Chapter 1 - Introduction

Background

1.1              Following the restructure of the Senate committee system on 10 October 1994, the examination of annual reports became the responsibility of Senate Legislation Committees. This Committee is responsible for examining annual reports of departments and agencies within two portfolios: Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence (including the Department of Veterans' Affairs).

1.2              Under Procedural Order 8 (8), effected on 24 August 1994, the Committee is required to report on annual reports tabled by 31 October each year by the tenth sitting day of the following year, and on reports tabled by 30 April each year by the tenth sitting day after 30 June of that year.

Content

1.3              In this review, the Committee examines those reports tabled by 30 April 1997. Annual reports from the following statutory and non-statutory authorities are considered:

Reports of Statutory Authorities

          Army and Air Force Canteen Service Board of Management
          Defence Housing Authority
          Director of Safeguards
          The Royal Australian Air Force Veterans' Residences Trust

Reports of Non-Statutory Authorities and Government Companies

          Australia-Korea Foundation
          Australian Defence Industries

Assessment of Annual Reports

1.4              The annual reports have been examined by the Committee to determine whether they are 'apparently satisfactory', as required by the Senate resolution of 24 August 1994. In the process of assessment, the Committee has considered whether the reports comply with the relevant requirements for the annual reports of statutory and non-statutory authorities.

1.5              On 18 March 1994, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet advised statutory authorities that those with similar operations to departments should aim to comply with the revised Requirements for Departmental Annual Reports (1994) and, as appropriate, with the 1982 Guidelines for the Content, Preparation and Presentation of Annual Reports by Statutory Authorities.

1.6              Requirements for non-statutory authorities stood as outlined in the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Government Operation's report tabled in August 1986, and modified in 1987. Statutory authorities which do not operate similarly to departments are to adhere to the Guidelines for the Content, Preparation and Presentation of Annual Reports by Statutory Authorities (1982).

1.7              The Committee considered the annual reports examined to be ‘apparently satisfactory’.

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