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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 2 Hansard (27 February) . . Page.. 565 ..

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Treasurer) (3.27): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Asset Management Strategy and Framework and Guidelines for Asset Management. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

I am pleased to present to the Assembly the Government's draft asset management strategy. Members will recall the recommendation of the Select Committee on Estimates in 1996-97 that a draft statement on asset management be presented to the Assembly. It was expected that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts would review the statement in time for its report to be taken up in the context of the next budget. In accordance with that recommendation, the Government now tables a draft of this strategy for the purposes of wider consultation. The Government welcomes the opportunity to discuss the draft with the Public Accounts Committee and members of the Assembly.

The strategy builds on the financial management reforms introduced by the Financial Management Act 1996. The key features of these reforms for better use of assets are: Enhanced disclosure and transparency; greater accountability for asset management, particularly to give the Assembly a clearer picture of how effectively our assets are being used; and improvements in the quality of decision-making, that is, to adopt processes which make sure our limited assets are put to the best possible use for the community. The draft strategy is structured into five major sections: An overview setting out objectives and principles; key strategic issues at whole-of-government levels; strategic issues relating to service delivery areas such as health and education; issues relevant to specific asset types such as roads and other infrastructure; and a revised management framework and guidelines for managing major property and infrastructure assets.

In preparing the draft, we had a close look at policies and practices in the States. In addition, the recent report on asset management by the Australian National Audit Office has been taken into account. The strategy builds on this work as far as it is relevant to the ACT. It is being presented as a draft for the purposes of consultation and feedback prior to final endorsement by the Government. Public assets belong to the community, so we want to know what the community thinks.

It is intended that some aspects of the strategy be implemented from 1997-98. These include incorporating asset management plans in ownership agreements between chief executives and the Treasurer, which will raise the profile of asset management as an important management responsibility; establishing a base for future management information requirements; improving the efficiency of office accommodation use; and improving measures of how effectively assets are used, and the condition of those assets. The strategy is intended to establish government-wide principles for asset management.

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