Chapter 2
Annual reports of agencies
2.1
This chapter examines selected annual reports received during the period
1 May to 31 October 2015.
Agriculture and Water Resources Portfolio
Department of Agriculture – Annual Report 2014-15
2.2
The Secretary's review outlined the core activities of the Department of
Agriculture (the department) over the 2014-15 period. A small sample of these
activities include the implementation of the agriculture elements of new free
trade agreements, continued regulatory reform (particularly in regard to
agricultural and veterinary chemicals access) and the delivery of the Drought
Concessional Loans Scheme.[1]
2.3
In terms of financial performance, the department ender the year with a $19.6
million operating surplus, compared to the budgeted deficit of $13.3 million as
forecast in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2014-15, before allowing for net
cash appropriation arrangements. The report noted that departmental revenue
increased by $25.0 million from 2013-14 to $406.4 million, largely as a result
of high levels of activity in cost-recovery arrangements. The report also
reiterated the department's focus on ensuring the cost-recovered services
remained efficient, transparent and sustainably funded.[2]
2.4
The report noted the new biosecurity legislation passed in May 2015 and
the work done by the department over the previous 6 years in support of it. The
Biosecurity Act 2015 will come into effect in June 2016, and the
department has been working on an implementation program to ensure staff and
external stakeholders are familiar with the new legislation.[3]
2.5
The committee notes that the department achieved 100 out of its 114 key
performance indicators (KPI) across the two outcomes and 15 programs outlined
in the Portfolio Budget Statements.[4]
Of the remaining 14 indicators, eight were 'partially met', two were 'not met',
two were not applicable, and one was unable to be reported on. The department
provided detailed explanations under the relevant program sections for these 14
KPI that were not achieved, and the committee commends the department for
providing comprehensive accounts of these issues.[5]
2.6
The committee considers the department's 2014-15 annual report to be
compliant with the reporting requirements and completed to a high standard.
Australian Fisheries Management
Authority – Annual Report 2014-15
2.7
The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) 2014-15 report
provides details of the performance and operations of the agency. The
Chairman's and Chief Executive Officer's review noted key achievements such as
the introduction of camera-based electronic monitoring in a number of
fisheries, the re-opening of the eastern orange roughy fishery off eastern
Tasmania, and improved results in the domestic compliance and enforcement
programs aimed at deterring illegal fishing in Commonwealth fisheries.[6]
2.8
The report provided an update on the work being undertaken by AFMA to
prevent unacceptable impacts of Commonwealth fisheries on marine ecosystems and
organisms, including further development of the Ecological Risk Assessment and
Risk Management framework.[7]
2.9
AFMA also set out achievements related to KPI for managing illegal
foreign fishing activity, giving a 67 percent disposal rate of apprehended
forfeited vessels. The report explained this statistic, noting that of the six
foreign fishing vessels apprehended, only three were received by AFMA. Two of
these vessels were disposed of on land, and at the time of writing the third
remained in AFMA custody on Thursday Island awaiting disposal. The three
further vessels apprehended but not received by AFMA were unseaworthy and sank
before reaching port. [8]
2.10
The committee considers the 2014-15 report to be comprehensive and compliant
with the reporting requirements.
Infrastructure and Regional Development Portfolio
Department of Infrastructure and
Regional Development – Annual Report 2014-15
2.11
The annual report of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional
Development (the department) provided details on the broad scope of work the
department had undertaken over the 2014-15 period. This work included
activities related to infrastructure planning, investment, financing and
coordination, maritime transport (including shipping), land transport,
transport security, transport safety, civil aviation and airports, territories
reform and service delivery, and local government and reconstruction
initiatives. In particular, the Secretary's report illustrated how the spectrum
of infrastructure-related work ranged from high-profile projects such as WestConnex
in Sydney, to programs such as Roads to Recovery, an initiative accessed by
over 490 local councils during the financial year.[9]
2.12
In regard to departmental finances, the report noted a surplus on
continuing operations of $9.9 million in 2014-15. Total expenses increased by
$30.2 million, largely due to the establishment of the Western Sydney Unit, the
full year effects of machinery-of-government changes as a result of the
abolition of the former Department of Regional Australia, Local Government,
Arts and Sport, and the write-down of assets associated with the novation of a
property lease to another government entity on 1 July 2015. The total
administered expenditure in 2014-15 was $8.9 billion, and of this $5.2 billion
was appropriated directly to the department for grants, subsidies and other
administered expenses. The report notes that major expense items during the
year included the Infrastructure Investment Program, the Local Government
Financial Assistant Grants, payments to corporate Commonwealth entities, and
the Infrastructure Growth Package. [10]
2.13
The report noted the department had 34 KPI spread over eight programs
across four outcomes. Of these, 32 were listed as 'achieved', meaning all
targets for 2014-15 were met or exceeded, and two were listed as 'substantially
achieved', meaning targets were mostly met and any issues were being managed.
The two KPI not fully achieved related to Outcome 2, Program 2.2 Surface
Transport.[11]
2.14
The committee considers the 2014-15 annual report to be well-presented
and compliant with the reporting requirements.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority –
Annual Report 2014-15
2.15
Priorities for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) during 2014-15
centered on a resetting of direction for the organisation, in large part due to
the December 2014 release of the government response to recommendations arising
from the June 2014 Aviation Safety Regulation Review (ASRR) and a statement of
expectations for CASA released in April 2015 by the Minister for Infrastructure
and Regional Development.[12]
2.16
The report contained a comprehensive assessment of CASA's performance
against corporate goals, as well as a progress update on the implementation of
the 32 ASSR recommendations relating to the functions and performance of CASA. Of
the performance measures set for the three corporate goals, 82 percent were
met, with the remaining 18 percent substantially completed, delayed or affected
by external factors. Where performance measures were not fully met, CASA
provided thorough accounts of the issues at play, and the committee appreciates
this level of transparency, as well as the additional statistics on CASA's
operations provided in the appendices.[13]
2.17
In terms of corporate governance and management, the report noted CASA
underwent significant senior leadership changes during 2014-15, with the
appointment of a new Director of Aviation Safety and a change to the
composition and size of the board.[14]
2.18
The committee considers the 2014-15 annual report of CASA to be a
detailed account of the organisation's performance and compliant with reporting
requirements.
Senator the Hon. Bill Heffernan
Chair
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