is, 'delayed/may
not meet the target' or 'some delay/issues being managed'.[8]
In the committee's opinion, CASA's report on performance would benefit from
including this additional information.
Australian Maritime Safety
Authority (AMSA)
3.15
The committee is pleased to note that, following comments in its
previous reports, AMSA has further improved its compliance index. The layout
of the index is clear, with separate headings for different legislative
reporting requirements.[9]
3.16
AMSA's report on performance is presented in a clear and easy to
understand format, with a helpful summary of highlights provided at the
beginning of each chapter. The committee notes however that despite comments in
its previous reports, an additional column has not been included to mark
targets as 'achieved', 'partially achieved' or 'not achieved'.[10]
Statutory corporations
National Transport Commission (NTC)
3.17
The NTC is not a Commonwealth authority for the purposes of the CAC Act,
however, the NTC's enabling legislation states that certain sections of the CAC
Act apply to it, including section 9, relating to annual reporting
requirements. Under schedule 1 of the CAC Act, an agency's annual report must
include a report of operations prepared in accordance with the CAC Orders.
3.18
The committee notes that the NTC's annual report is easy to understand,
with case studies and summaries provided. The report contains a clear and
detailed account of the NTC's performance, including productivity and safety
outcomes.[11]
3.19
The committee notes that the NTC celebrated its 21st anniversary
in 2012. The report states that within the context of its 21st
anniversary the current review of the NTC and other bodies is timely as it
provides government with an opportunity to consider a long-term national productivity
reform agenda.[12]
Commonwealth companies
Australian Rail Track Corporation
(ARTC)
3.20
The committee again notes that the ARTC has included a compliance index
in its annual report. The committee finds this very helpful when assessing
ARTC's compliance with the reporting requirements.[13]
3.21
The committee notes that the ARTC has provided an easy to understand report.
ARTC's report contains a comprehensive and informative corporate responsibility
section, including information about its people, culture, safety management
system, community involvement, environmental performance and corporate
governance section, which reflects the Australian Stock Exchange's Principals
of Good Corporate Governance.[14]
Prescribed agencies
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
3.22
The ATSB Annual Report 2011-12 was prepared in accordance with
the Requirements for Annual Reports. The committee commends the ATSB for
tabling its annual report on time.
3.23
The committee notes that the ATSB's annual report is easy to understand,
comprehensive and well-structured. The ATSB has provided detailed reporting in its
transport safety statistics and safety awareness section.[15]
The committee notes however, following comments in its previous report, the ATSB
has not included an additional column in its report on performance section to
allow targets to be marked as 'achieved', 'partially achieved', or 'not
achieved'.[16]
Regional Australia portfolio
Commonwealth authorities
Australia Council for the Arts
3.24
The committee notes that the report on performance is detailed and easy
to comprehend with relevant figures provided to show trend data for the past
three years.[17]
3.25
The Australia Council for the Arts has not included an index in its
annual report. The committee finds an index very helpful when searching for
specific information not contained in the compliance index and would encourage
the Australia Council for the Arts to include an index in its next report.
Australian Film, Television and
Radio School
3.26
The Australian Film, Television and Radio School did not include a
compliance index in its annual report. The committee reminds the Australian
Film, Television and Radio School that it is a mandatory requirement to include
a compliance index as detailed in section 21 of the CAC Orders. This
omission did not pose problems for the committee in assessing the report
against the requirements.
3.27
The committee notes that the Australian Film, Television and Radio
School celebrated its 40th anniversary during 2011-12.[18]
Australian National Maritime Museum
3.28
The Australian National Maritime Museum has provided a detailed account
of its performance for 2011-12. It is the committee's opinion that the
performance section would benefit from adding another column to allow targets
to be marked as 'achieved', 'partially achieved', or 'not achieved'.[19]
3.29
The committee notes the following items of significance for the
Australian National Maritime Museum:
- celebration of its 20th anniversary; and
- the 2011-12 Australian circumnavigation of the museum's replica
of Captain James Cook's HM Bark Endeavour.[20]
Australian Sports Commission
3.30
The Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has provided a detailed and
well-structured report, which includes features and case studies. A helpful
performance highlight summary for each outcome is provided at the beginning of
the report. The report's performance section would benefit from including an
additional column in its performance reporting tables to allow KPIs and
deliverables to be marked as 'achieved', 'partially achieved' or 'not achieved'.[21]
3.31
The ASC has also provided an informative and detailed management and
accountability section. The report states that during 2011-12, the ASC
implemented specific environmental initiatives to address its water and energy
usage targets. The ASC achieved accreditation from the Australian Capital
Territory Government for its recycling initiatives.[22]
National Gallery of Australia (NGA)
3.32
The NGA has provided a detailed report; however, the committee
recommends a larger font size be used in future as this would improve the overall
readability of the report. Nevertheless, the committee did not find this
problematic in assessing the report against the requirements.
3.33
The committee finds NGA's environmental and work, health and safety
reporting to be of a high standard.[23]
However, the performance reporting section could be enhanced if tables were
used to report whether KPIs were 'achieved', 'partially achieved' or 'not
achieved'.[24]
National Library of Australia (NLA)
3.34
The committee finds the NLA Annual Report 2011-12 to be
comprehensive and well-structured. The compliance index is divided between its
reporting requirements set out in the Commonwealth Authorities (Annual
Reporting) Orders 2011 and the relevant elements of the Requirements for
Annual Reports.[25]
The committee reminds the NLA to date the letter of transmittal to the
minister.
3.35
The committee notes that the NLA has fulfilled its performance reporting
section to a high standard, as it provides a detailed assessment of its
performance against its strategies, including using tables, graphs and charts
to present relevant information.[26]
National Museum of Australia (NMA)
3.36
The committee notes that the NMA has provided a clear and comprehensive
report on performance section providing assessments of actual performance in
relation to its targets.[27]
3.37
The committee notes the NMA introduced its museum iPad game. The game
enables school students to make connections between objects in the museum's
galleries. The games can be set up to respond to themes within the Australian
curriculum.[28]
National Film and Sound Archive
(NFSA)
3.38
The NFSA Annual Report 2011-12 is comprehensive and
well-structured report. The committee commends the NFSA on the overall
structure and presentation of its report.
3.39
The committee finds the NFSA's reporting on performance to be
comprehensive and informative. The 'snapshot – our performance' section is clearly
laid out and provides comprehensive results at 30 June 2011 and at 30 June 2012.[29]
Screen Australia
3.40
Screen Australia's annual report is a wide-ranging and well-structured report
with a selection of photos from Australian television and movie productions.
The committee notes Screen Australia's report on performance section as it contains
actual performance assessments for each KPI.[30]
3.41
However, the committee notes that Screen Australia did not include a
compliance index in its Annual Report 2011-12. The committee reminds
Screen Australia that it is a mandatory requirement to include a compliance
index as detailed in section 21 of the CAC Orders. This omission was not
problematic for the committee to assess the report against the requirements.
Commonwealth companies
Australian River Co Limited
3.42
The committee notes that the Australian River Co Limited Annual Report
2010-11 has also been referred to the Senate Finance and Public
Administration Legislation Committee for review, as the Department of Finance and
Deregulation provides policy advice and oversight of government business
enterprises and other associated entities to the Finance Minister on behalf of
the government.
3.43
The committee observes that a number of items appear to be missing from
Australian River Co Limited's annual report. It appears that Australian River
Co Limited has not included an organisational and program structure, report on
performance, corporate governance statement, the responsible minister, judicial
decisions, review by outside bodies and a compliance index.
3.44
The committee reiterates the statements made by the Senate Finance and
Public Administration Legislation Committee in its Annual reports (No.2 of
2009) and Annual Reports (No.1 of 2008) regarding the lack of detailed
information contained in Australian River Co Limited's reports.[31]
Furthermore, it's the committee's opinion that Australian River Co Limited's
failure to provide detailed information ignores the primary purpose of annual
reports, which is accountability to Parliament.
Bundanon Trust Limited
3.45
The committee observed that a number of mandatory items appear to be
missing from the Bundanon Trust Limited 2011-12 Annual Report. It
appears that a program outline, performance indicators in its performance
reporting section, freedom of information reporting, work health and safety,
fraud control, judicial decisions, reviews by outside bodies and a letter of
transmittal were not included in the report. The committee expects all
mandatory requirements to be included and would encourage Bundanon Trust
Limited to review the CAC Orders, before preparing its next report.
Prescribed agencies
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA)
3.46
The ASADA Annual Report 2011-12 was prepared in accordance with
the requirements specified in the Requirements for Annual Reports. The report
also contains an overview of the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory
Committee. The committee notes that ASADA's report is comprehensive, informative
and
well-structured.
3.47
ASADA has measured its performance against the deliverables and KPIs specified
in the 2011-12 PBS. The committee finds ASADA's report on performance to be of
a high standard, assessments of actual performance against the KPIs have been
provided and each KPIs has been marked either 'achieved' or 'partially
achieved'.[32]
National Archives of Australia and National Archives
of Australia Advisory Council (National Archives)
3.48
The National Archives Annual Report 2011-12 was prepared in
accordance with the Requirements for Annual Reports. The committee notes that the
National Archives has prepared its annual report against the theme of 'Archives
making news'. The report states that each section focuses on a key event or
initiative from 2011-12 and is accompanied by a quote from the media and a
short paragraph providing contextual information.[33]
3.49
The committee commends the National Archives on its comprehensive and
well-structured report on performance. Each performance chapter has a table summary,
which outline the KPIs, the actual performance result for 2011-12, page
references and trend data for the last four financial years.[34]
The committee finds this to be immensely useful when assessing whether or not
performance targets have been met.
Old Parliament House (Museum for Australian Democracy)
3.50
Old Parliament House Annual Report 2011-12 was prepared in
accordance with section 70 of the Public Service Act 1999 and the
Requirements for Annual Reports.
3.51
The committee finds the report to be clear and informative. The
committee notes that the Old Parliament House has fulfilled its report on
performance to a high standard, as actual assessments of performance have been
provided for each KPI. For those KPIs that were partially achieved, statements
have been provided explaining why they were not fully achieved.[35]
Senator Glenn Sterle
Chair
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