Page 2972 - Week 13 - Thursday, 23 November 1989
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on balance, the Government believes that there are more arguments to support continuing the statutory authority status of TAFE than there are for changing the Institute to a Government Department. A growing percentage of TAFE operating costs are being drawn from the business community and it is essential that continuing steps be taken to strengthen links between TAFE and the business sector. Furthermore, Government Department status would be inconsistent with the role of TAFE as a tertiary education institution. The recent Scott Report in New South Wales recommended that N.S.W. TAFE become a statutory authority.
In deciding not to alter the status of the Legal Aid Commission and the Institute of TAFE, the Government recognises that:
it is important to review the adequacy of current reporting mechanisms and controls for these and other budget dependent statutory authorities to ensure an adequate level of financial accountability. A review of audit arrangements has already been undertaken; and
it may well be appropriate for such authorities to be part of common service arrangements for the ACT Government Service where this offers potential benefits in terms of economy and/or co-ordination.
Recommendation (5)
the Public Accounts Committee inquire into and report on ACT statutory authorities, including number, reason for establishment and whether the non-budget dependent bodies should continue to remain off-budget (paragraph 2.33). Government Response
The question of whether or not the PAC should inquire into the issues raised by the Committee is one for the Assembly to decide.
Recommendation (6)
the revenue and expenditure of the Community Development Fund be incorporated in an additional Budget Paper from 1990-91 and that procedures be implemented to ensure that expenditure from the Fund is accountable to the Legislative Assembly (paragraph 2.37). Government Response
The Government notes that members of the Committee have had difficulty in gaining an understanding of the activities embraced by the Community Development Fund. Given the importance of expenditures to community organisations, the Government will include, as a high priority in its review of the Budget Papers, the need for clearer and more fullsome reporting on receipts and expenditure through the Fund. Due to the timing and nature of grants to individual organisations, information at this level of
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