Output 4.5—Support to Official Establishments

Page Index

• Qualitative assessment
• Key results
• Administered item

Qualitative assessment

Methodology

Staff of the Official Establishments Unit participate in meetings with the Prime Minister and his wife, senior departmental managers and senior advisers within the Prime Minister’s Office, at which feedback on the unit’s performance and level of service is provided.

The Chairman of the Official Establishments Trust provides regular feedback to the Secretary of the Trust on the quality of secretariat support provided to the Trust.

Feedback

All parties indicated their satisfaction with the management of the official residences.

The Chairman of the Official Establishments Trust, Mr Richard Griffin AM, indicated his satisfaction with the quality of secretariat support provided.

Key results

During the year, the Official Establishments Unit continued to provide high‑quality management services for the Prime Minister’s official residences, together with efficient and responsive secretariat services to the Official Establishments Trust.

In November 2003, the unit also assumed responsibility for providing support to the former Governors‑General and to ministerial offices. These functions are addressed under Output 4.6.

Official residences

The Official Establishments Unit continued to manage the Prime Minister’s official residences—The Lodge, Canberra, and Kirribilli House, Sydney. In keeping with the official residences’ status as part of the National Estate, the Official Establishments Trust and the Australian Heritage Council were consulted about works undertaken at the residences in 2003–04.

Official Establishments Trust

The unit facilitated five meetings of the Official Establishments Trust and one meeting of the House Committee for Government House during the year. The unit also coordinated events to celebrate the hundredth meeting of the Trust, held in September 2003, involving the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and former members of the Trust. These events included a luncheon at Government House and a function at The Lodge.

Australiana Fund

The unit administers a grant-in-aid for the Australiana Fund. The grant enables the Fund to obtain professional assistance in meeting the objectives of the Fund as set out in its memorandum of association, while ensuring that monies raised by the Fund are available for the acquisition of Australian objects for placement or display in appropriate locations.

The 2003–04 grant-in-aid received by the Australiana Fund was $87,500.

Administered item—Prime Minister’s official residences

• Qualitative assessment
• Key results

Qualitative assessment

Methodology

Staff of the Official Establishments Unit participate in meetings with the Prime Minister and his wife, senior departmental managers and senior advisers within the Prime Minister’s Office, to discuss the management of the residences. Members of the Official Establishments Trust are also consulted.

Feedback

All stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the management of the residences and with their presentation and maintenance. The Official Establishments Trust noted the need for an update or review of the various conservation management plans for the residences, with a view to identifying the conservation and maintenance works likely to be required in future.

Key results

The Lodge

During 2003–04, the carpets in the drawing room and morning room in The Lodge were replaced, as was some furniture. Design work commenced for the replacement of the carpet in the foyer and main staircase area. The ground floor guest bathroom facilities were also refurbished and some minor internal painting was undertaken.

A tender process was conducted for the selection of a consultant conservation architect and the development of a five- to seven-year strategic plan for the residence.

The gardening staff, in consultation with rose experts, undertook a project to identify and label all the species in the rose garden. Only a few species have yet to be identified.

Kirribilli House

No major structural or refurbishment work was undertaken at Kirribilli House during 2003–04. Air-conditioning and new carpet were installed in the staff areas and sewerage repair works were undertaken.