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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 4 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1188 ..

MR WHITECROSS (continuing):

The audit concluded that the management of the cultural grants program was generally effective in making a positive contribution to arts and cultural development in the ACT. The audit also found that the grants program was managed reasonably efficiently, although an accurate assessment could not be made, due to the absence of established performance measures. In this regard, the audit identified certain areas where procedures could be changed to improve the effectiveness of the Arts and Cultural Development Unit.

Comment on the audit findings was sought from the Chief Minister, who provided the committee with an action plan to address the audit findings and proposals to redress shortcomings. The Chief Minister satisfied the committee that, with one exception, the audit proposals had been implemented immediately or would be implemented at appropriate times. The exception is an audit proposal that unsuccessful grant applicants be counselled by a member of the ACT Cultural Council subcommittee responsible for assessing applications. The committee agreed with the Chief Minister's position that such feedback should more appropriately be given by the relevant officials responsible for processing the applications.

The committee was concerned that a number of grants under the 1994 and 1995 programs had not been acquitted - the amounts involved being more than $600,000 in each year - and that two bodies which received grants in 1995 had not provided financial reports for some $235,000 received under the 1994 program and were overdue in relation to $160,000 of their 1995 grants. The committee's recommendations are intended to ensure that administration of the grants program is tightened, that there is improvement in the handling of applications for grants and, finally, that there are enhanced accountability provisions in relation to grants and, in particular, that grants which have not been acquitted are reported in the annual reports. I commend the report to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Mr Kaine) adjourned.

MR MOORE: Mr Temporary Deputy Speaker, I wish to inform the Assembly, pursuant to standing order 246A, that on 2 May 1997 the Standing Committee on Planning and Environment resolved to inform the Assembly that it had completed its inquiry into the Acton-Kingston land swap which was initiated on 21 April 1995 and which was the subject of two reports - No. 11, entitled "Interim Report on the Acton-Kingston Land Swap", and No. 23, entitled "Further Report on the Acton-Kingston Land Swap".

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