Resource Management

Page Index

• Financial management
• Property management
• Ecologically sustainable development

Devolution of decision-making authority to the agency level has had a highly beneficial impact on management. CEOs and senior executives have been given clear authority for the management of human, financial, property and IT resources in their agency, for the negotiation of their workplace relations and for the management of organisational and individual performance.

The impact has been largely beneficial. Productivity has risen progressively. Public servants now do more, better, with less.

Peter Shergold in a speech entitled ‘Regeneration: New Structures, New Leaders, New Traditions’ delivered at the Institute of Public Administration Australia National Conference, Canberra, 11 November 2004

Financial management

Following the establishment of the new Corporate Governance Unit referred to earlier in this report, a stronger focus was provided for the Financial Management Branch to:

• manage the department’s internal and external financial and budgetary processes
• prepare budget submissions, Portfolio Budget Statements and Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements
• liaise with the Department of Finance and Administration, the ANAO and portfolio agencies
• manage the department’s financial management information system, including the general ledger and the chart of accounts
• develop management reports that meet the needs of the departmental Executive
• prepare monthly reports and the annual financial statements
• develop policies in relation to financial management and budgeting
• maintain various internal controls
• manage the department’s banking arrangements
• manage administered and special account cash requirements
• meet relevant statutory requirements, including requirements for fringe benefits tax and goods and services tax returns
• assist divisional financial decision-making processes.

Purchasing

All procurement and purchasing activities conducted by the department were in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines.

Grants

In 2004–05 the Office of the Status of Women delivered discretionary grants under the Women’s Development Programme and grants to national women’s secretariats. These and the grant-in-aid for the Australiana Fund were the only discretionary grants administered by the department during the year.

In addition to the discretionary grants, the department also made a one-off non-discretionary grant of $10 million dollars to the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, provided funding under the Research Support for Counter-terrorism programme, and a grant to the National Australia Day Council.

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Property management

On 18 June 2004 the Secretary signed an agreement with the Industry Superannuation Property Trust for the construction of a purpose-built building at 1 National Circuit, in the Canberra suburb of Barton, to accommodate the department.

On 6 August 2004 the department presented its proposed $23 million budget for the fit-out of the new accommodation for approval by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. The committee approved the budget by way of an expediency motion in the House of Representatives on 8 December 2004.

Another significant event in the construction of our new home was the sod-turning ceremony attended by the Secretary at the construction site on 28 April 2005. On 11 May 2005 the Secretary signed the agreement to lease, committing the department to a 15-year lease, and construction of the building began in earnest. More recently, planning for the fit-out has commenced. Consultation sessions have been held for staff generally, and specific consultation forums have been established in relation to particular facilities. Staff consultations will continue as the fit-out design takes shape.

Energy-saving measures

The department continues to purchase ‘green power’ through an agreement with its electricity provider, ActewAGL. This energy constitutes 5 per cent of the total power used by the department, which, according to ActewAGL estimates, reduces the quantity of carbon dioxide produced in order to supply the department’s annual needs by approximately 26 tonnes.

The department continues to monitor energy-saving measures introduced over recent years. These measures include the installation of energy-efficient boiling and chilling units for drinking water and light sensors in kitchens and storerooms, and the reduction of lighting levels to the Australian Standard.

Paper recycling is encouraged by the department, and around 95 per cent of paper in the department is collected by a paper-recycling company. Double-sided printing and photocopying are also encouraged.

An Environmental Management System has been developed for implementation when the department relocates to its new premises in November 2006. The new building is being designed to comply with Department of the Environment and Heritage standards for a four-and-a-half-star energy rating.

The department introduced recyclable-rubbish collections at The Lodge and implemented measures at both the Prime Minister’s residences to improve the efficiency of irrigation systems and reduce water consumption. Further information can be found in the report on performance for Output 4.5.

Ecologically sustainable development

The department continued to seek and adopt in-house energy-saving programmes designed to improve efficiency in the workplace environment, as described above.

The department also continued to provide advice to the Prime Minister on environmental issues with a much wider perspective. As well as providing secretariat support for the Sustainable Environment Committee of Cabinet, the department advised the Prime Minister and the departmental Executive on natural resource management and environmental policy. During 2004–05, two major items were water reform and the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement. The Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division also advised on various environmental matters, such as domestic climate change policy; marine conservation, including the protection of whales; the implementation of ocean policy; regional marine planning; and fisheries management. Work on these items is detailed under Output 1.1.