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LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

SECRETARY'S REVIEW

DEPARTMENTAL OVERVIEW

REPORT ON PERFORMANCE

MANAGEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

> Overview
Corporate governance
Management
Management of human resources
Survey of personnel services users
Staffing overview
Staff turnover
Workplace relations
Workplace diversity
Performance based pay
Australian Workplace Agreements
Non-salary benefits
Staff development and training
External development activities
Purchasing
Accountability
Internal scrutiny
Statutory reporting requirements
Commonwealth Disability Strategy
Occupational health and safety
Ecologically sustainable development and environmental reporting
Advertising and market research
Freedom of information
Other specific reporting requirements
Consultancy services
Table 1, Table 2, Table 3

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

APPENDICES

GLOSSARY

OVERVIEW

This section provides information on the department's management and corporate governance practices and how it meets its accountability obligations.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The departmental Executive meets weekly and comprises the Secretary, the Group Managers of the Client Services Group, the Technical Services Group and the Corporate and Strategic Development Group and the Chief Finance Officer. The Executive's responsibilities are to monitor delivery of the department's vision, which is:

to give all Australians the opportunity to see, hear and read the work of their national Parliament.

and task, which is:

to provide the Australian Parliament with world class, value for money services and support.

The Senior Management Team comprises the Executive, all Directors, and the two Business Managers.

There are five departmental management or oversight committees - Finance, Audit, Technical Development and Implementation, Human Resources Management and Continuous Improvement:

• The Finance Committee meets monthly and comprises the Executive and the two Business Managers. It is chaired by the Secretary and is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and where necessary approving all aspects of the department's operations and responsibilities, including project approvals
  
  
• The Audit Committee meets quarterly and comprises the Group Managers, the Chief Finance Officer, the two Business Managers, a representative from Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (the department's internal auditors) and an external member. It is chaired by the Group Manager, Corporate and Strategic Development and is responsible for all audit related matters
  
  
• The Technical Development and Implementation Committee meets monthly and comprises Group Managers, the two Business Managers, the Director, Client Liaison and the Director, Emerging Technology. The Group Manager, Technical Services chairs the committee and its role is to ensure that the department, through the use of agreed strategies and strategic plans, uses appropriate technology to provide its services to the Parliament
  
  
• The Human Resources Committee meets quarterly and comprises Group Managers, Business Managers, the Director, Personnel and the Director, Project Office. The Group Manager, Client Services chairs the committee and its role is to ensure that staff development activities achieve a highly skilled workforce aligned to the department's approach of professionalism, partnerships with clients, continuous improvement and personal respect
  
  
• The Continuous Improvement Committee meets quarterly and is chaired by the Group Manager, Corporate and Strategic Development. It comprises the Director, Information Development, the Director, Client Liaison, the Director, Personnel Services, the Director, Broadcasting, the Business Manager, Client Service Group and the Director, Project Office. Its role is to ensure that continuous improvement practices are implemented across the department.

MANAGEMENT

Management of human resources

Management of the department’s human resources continued under the broad direction of the Human Resources Committee and consistent with the department’s Human Resources Strategic Plan.

The focus on cost effectiveness and efficiency of services continued with a further reduction in the cost of human resource services in the year under report. Those costs (measured as average monthly cost per employee) over the last four years have been $489 (1999-2000), $467 (2000-2001), $469 (2001-2002) and $434 (2002-2003). This reduction is due in part to the increased flexibility of Personnel staff and a sharper focus on reducing operational costs.

There was also a reduction in the department’s Comcare premium for 2003-2004 compared with 2002-2003. This reduction, in the context of significant increases across the APS and Parliamentary Service, comes as a result of the department’s efforts to reduce both the incidence and costs of workers’ compensation claims.

The Personnel portal on the department’s intraNet was redesigned. The new portal gives easier electronic access to the full range of Personnel related documents including the Certified Agreement, associated guidelines and forms. Response from staff has been positive.