6B ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
6B.1 Business Services
6B.2.1 Estate Management
6B.7 Australian Electoral Commission
The Government has reviewed its role in the provision of a range of services offered by the DAS Business Units. It has decided to sell DAS Distribution, DAS Interiors, Works Australia, Asset Services, DAS Centre for Environmental Management and Australian Operational Support Services. While it has decided to retain the Australian Government Publishing Service, DAS Removals, the Australian Surveying and Land Information Group, the Australian Valuation Office and the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, these will be subject to revised operating arrangements, including market testing of services and, from July 1997, application of competitive neutrality principles. A further review of these Units will then be undertaken during 1997-98.
It is expected that these initiatives will generate substantial Budget savings over the longer term. There will be substantial revenues derived from the sale of assets, but these are treated as accruing to the Asset Sales program in the Finance Portfolio. In the shorter term, there will be some costs incurred by the Department of Administrative Services in undertaking the review and rationalisation of the DAS Units. These costs will arise from disposing of surplus staff and assets and from the review and market testing process. This explains the net cost to outlays in the above Budget measures table.
It might be noted that for the program as a whole, outlays are estimated to fall from $74.1 million in 1995-96 to $10.4 million in 1996-97. This reduction reflects an estimated increase in budget receipts and net trust account balances from $24 million in 1995-96 to $88.3 million in 1996-97.
DAS Estate Management manages the Commonwealth's ownership of real property for non-defence purposes. The Commonwealth has agreed upon a set of Commonwealth Property Principles which will have the effect of restricting Commonwealth ownership of property to those cases involving strong public interest or significant financial aspects. It is expected that the application of these principles will lead to a major divestment of real property assets in the Budget and out-years. The Government has also begun outsourcing the management of its real estate.
The proceeds of real estate sales represent the main contribution to the negative impact on outlays of this Budget measure. Reduced maintenance costs will add to the savings. On the other hand, some assets will need to be refurbished to make them more saleable and there will be a loss of rental income from the leasing of Commonwealth property.
The negative outlays associated with this program reflect the fact that the program generates a substantial amount of Budget income in the form of rent and property sales.
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has responsibility for the conduct of Federal Elections and Referendums, and assists the States and Territories in conducting their elections. The AEC also assists in the conduct of elections for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Commission (ATSIC) and elections for office holders of union and employer bodies registered under the Industrial Relations Act 1988 or Commonwealth statutory authorities.
As part of its functions, the AEC conducts a general education campaign aimed to increase public understanding of, and participation in, the electoral process. There is no specific sub-program funding for the education campaign within the AEC's overall program budget and annual comparisons of the AEC's total budget lack significance due to the additional spending required by the AEC during election years.
In addition to providing electoral education to the general public, the AEC has maintained a special program to provide electoral information to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. In 1994-95 this area employed 17 field officers to encourage Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders to participate in all government and ATSIC elections.(1)
It was announced in the Budget that there would be a saving of $2 million per year from the AEC's budget due to the termination of the education campaign aimed at Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. It has been reported that the reason for the cut is the need to address the general Budget deficit and that the special education program would come under the general education campaign.(2)
The Portfolio Statements in relation to the cut in expenditure state:
Removal of funding means the termination of a major access and equity program of the Australian Electoral Commission designed to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's understanding of the Australian electoral system and their participation in it through enrolment and voting.
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