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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 720 ..

MRS CARNELL (continuing):

The directions have been updated and refocused to ensure that there is consistency between planning, strategic and reporting documents and ensure full chief executive accountability and responsibility for the performance of each administrative unit under their control. The directions have been refocused to be interrelated with the financial management reforms currently being implemented. Agencies will restructure the program and subprogram structure as set out in 1995-96 Budget Paper No. 4 into the output class and outputs structure agreed by the Government. Annual reports will reflect this restructure and agencies will be required to report achievement against 1995-96 Budget Paper No. 4 performance information in this format. Annual reports will also reflect other elements, including a requirement to report against chief executive performance agreements. Annual reports will be consistent with the financial management reforms in terms of structure, terminology and format.

The directions have incorporated new legislative reporting requirements. This includes the Government Contractual Debts (Interest) Act 1994 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 1995. It has also included a shift to new Government initiatives, including the customer commitment program. Part B of the directions, which outlines reporting requirements for whole-of-government issues such as equal employment opportunity, occupational health and safety and consultancy management, has been revised and streamlined to provide more meaningful information, reflect Government priorities and provide cost-effective reporting.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister) (3.29): For the information of members, I present the Government's response to Report No. 7 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, which was entitled "Review of the Auditor-General's Report No. 2, 1995 on Whistleblower Investigations Completed to 30 June 1995". I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

My thanks go to the committee for its inquiry into this matter. The committee's report examines the Auditor-General's investigation of two whistleblower disclosures made under the Public Sector Management Act 1994. As the Assembly would be aware, such disclosures are now dealt with under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1994. I note with some satisfaction that the committee acknowledged that action either is planned or has been undertaken to address most of the concerns identified by the Auditor-General's report. Nonetheless, the committee has made three recommendations to the Government.

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