Chapter 1 - Introduction

[1]          Journals of the Senate, No. 2, 31 August 2016, p. 76. Note that under the Australian Government Cabinet reshuffle on 18 December 2017 the Department of Employment has been renamed the Department of Jobs and Small Business. The new department falls under the Jobs and Innovation portfolio. This change does not influence the committee's assessment for the 2016-17 annual reports but will likely impact the 2017-18 reports that are examined.

[2]        See Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (Sections 16E, 16F and 27A).

[3]        See the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, ss. 12(1).

[4]        Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Requirements for Annual Reports for Departments, Executive Agencies, and other Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities, 25 June 2015, p. 2.

[5]        Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Guidelines for the Presentation of Documents to the Parliament, February 2017, www.dpmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/pmc-tabling-guidelines.pdf (accessed 7 February 2018).

[6]        Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Guidelines for the Presentation of Documents to the Parliament, February 2017, p. 4.

[7]        Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, ss. 97(5).

[8]        Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Guidelines for the Presentation of Documents to the Parliament, February 2017, paragraph 4.10, p. 4.

[9]        Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, Report 457: Development of the Commonwealth Performance Framework Second Report, May 2016, p. 11.

[10]      The tabling date specified is the date by which the report was tabled in both houses.

[11]      The committee acknowledges that because the report had been tabled in the House of Representatives it was available publicly prior to Supplementary Budget Estimates.

[12]      Committee Hansard, 26 October 2017, p. 55.

[13]      Committee Hansard, 20 October 2016, p. 6.

[14]      These agencies did however present their reports to the Senate out of sitting between 25 and 28 October, prior to the formal deadline of 31 October 2017.

[15]      For non-corporate Commonwealth entities see PGPA Rule 2014, Subdivision 3A(A); for corporate Commonwealth entities see Subdivision 3A(B); for Commonwealth companies see PGPA Rule 2014 Part 3-3.

Chapter 2 - Review of annual reports

[1]        The Department of Employment changed its name to the Department of Jobs and Small Business under the Administrative Arrangements Order amendments issued on 20 December 2017.

[2]        In annual reporting and the flipchart of PGPA Act Commonwealth entities and companies, the Fair Work Ombudsman and the Registered Organisation Commission have been listed as a single entity. However, for ease of reporting and to illustrate the clear delineation of responsibilities between these two organisations this report will analyse them separately.

[3]        The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2017-18 for Jobs and Small Business notes that 'the [December 2017] machinery of government changes are continuing to be implemented, including changes to outcomes and program structures as appropriate'. It further notes that 'the required changes are expected to be finalised ahead of the 2018-19 Budget and included in the 2018-19 Portfolio Budget Statements'.

[4]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 2.

[5]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 9.

[6]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 9.

[7]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 12.

[8]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 12.

[9]        Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 16.

[10]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 18.

[11]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 17.

[12]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 19.

[13]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 16.

[14]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 15.

[15]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 15.

[16]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 51.

[17]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 52.

[18]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 52.

[19]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 54.

[20]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 52.

[21]      On 23 March 2017, the Senate referred an inquiry into the bill to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 May 2017.

[22]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 57.

[23]      Department of Employment, Annual Report 2016-17, pp. 122–123.

[24]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 3.

[25]      See the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act 2016 (BCIIP Act), s. 32K.

[26]      Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Annual reports (No. 2 of 2017), p. 9.

[27]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 13.

[28]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 14.

[29]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 14.

[30]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 18.

[31]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 19.

[32]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 24.

[33]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 25.

[34]      Australian Building and Construction Commission, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 45.

[35]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 10.

[36]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 2.

[37]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 18.

[38]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 20.

[39]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 21.

[40]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 20.

[41]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 21.

[42]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 23.

[43]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 38.

[44]      Comcare and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Annual Reports 2016-17, p. 15.

[45]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 16.

[46]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 16.

[47]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 17.

[48]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 13.

[49]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 17.

[50]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 37.

[51]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 39.

[52]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 39.

[53]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 37.

[54]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 41.

[55]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 42.

[56]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, pp. 54–55.

[57]      Fair Work Commission, 2016-17 Annual Report – Access to Justice, p. 1. Please note according to the agency's financial statement on page 162, the FWC recorded an operating deficit of $3.8 million during the reporting period. The difference between the General Manager's figure and the financial statement is due to the former not taking into account the $4.9 million worth of expenses of arising from depreciation and amortisation.

[58]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 5.

[59]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 5.

[60]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 10.

[61]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 14.

[62]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 14.

[63]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 14.

[64]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 14.

[65]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 17.

[66]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 5.

[67]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 29.

[68]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 29.

[69]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 30.

[70]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 31.

[71]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 31.

[72]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 32.

[73]      The Fair Work Ombudsman and Registered Organisations Commission Entity, 16-17 Annual Report, p. 54.

[74]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 6.

[75]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 19.

[76]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 21.

[77]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 22.

[78]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 28.

[79]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 29.

[80]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 29.

[81]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 44.

[82]      On 11 May 2017, the Senate referred an inquiry into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017 to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 9 August 2017. On 15 February 2018 the Senate referred a related inquiry into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (Student Loan Sustainability) Bill 2017 to the committee for inquiry and report by 16 March 2018.

[83]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 45.

[84]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 48.

[85]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 59.

[86]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 59.

[87]      Department of Education and Training, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 103.

[88]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 11.

[89]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 11.

[90]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, pp. 16–32.

[91]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 16.

[92]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 8.

[93]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 8.

[94]      Education and Employment Legislation Committee, Annual Reports (No.1 of 2017), p. 18.

[95]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 9.

[96]      Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 61.

[97]      Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 9.

[98]      Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 9.

[99]      Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 22.

[100]    Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, pp. 25–90.

[101]    Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 90.

[102]    Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 102.

[103]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 8.

[104]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 25.

[105]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 24.

[106]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 26.

[107]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016‑2017, p. 29.

[108]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016-2017, p. 39.

[109]    Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, Annual Report 2016-2017, p. 40.

[110]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 5.

[111]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 5.

[112]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 5.

[113]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 1.

[114]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 1.

[115]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 1.

[116]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 16.

[117]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 20.

[118]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 31.

[119]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 31.

[120]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 35.

[121]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 35.

[122]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 39.

[123]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 40.

[124]    Australian Skills Quality Authority, Annual Report 2016-17, p. 49.