Address: Main Office: John Gorton Building
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- Bu səhifədəki naviqasiya:
- Hierarchy of senior executive committees
- Audit, risk and fraud control
- Table 3: Departmental Audit Committee membership and meeting attendance 2010–11
- No. of meetings attended
- Australian Antarctic Division
- Cross-portfolio activities Economic advice
- Environmental information and research
- Table 4: Environmental Regulation, Information and Research
- International policy advice
Corporate governance Following a series of reviews during 2009−11 as part of the department’s Business Improvement Program, risk management, governance, leadership, stakeholder management and procurement systems and processes were revised to better align with government standards. The department reviewed its governance arrangements to improve and streamline strategic oversight and decision-making, and to promote information sharing across the department. A governance policy for the department was approved by the secretary in February 2011. The policy adheres to the Public Service Commission’s building blocks of public sector governance. It applies to everyone in the department as well as to people or organisations contracted to the department. The department’s governance policy is founded on:
Executive committees The department manages or participates in many internal, inter-departmental, inter-governmental and international committees. During the first half of 2011 some of these committees were closely examined to ensure their terms of reference aligned with the department’s strengthened governance framework. The Departmental Management Board is the central governance mechanism for the department and consists of the secretary as Chair and the four deputy secretaries. Its objective is to advise and assist in the overall management of the department, meeting the responsibilities outlined in the Public Service Act 1999 and meeting the accountability obligations to the parliament. It provides a forum for collaboration on decisions and issues that cut across the organisation. The board meets fortnightly and key outcomes from its meetings are communicated to all staff through the department’s intranet. The diagram below shows the hierarchy of the senior executive committees in relation to the board, the secretary and the minister. Hierarchy of senior executive committees Minister
Parlimentary Secretary Department Audit and Risk Secretary Departmental
Workforce Management Committee Information Management Committee Finance and Operations Committee The secretary attends the monthly portfolio secretaries’ board meeting at which APS-wide initiatives are discussed. In addition, the secretary and deputy secretaries meet weekly with the heads of all divisions of the department to discuss major issues and priorities, and disseminate the outcomes from Departmental Management Board meetings. Three executive committees support the work of the Departmental Management Board:
These committees and the Departmental Management Board provide an oversight and advisory role. They have no inherent executive powers, supervisory functions or decision-making authority except those delegated to them by the secretary. The Departmental Audit Committee reports directly to the secretary and provides independent assurance on matters to do with the integrity of the department’s internal controls and external accountability. A number of other committees or working groups support the work of the board. These committees may be time-limited and formed to progress major priorities of the Departmental Management Board. During 2010–11 the following committees were in operation:
Audit, risk and fraud control The department invested significant effort in improving its audit, risk and fraud control frameworks in 2010–11. Internal audit The department established a dedicated Internal Audit Section and Price Waterhouse Coopers commenced as the department’s internal audit provider in July 2010. Departmental Audit Committee The Departmental Audit Committee provided independent assurance to the secretary on the integrity and reliability of the department’s management of financial processes, risk and fraud control. The committee maintains an effective and efficient internal audit function in the department. It evaluated the robustness of the department’s internal controls and legislative compliance frameworks, to ensure that it can continue to meet its accountability responsibilities. The committee has five members. Ms Elizabeth Montano was appointed as the independent Chair in December 2010, following the resignation of the former Chair Mr Andrew Podger in September 2010. Mr Geoff Knuckey was appointed as an independent member in December 2010, due to Diana Wright’s tenure ending in December 2010. Seven meetings were held during 2010–11 including a workshop to clarify the committee’s role within the department and to consider improvements in administrative and secretariat arrangements. Observers at the committee meetings include the First Assistant Secretary of Corporate Strategies Division, Assistant Secretary Governance Branch, representatives of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) and the internal audit service provider.
Risk management In 2010–11 the department implemented an Enterprise Risk Management Improvement Project which delivered several improvements to the risk management framework, including:
Oversight arrangements were also strengthened with the Departmental Management Board considering risk and risk management issues. The new Risk Manager’s Network will further embed improved risk management practices across the department. Fraud control In late 2010 the Attorney-General’s Department released updated Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. The department is updating its Fraud Control Plan and framework to reflect them. The department investigates or takes action on all allegations of fraud and/or serious misconduct related to the business of the department. When appropriate, it works with other law enforcement agencies. The department has a large and varied workforce and comprehensive plans and processes to control fraud and corruption. Of 27 cases of suspected fraud during 2010–11, three cases were referred to the Australian Federal Police (all three cases related to instances of suspected external fraud). Asset management The department’s assets largely comprise leasehold improvements, office equipment and computer software in offices throughout Australia. An assets register is updated as assets are purchased, disposed of or retired. Assets in the Australian Antarctic Territory are managed by the Australian Antarctic Division. The division manages and maintains Australia’s Antarctic stations, Casey, Davis and Mawson, and a research station on sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island. The division has short, medium and long-term asset management plans with repair and replacement strategies for each station. Business Continuity Plan The department’s Business Continuity Plan describes the arrangements to be used to ensure the continuity of key services after a major, unexpected and disruptive incident. It details the management structure, staff roles, responsibilities and actions that would be implemented in the event of a major incident. The need to develop and maintain the Business Continuity Plan is in line with the department’s commitment to sound risk management and corporate governance practices.
An audit of the department’s Canberra region 2008–11 Business Continuity Plan was finalised in August 2010. The audit consisted of a simulated business interruption. An updated Business Continuity Plan is due to be delivered in the second quarter of the 2011–12 financial year. Australian Antarctic Division The Australian Antarctic Division has multiple plans and structures to manage business continuity including a Crisis Management Response Team for Antarctic and southern ocean incidents, an influenza pandemic plan, emergency response plans for the Kingston facilities and an emergency response team for the runway facilities and for each station. The division routinely rehearses the various groups to ensure their preparedness. Certificate of Compliance The department’s financial control framework includes the Certificate of Compliance. The department undertakes a self-assessment process three times a year. Results are provided to management and the Departmental Audit Committee. The department took these steps to improve its performance:
Procurement Throughout 2010–11 a project addressed recommendations identified in a number of audits, inquiries and reviews in 2009–10 to improve the department’s procurement framework. They are outlined below. Procurement framework The Procurement Improvement Project initiated to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the department’s procurement framework was successfully completed. It has delivered tangible savings and improvements to the way the department undertakes its procurement activities such as streamlined procurement practices, processing efficiencies, better record keeping, compliance controls, greater quality assurance, stronger capability and enhanced customer service. Work has begun on an automated procurement system and centralised contract register. The department’s standard funding agreements allow for access by the Auditor-General. The long form services agreement allows for such access. Performance against core purchasing policies The department’s procurement guidelines are set out in the Chief Executive Instructions, which comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines. The core principle in the Guidelines underpinning procurement is value for money. The department advertises tender opportunities through the AusTender website. The department’s Annual Procurement Plan for 2010–11 was published in June 2010 on AusTender and updated throughout the year. The Annual Procurement Plan for 2011–12 was published on AusTender in June 2011. Reporting The department met the requirement to report on the AusTender website all contracts entered into in 2010–11 with a value of $10 000 or more. The department met the requirement to report on the Senate Order on Departmental and Agency Contracts. Consultancy services7 During 2010–11, 159 new consultancy contracts were entered into involving total actual expenditure of $9.85 million. In addition, 46 ongoing consultancy contracts were active during 2010–11, involving total actual expenditure of $8.34 million. The list of consultancy contracts let in 2010–11 to the value of $10 000 or more is available in Appendix 5 and at www.environment.gov.au/about/publications/annual-report/10-11 Annual reports contain information about actual expenditure on contracts for consultancies. Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website. Exempt contracts During 2010–11 there were no standing offers or contracts in excess of $10 000 (inclusive of GST) exempted by the chief executive from being published on AusTender under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. Purchases of water entitlements valued at over $10 000 were reported on AusTender with the identity of the supplier withheld, in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.
Integration of environmental, economic and social considerations was an important feature of the department’s policy and program development during 2010–11. Economic analysis—including modelling, valuation, instrument design and cost–benefit analysis – provided key inputs across policy areas including waste management, product stewardship, heritage, biodiversity, land and aquatic resource management, as well as the assessment of controlled activities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The department’s Economics and Strategic Policy section provided economic advice and analytical support to divisions and work groups across the department, including disseminating information and resources to enhance capacity and broader collaboration. This included liaising with the Environmental Economics Research Hub in demonstrating the policy implications of recent research, and in delivering training materials and workshops that address current policy challenges. The section also coordinated departmental input to inter-agency and international processes involving economic aspects of portfolio issues, including parliamentary inquiries, Productivity Commission reports, and OECD projects. Topics have included sustainability, sustainable growth, taxation, productivity, industry, innovation and climate change policy.
To manage Australia’s natural capital responsibly, governments, industry and communities need comprehensive, trusted and timely environmental information. Good information is essential for making sound decisions, individually and collectively, about the major issues affecting Australia’s natural assets. On 11 May 2010 the government announced a new initiative to address the environmental information needs of the nation. The National Plan for Environmental Information is the first step of a long-term commitment to reform Australia’s environmental information base and build this critical infrastructure for the future. Implementation of the National Plan for Environmental Information The department, in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology, is leading the project to improve the quality and coverage of Australia’s environmental information through the National Plan for Environmental Information Initiative. The Australian Government Environmental Information Advisory Group provides whole-of-government priority-setting and coordination of environmental information activities. This group is chaired by the Director of Meteorology and its membership includes all Australian government agencies that provide or use environmental information. This group works to identify the strategic and operational priorities from across the government that rely on environmental information. This information will enable the department to look at the environmental information needs across different portfolios and ensure that our collective efforts are coordinated and directed to the highest priorities. Progress toward the next State of Australia’s Environment Report In the lead up to tabling the next State of Australia’s Environment Report in parliament before the end of 2011, the department has been working with the independent State of Environment 2011 Committee, and a range of data providers, to acquire and process a wide range of environmental information to support the findings of the report. The data collection process has included commissioned research projects and a series of workshops aimed at compiling the most current information available on national scale environmental issues. Results from the research projects and consultations for the 2011 State of Australia’s Environment Report will feature in the hard copy and online materials related to a set of nine reporting themes—atmosphere, inland waters, land, marine, built environment, heritage, Antarctic, biodiversity and coasts. In addition to these thematic reporting areas, information on climate change, population and economic growth has been compiled to support an analysis of the key underlying drivers of pressures on the environment. Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities The Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program, which addressed critical gaps in knowledge and understanding of the pressures facing Australia’s unique environment, ended in 2010–11. The program was launched in 2005 to support ‘public good’ environmental research, promoting multi-discipline collaboration between researchers and environmental decision-makers. The CERF program successfully delivered the $100 million funding program, with 99.4 per cent of projects delivered in line with the terms and conditions of their funding agreements. The eight hubs and 15 projects and fellowships delivered research to stakeholders and end-users on a wide range of environmental issues, including marine and coastal management, land and water condition, taxonomy and environmental economics. Notable strengths and achievements of the CERF program included:
National Environmental Research Program The National Environmental Research Program (NERP) replaced the Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities program. It builds on the success of the CERF program by incorporating lessons learnt into the new program. NERP focuses on delivering biodiversity research with a greater emphasis on influencing policy decision-making. NERP funding is being allocated to a number of multi-institutional, inter-disciplinary research hubs. The hubs will deliver biodiversity research information that informs environmental management, policy and decision-making. This includes understanding how ecosystems function—monitoring their health, maintaining and building their resilience, using them sustainably and exploring how to better use economic markets to protect biodiversity. The five NERP hubs are:
Funding agreements were signed with the five hub host institutions and steering committees have been established. Hub multi-year research plans are being finalised to set out project outputs and how they will support policy and decision-making. Table 4: Environmental Regulation, Information and Research
International policy advice The department advanced Australia’s interests on international environment, water, heritage and sustainable development issues, including the international management of biodiversity and wildlife. In addition to involvement in issue-specific international forums detailed in other chapters of this report, in 2010–11 the department was active in a number of multilateral and regional meetings concerning the environmental, social and economic implications of the department’s work, as part of the government’s sustainability agenda. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) UNEP provides leadership and promotes partnerships for environmental protection. The department led Australia’s delegation to the 26th session of UNEP’s Governing Council and the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Nairobi, Kenya from 21–25 February 2011. Decisions adopted at the meeting covered: international environmental governance; enhanced coordination across the UN system; chemicals and waste management; the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; the world environment; sustainable consumption and production, and the global environment monitoring system water program. Ministerial-level consultations addressed the ‘green economy’ and international environmental governance. United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development The Commission on Sustainable Development is the major UN forum to monitor progress towards international sustainable development goals and to discuss related policy issues. The 19th session of the commission was held in New York from 2–13 May 2010. The department led Australia’s delegation to the meeting. The meeting’s focus was on transport, chemicals, waste management, mining and sustainable consumption and production. While progress was made under all themes, the meeting was unable to reach consensus on the final recommendations. United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) The department consulted across government and internationally to prepare for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) that will take place in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012, 20 years after the UN Conference on Environment and Development, the Earth Summit. The department led Australia’s delegation to preparatory meetings at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10–11 January and 7–8 March 2011. Consultative Group of Ministers or High-level Representatives on International Environmental Governance The department attended both meetings of the international environmental governance group during 2010, convened by UNEP and held in Nairobi from 7–9 July and in Helsinki from 21–23 November. These produced the Nairobi-Helsinki Outcome, which identified a number of potential system-wide responses to the challenges in the current system of international environmental governance. It also recognised that UNEP should be strengthened, but there remained differing views about the options for institutional reform. The discussions will be continued through the Rio+20 process under the theme of the institutional framework for sustainable development. Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) SPREP is the primary intergovernmental environmental organisation working in the Pacific. The department led Australia’s delegation to SPREP’s 20th meeting from 6–10 September 2010 in Madang, Papua New Guinea. Discussions included SPREP’s change management program to improve its governance and the adoption of a new Strategic Plan for 2011–15 (available at www.sprep.org), under which SPREP will focus on four priorities: climate change, biodiversity and ecosystem management, waste management and pollution control, and environmental monitoring and governance. The secondment of a department officer, funded by AusAID, to serve as institutional capacity support adviser at SPREP headquarters in Samoa, ended in December 2010. The department’s project to develop a model to streamline reporting by Pacific Island countries to the biodiversity-related multilateral environment agreements also concluded. East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’ Process—High-level Seminar on Environmentally Sustainable Cities The East Asia Summit was established in 2005 as a forum of national leaders for strategic dialogue and action on challenges facing the region. As part of the East Asia Summit environment ministers’ process, Australia—together with Japan, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia—coordinated the High-level Seminar on Environmentally Sustainable Cities, which was held in Kitakyushu, Japan from 15–16 March 2011. The seminar brought together policy-makers, city officials, international organisations and academics to share information on policies and best practice in developing environmentally sustainable cities. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) The department represented Australia in the OECD’s Environment Policy Committee, which met in Paris on 8–9 February 2011 and a stakeholder forum on the OECD Green Growth Strategy on 10–11 February 2011. Discussions covered a review of the OECD environmental strategy, planning for the OECD Environmental Outlook report, and the OECD green growth strategy. Torres Strait Environmental Management Committee The department represented Australia at the 19 meeting of the committee, held in Cairns on 4 November 2010. Issues discussed included: sustainable marine turtle and dugong management, fisheries management, invasive species, enhanced communication, integrated coastal zone management, and climate change adaptation. Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade In December the committee released the report from its inquiry into the administration and management of matters relating to the Torres Strait region. The department contributed advice for the government’s response to the report’s recommendations. Yüklə 5,14 Mb. Dostları ilə paylaş:
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