2003-04 2004-05 Average staffing level (number) 352
1: The new Commercial Ready Program subsumes the 2004-05 and outyear funding for R&D Start, Biotechnology Innovation Fund (BIF) and elements of the Innovation Access Program (IAP). Until the administrative arrangements for the Commercial Ready Program are finalised, Commercial Ready applicants will be assessed under existing R&D Start, BIF and IAP guidelines.
OUTCOME 2 — CONTRIBUTION OF OUTPUTS
The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources delivers the following outputs which contribute to achieving outcome 2.
Program Management Services
The Department administers and implements a number of programs that contribute to strengthening and enhancing the innovation system. DITR does this through the delivery of innovation programs that foster research and development, and venture capital programs that aim to increase the supply of venture capital available to new high-technology companies.
Policy Advice
The Department aims to develop policies which target impediments within the innovation system and facilitate innovation by Australian industry.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR OUTCOME 2
Table 2.2.2 below outlines the performance information framework for outcome 2. This framework includes key performance indicators which provide the basis for measuring the overall achievement of the outcome. There are also indicators to measure efficiency achieved in delivering outputs (quality, quantity, price), and where appropriate, administered items.
The Department will report on overall performance against this framework in its 2004-05 Annual Report.
Table 2.2.2: Performance information for outcome 2
Building Momentum: Growth in Inbound Japanese Tourism.
Section 3: Budgeted financial statements
The budgeted financial statements for DITR are presented in this section.
An overview of the financial statements and the key features of the Australian Government’s accrual-based budgeting framework is provided in Part A: User Guide at pages 4 - 7 of these PB Statements.
ANALYSIS OF BUDGETED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Departmental
The Department is budgeting for an operating loss of $1.6m in 2004-05. This compares to a budgeted operating loss of $6.9m for 2003-04.
The operating losses in both years are principally due to the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories (AGAL), from increased costs and a reduction in revenue from independent sources and the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB), which is drawing down cash reserves to fund its activities.
For 2004-05 the Department is budgeting to receive $305.3m in revenue, $268.9m from appropriations and $36.4m from independent sources. This represents an overall increase of 23% over 2003-04.
The increase is principally due to appropriation revenue, which is up by $54.4m (+ 25%). The major factors driving this increase include the establishment of the National Measurement Institute (NMI), involving the transfer into the Department of the functions of the National Standards Commission (NSC) and the National Measurement Laboratory (NML, from CSIRO), the impact of the Tourism White Paper and Backing Australia’s Ability 2.
From an output perspective the increase in appropriation revenue mainly affects outputs 1.1 (Program Management Services) and output 1.3 (Business Services). For output 1.1 the increase is $15.6m (+ 49%), due principally to the Tourism White Paper. It is anticipated that the majority of this funding will transfer to the new Tourism Australia body which, subject to passage of the necessary legislation, is planned to be established in 2004-05. It should be noted that this will also involve the transfer of the Bureau of Tourism Research (BTR) from the Department to Tourism Australia. The BTR is attributed to output 1.1 (Program Management Services). For output 1.3 the increase is $22.5m (+ 46%), the majority of which results from the establishment of the NMI.
Revenue from independent sources will increase, although only marginally, by $2.3m (+ 7%). The increase is principally due to the transfer into the Department of the NSC and NML, both of which earn revenue from independent sources.
The increase in revenue will be accompanied by a corresponding increase in expenses. The most significant increase will be in employee expenses, with smaller increases in supplier and depreciation expenses. Employee expenses are estimated to increase by $24.9m, or 20%, mainly due to the establishment of the NMI and the impact of salary increases under the current Certified Agreement. The average staffing level for 2004-05 is estimated to be 1,772 compared to 1,550 for 2003-04, an increase of 14%. The majority of the additional ASL are due to the establishment of the NMI, which involves the transfer into the Department of approximately 140 NSC and NML staff.
Depreciation expenses are estimated to increase by $6.0m, or 61%, to $15.8m in 2004-05 due to a number of capital projects achieving commissioning stage.
The Department’s equity position as at 30 June 2005 is expected to have strengthened from 30 June 2004. The main factor behind this is a significant increase in non-financial assets, of $14.9m (+ 30%), mostly attributable to the transfer in of assets of the NSC and NML. There is also a minor increase in financial assets, of $3.3m (+ 9%). Offsetting against this is an increase in total liabilities, of $3.6m (+ 6%).
Administered
For 2004-05 administered expenses total $1,621.5m which is an increase of $93.7m over 2003-04 (+ 6%). That total includes administered expense appropriations, which have increased by $197.1m (+ 23%) and non-cash administered expenses, which have decreased by $103.4m (-15%).
The increase between financial years for administered expense appropriations is due to a number of factors including Budget measures, approved rephasings and other changes such as variations in estimates.
The most significant factor has been approved rephasings, which have resulted in a movement of $117.0m from 2003-04 into 2004-05 and the outyears ($75.0m and $42.0m respectively), the movement of $16.0m from 2004-05 into the outyears and the bringing forward of $30.0m from the outyears into 2004-05. Programs with significant approved rephasings include Biofuels Capital Grants, Ethanol Production, Hismelt, Asia Pacific Space Centre, R&D Start and the Shipbuilding Innovation Scheme.
Estimates variations have also been significant, resulting in reductions in 2003-04 and 2004-05 of $61.9m and $7.7m respectively. Programs affected include Ethanol Production and Small Business Interest Rate Relief (both annual appropriations) and Offshore Petroleum Royalties (a special appropriation). Snowy Hydro Ltd – Environmental Flows has been transferred to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Budget measures for 2004-05 include additional funding of $5.3m for COMET and Commercial Ready. There are also two savings measures, which result in reduced funding of $18.2m for R&D Start and Innovation Access in 2004-05.
After allowing for the above factors, the major variations between financial years at a program level include:
$m Assistance to Pharmaceuticals - 68.1 Biofuels Infrastructure Grants + 37.6 GTL Resources + 27.4 Ethanol Production + 24.8 Hismelt + 80.0 Mitsubishi + 35.0 Pharmaceuticals Partnership + 14.6 Asia Pacific Space Centre + 31.4 Offshore Petroleum Royalties + 23.6
In addition to the above, the new Commercial Ready program will have funding of $193.0m in 2004-05. This compares to the estimated actuals in 2003-04 for its precursor programs, of $134.2m for R&D Start and $13.6m for Biotechnology Innovation Fund. Innovation Access reduces from $11.4m to $2.1m, with elements of this program moving into Commercial Ready in 2004-05.
Non-cash administered expenses have reduced mainly as a result of the recognition in 2003-04 of a $90m liability for the loan guarantee provided by the Commonwealth for the Australian Magnesium Corporation (AMC) Stanwell magnesium project.
Administered capital appropriations for 2004-05 are slightly down when compared to 2003-04, by $10.5m to $89.3m (-10%). The reduction is due to phasing of the Innovation Investment Fund estimates.
Other points to note regarding variations between 2003-04 and 2004-05 include:
Administered revenues remain consistent between the financial years, at around $ 1.19 billion.
Administered assets are up in 2004-05, to $707.5m (+ 16%). This is due to an increase in receivables, mainly due to loans associated with the Innovation Investment Fund, Competitive Pre-seed Fund and Comalco.
Administered liabilities are down in 2004-05, to $324.5m (- 7%). This is due to a decrease in grant payables associated with Assistance to Pharmaceuticals.
Administered cashflows for operating activities are up in 2004-05, to $1.74 billion (+ 15%). This increase is due to the increase in administered expense appropriations and from Petroleum royalties.
Administered cashflows for investing activities are down in 2004-05, to $107.1m (-19%). This is due to the Innovation Investment Fund. Administered cashflows for financing activities are down in 2004-05 for similar reasons.