Page 2418 - Week 09 - Thursday, 17 September 1992
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MR BERRY: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. Is one of those who will be absent the deputy chair of the committee, Mr Humphries?
MS SZUTY: As members will be aware, Mr Humphries was elected as deputy presiding member of the Estimates Committee. He has indicated this morning that he will be absent for part of the Estimates Committee process. Mr Humphries did inform me, when he became aware of his trip to Japan, that he would be away for part of the Estimates Committee's deliberations.
Government Service - Performance Indicators
MR MOORE: My question is directed to the Chief Minister. In the ACT Government's response to a report by the Estimates Committee last year, the Government stated:
The Government agrees that the results of performance measurement should be included in any discussion of a program's outcome. As indicated in the response to recommendation (1), however, the Government is of the view that the most appropriate vehicle to provide performance measurement information to the public is an agency's Annual Report. The Government does not believe this information should be duplicated in Budget Paper No. 5.
Is it not true that the only annual reports available to us prior to the Estimates Committee hearings are the annual reports of the Department of the Environment, Land and Planning and TAFE, which both emanate from Mr Wood's ministry? If so, and considering that there are no performance indicators in Budget Paper No. 3, as there have been in previous equivalent budget papers - No. 5 in the previous year - what indications do you have, do we have, and does the community have of a manager's performance? Most importantly of all, how does the community know how well your managers have performed?
MS FOLLETT: On the general question of how many annual reports are available at this time, I will have to take that on notice. I am afraid I cannot say with certainty what the answer is. On the general question of the provision of adequate and appropriate information to the Estimates Committee, I take Mr Moore's point. I will certainly do everything in my power to ensure that the Estimates Committee has appropriate information to make the judgments, to test the accountability that is an inherent part of the Estimates Committee's work. If that means providing material that is additional to what is provided in the budget papers, I undertake to do my very best to ensure that that material is provided.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I would like to take the opportunity to endorse what Mr Kaine said about how much more readable this year's documents are. The point is, Chief Minister: How have you satisfied yourself that your managers are performing, without performance indicators?
MS FOLLETT: I am certainly satisfied, but I do not expect the Estimates Committee to take my word for it. Hence, I undertake to provide them with additional material as appropriate. I take Mr Moore's point.
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