Chapter 2: Annual reports by statutory, non-statutory authorities and government companies
STATUTORY AUTHORITIES
Defence portfolio
Australian War Memorial
2.1
The Australian War Memorial Annual Report
1998–99 was tabled in the Senate on 23 November 1999. It was
prepared under section 36 of the Australian War Memorial Act 1980 and
under section 9 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (CAC) Act
1997.
2.2
The purpose of the Australian War Memorial is to
commemorate the sacrifice of those Australians who have died in war, and, ‘to assist
Australians to remember, interpret and understand the Australian experience of
war and its enduring impact on Australian society’.[1]
2.3
The Chairman of the Council noted in the report
for 1998–99 that ‘while much attention focussed on the gallery redevelopment
project, Council recognised that many other major projects...were completed in a
very successful year’. These projects included further development of the
sculpture garden, implementation of new computer systems, travelling
exhibitions and the move to full accrual budgeting.[2]
2.4
The Committee notes that the Council is looking
forward to a busy year in 1999–2000 with a diverse range of projects to
maintain and get under-way. The Council expects the renewal of Bradbury
Aircraft Hall to be completed with a theme of air power in the Pacific
1942–1953, and, that significant progress will be made on the construction of
the new ANZAC Hall building. This new facility, to open on ANZAC Day 2001, will
house key items from the Memorial’s collection of major relics.[3]
2.5
The Australian War Memorial continues to present
an informative document that is well written and well designed. The Memorial
provides a comprehensive account of each major activity, detailing performance
targets and outcomes as well as disclosing operational problems where relevant.
The appendices provide comprehensive information on staffing matters,
publications and papers produced during the reporting period, VIP visits and
gallery talks.
2.6
The Committee commends the Australian War
Memorial for presenting a high quality, readable document. Although a statutory
authority, the Committee considers that the Memorial’s report has met all the
reporting requirements for departmental annual reports.
Defence Force
Remuneration Tribunal
2.7
The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal
Fourteenth Report 1998–99 was presented to the Temporary Chair of
Committees on 5 November and tabled in the Senate on 22 November 1999. The
Tribunal was established in 1984 under section 58H of the Defence Act 1903.[4]
2.8
The Tribunal consists of three members appointed
by the Governor-General. The President must be a presidential member of the
Australian Industrial Relations Commission. The other members are to include a
person who is experienced in industrial relations matters and a person who has
been a member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).[5]
2.9
The Tribunal considers that ‘in all its work it
has regard to the special nature of ADF employment and the need to ensure that
ADF members are treated fairly and equitably. The independent judgement and
scrutiny which the Tribunal brings to the determination of matters coming
before it is an important safeguard for the ADF, and in particular, for its
members’.[6]
2.10
The Committee notes that in its thirteenth
report, the Tribunal referred to the review, commissioned by the Government, on
pay setting arrangements for the ADF and, in particular, the role and
operations of the Tribunal. The review was completed in December 1998 and a
report was submitted to the relevant Ministers. A copy of the report was also
provided to the Tribunal. The Tribunal commented in this fourteenth report that
several of the review recommendations, if put in place, would adversely effect
the functions and powers of the Tribunal.[7]
2.11
In its report, the Tribunal provides a brief yet
thorough account of all ‘matters considered’ during the reporting year. It
discloses information on the outcomes of each review and on the negotiating
process that occurs between the parties involved.[8]
2.12
The Tribunal has again presented a report that
is well structured and provides clear and concise information in an
‘easy-to-use’ format. The Committee finds that this report complies with all
requirements outlined in the Guidelines (1982) for statutory bodies.
Defence Housing
Authority
2.13
The Defence Housing Authority Annual Report
1998–99 was tabled in the Senate on
23 November 1999. The report is submitted in accordance with
section 43 of the Defence Housing Authority Act 1987.
2.14
The Defence Housing Authority’s mission is ‘to
provide total housing services that meet Defence operational and client needs
through a strong customer and business focus’. Several of its goals are to
contribute to the morale of the Defence Force members and their families,
obtain a reasonable rate of return, and, be accountable to responsible
Ministers and hence to Parliament for outcomes.[9]
2.15
The Chairman reported that following
the government’s decision that the Authority would continue in Commonwealth
ownership, the Authority entered a period of consolidation. It also increased
its focus on supporting the Defence operational shift to northern Australia and
maintained the quality of housing stock.
2.16
The Authority has continued to meet all Defence
housing requirements, reduced the level of debt and reduced the level of
Commonwealth investment in housing through its sale and lease-back program.
This program continues to be a key strategy of the Authority and individual
property investors now provide 46 per cent of the off-base Defence housing
requirement, worth in excess of $1,700 million.[10]
2.17
The Committee notes that the Authority and its
primary customer, the Department of Defence, have begun discussions on a number
of initiatives that could broaden and improve the Department’s housing service
and result in cost savings.[11]
2.18
The Committee commends the Authority on a
well-produced and concisely written report. In particular, the Committee
appreciates manner in which the operational and financial position of the
Authority was presented by using large, uncluttered graphs and tables. The
Committee finds that the report complies with all reporting requirements for
statutory authorities.
Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund
2.19
The Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund
Report for the period 1 July 1998–30 June 1999 was
tabled in the Senate on 23 November 1999. The Trustees of the Fund
submitted their report under the terms of section 34 of the Services Trust
Funds Act 1947.
2.20
The Navy Trust Fund was established to provide
assistance to eligible serving members and ex-members of the service and their
dependants by means of interest free loans or grants.[12]
2.21
The Committee notes that during the reporting
period the Fund streamlined the way in which loans to eligible applicants are
processed. Under the new regime, the agent refers an application directly to
the Trustees for consideration. The approved loan amount is then credited to
the member’s nominated account within forty-eight hours, rather than the
previous waiting time of eight twelve weeks. The Fund reports that the improved
response time has delivered efficiency and effectiveness gains and has been
well received by the naval community.[13]
2.22
During the period 1 January 1997 through to
30 June 1999, the Fund approved loans to the value of $3,904,129. Purchase of
furniture, followed by housing were the main reasons members applied for loans.
Grants for assistance upon the death of a serving member amounted to $14,890.
The Fund also paid out grants totalling $49,781 to assist twelve families
through the home management services scheme. This service provides assistance to
naval families in times of crisis through illness and other emergencies.[14]
2.23
The report is concise and transparent account of
the Trust’s financial operations. The Committee finds that the report complies
with all reporting requirements for statutory authorities as outlined in the
1982 Guidelines.
Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio
Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research
2.24
The Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research Annual Report 1998–99 was
presented to the Temporary Chair of Committees on 29 October 1999 and tabled in
the Senate on 22 November 1999.
2.25
The Australian Centre for International
Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is a statutory authority established by the Australian
Centre for International Agricultural Research Act 1982. Its establishment
reflected the view that Australia could make a special contribution to
development through sharing its agricultural research expertise.
2.26
The organisation’s mission is to reduce poverty,
improve food security and promote sustainable natural resource management.
ACIAR achieves this through international agricultural research partnerships
that benefit developing countries and Australia.[15]
2.27
The Committee notes that, once again, ACIAR
produced many notable achievements, which are summarised in ‘the year’s
highlights’. This overview of the organisation’s achievements leads into the
comprehensive breakdown of program outcomes measured against performance
indicators.[16]
2.28
The Committee notes in the report that in
February 1999, against the background of government support for ACIAR’s role,
the Board of Management issued a policy statement on the future of the
organisation’s activities.
2.29
As the Chairman’s stated in the report, ‘the
statement was the culmination of a lengthy process over recent years of
external reviews of Australian aid, the agricultural aid sector, ACIAR’s
training programs and ACIAR itself, as well as of internal review, analysis and
planning within ACIAR and the Board’s own policy deliberations. The Board
believes that the statement has established a framework within which ACIAR can
remain at the forefront of international agricultural research for
development.’[17]
2.30
The Committee noted that the high returns from
ACIAR-sponsored research were revealed in the economic evaluations undertaken
as part of the external review. Evaluations of 20 completed projects concluded
that for a total outlay of $28 million in research costs there was already $182
million of benefits realised to date for partner countries and Australia. The
long-term projected benefits totalled $773 million.[18]
2.31
The Committee commends ACIAR for presenting a
comprehensive and well-written report. It is a professionally produced document
that makes good use of photographs and tables to assist the reader.
2.32
Although a statutory body, ACIAR has complied
with the reporting requirements for departmental annual reports.
NON-STATUTORY
AUTHORITIES
Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio
Australia–China Council
2.33
The Australia–China Annual Report 1998–99
was tabled in the Senate on 7 December 1999. The Order-in-Council of May
1978, which established the Australia-China Council, does not require the
Council to prepare an annual report. The first Chair submitted an annual report
to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and this practice has continued.[19]
2.34
The aim of the Council is to develop further
relations between Australia and China by broadening the areas of contact and
exchange between the two nations and their people. The Council conducted a
review of its direction and activities in the period covered by this report. It
strengthened its focus on the objective of promoting greater mutual awareness
and understanding between Australia and China through a range of programs in
the key areas of education, culture, the Internet, business, and science and technology.[20]
2.35
The Chairman stated in the introduction to the
report that ‘the Council also formulated a three year strategic plan for its
activities for 1999–2000 to ensure that maximum impact would be gained from its
activities in view of its limited funding and the wide range of possible
worthwhile programs to support’.
2.36
The Chairman also noted that ‘under its
strategic plan 1998–99, the Council initiated and supported a number of
significant programs that aimed to promote greater awareness and contemporary
understanding’.[21]
2.37
One particular program carried out during the
period included a range of academic activities. These activities supported
Australians studying at major universities and research centres in China and
facilitated academic visit programs for Chinese scholars. Also, the program
sponsored a major conference at Peking University that brought together
Australian Studies academics from across China and the region.
2.38
Another project was the opening of an Internet
gateway, the China–Australia Electronic Information Centre, at the National
Library of China, which provides access to a wealth of information on
‘Australia across China’ via the Internet.[22]
2.39
The Committee considers this annual report to be
an informative document. It is well produced and is written in a clear concise
manner. The Committee finds that the report complies with the reporting
requirements for non-statutory bodies.
Australia–India Council
2.40
The Australia–India Council Annual
Report 1998-99 was tabled in the Senate on
6 June 2000. As a non-statutory body the Council is not formally required
to table a report. However, the Council has adopted the practice of submitting
a report to the Minister and the Parliament.
2.41
The Australia–India Council (AIC) was
established under an Order-in-Council of the Australian Government on 21 May
1992. The Council’s mission is ‘to broaden the relationship between Australia
and India by encouraging and supporting contacts and increasing levels of
knowledge and understanding between the peoples of both countries’.[23]
2.42
The Chairman reported that ‘the value of
bilateral trade remained robust during 1998–99, signifying the fundamental
strength of the relationship. Australian exports to India were worth $1.858
billion in 1998–99 ($1.852 billion in 1997–98), and Indian exports to Australia
were worth $666.5 million ($687 million in 1997–98). The growing business,
investment and joint venture links between the two countries augur well for
continued substantial growth in Australia–India trade’.[24]
2.43
The Australia–India Council sought, through its
projects and activities, to support existing areas of the bilateral
relationship and to develop new areas of cooperation that offered prospective
‘add-on’ benefit to the growing commercial relationship. These areas included
agribusiness, environment management, law, health, mining and energy,
technology and heritage conservation.[25]
2.44
The Council has produced an informative report
that is clearly written and presented in a simple but effective format. The
Committee finds that the report complies with the reporting requirements for
non-statutory bodies.
Sandy
Macdonald
Chair
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents