13A. PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET
13A.3.1 Status of Women
13A.7.2 Office of Commonwealth Ombudsman
The -21% variation from 1995-96 in the Budget for the Status of Women Sub-program will ensure a re-focussing of priorities to the provision of policy advice. Specific activities planned for 1996-97 include:
The 1995-96 National Agenda for Women Grants Program allocated $911 000 in operational grants to a number of national women's organisations. Following concerns expressed by groups, the 22 organisations funded in 1995-96 were each allocated half of last year's funding to cover the period from 1 July to 31 December 1996. A review of funding to non-government organisations is expected.
The Register of Women which was developed to encourage the participation of women on Boards and decision-making bodies will be discontinued 'in favour of encouraging more positive action across the full range of Commonwealth portfolios'. The Government is committed to encouraging 'far greater participation by women in all areas of government and industry, in traditional and non-traditional areas' and has the view that 'Ministers and portfolios are in the best position actively to ensure that Commonwealth decision-making can benefit from the best expertise and talents of both men and women, and to develop appropriate strategies to ensure that women's skills and achievements are properly recognised in appointments to Commonwealth bodies'.(2)
The Office of Commonwealth Ombudsman is established under the Commonwealth Ombudsman Act 1976. The principal role of the Ombudsman is 'to impartially investigate complaints, resolve disputes, and address defective administration where it is found in Commonwealth agencies'.(1)
The Office receives in the vicinity of 20,000 complaints annually with the majority being directed against major government service providers such as the Department of Social Security, the Child Support Agency, the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs and the Australian Taxation Office.
The Government proposes a slight rise in 1996-97 in total funding to the Ombudsman of 1.7% but there is to be a reduction in staffing from 99 to 92.5 staff years.
Total running costs are to rise from $8.8 million in 1995-96 to $9.0 million this financial year. However, the forward estimates project significant (in percentage terms) falls to running costs over time. These are projected to decline to $7.6 million in 1997-98 before rising marginally in the following two years.(2)
Substantial cuts to the Ombudsman's budget became the subject of public debate in April and May 1996 when the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Philippa Smith, publicly criticised reported plans to cut her budget by 30%. The Ombudsman was reported as saying that the Government planned to cut her office 'at the very time the Government needs strong accountability mechanisms for the public sector'.(3)
In an editorial on the proposed cuts the Australian Financial Review observed that '[t]he Commonwealth Ombudsman, almost alone among the federal bureaucracy, has a good case for being exempted from the Howard Government's proposed Budget cuts. That case has nothing to do with special pleading. It has everything to do with guaranteeing efficiency and accountability in the rest of the public sector.'(4)
Back to Budget Review 1996-97 Contents
Back to Detailed Portfolio Reviews Contents
