That the Assembly takes note of the papers.

These instruments are issued in accordance with section 15 of the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Act 1995 and provide the framework for the 1999-2000 annual reports. The instruments include the Annual Reports Directions for this reporting year. Under the Annual Reports Act, these instruments must be tabled, although they are not disallowable.

While there are some mandatory requirements, the Directions should be seen as setting the baseline for reporting. Because the Directions cover a wide range of reporting bodies, they must be sufficiently flexible to permit accurate and appropriate reporting across a range of operational requirements.

There are some changes to the Directions this year, reflecting consultation with the ACT Council of Social Services and also the reports of the Assembly's Portfolio Committees on 1998-99 annual reports. As many suggestions as possible were incorporated into the Directions, while retaining the focus for annual reports on strategic level analysis in key areas of performance.

A further inclusion relates to the new statutory requirement to report on ecologically sustainable development.

Government agencies already provide a wide range of information through purchase agreement reporting, annual reports and the increasing range of information provided on internet sites. The State of the Territory Report is another initiative of this Government in providing community feedback on Government performance.

Under the Annual Reports Act, all reports must be presented to Ministers within 10 weeks of the end of the reporting year. This means all financial year reports must be presented to Ministers by 8 September 2000. Ministers then have 6 sitting days in which to table reports. Reports will again be tabled as soon as possible. This year, all reports will be tabled during the October sitting weeks.