Page 346 - Week 01 - Thursday, 11 February 2010
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Finally, on the point of reporting and transparency, the government has enhanced the reporting processes for capital works in response to the increased program size, to improve accountability in the program’s delivery.
As the Treasurer, I convene monthly forums with agencies responsible for the delivery of capital works programs. For all those CFOs listening to the debate this afternoon, I know how much they look forward to those meetings—to come along and talk with me about how their programs are going. As I have said to the CFOs themselves, whilst nobody likes having more meetings to go to, they are an extremely useful forum, particularly for agencies that do not have a history of delivering large capital programs—to get around the table with agencies that do and to talk together, and talk about areas of frustration if there are any. We talk about variations to the program—how to get variations approved, whether that takes too long, what the risks associated with that are and how we report. They also allow agencies to talk directly with me around any concerns they have from their agency in delivering some of the major projects.
I am very pleased with these forums. I think there is an increased focus and attention on the delivering of the capital program, particularly in light of the GFC and the fact that, in terms of supporting industry, we needed to make sure that our work was being delivered.
I am very confident that, come the end of this financial year, we will be reporting a significant record delivery of capital works programs in the territory. Our capital works program for this year, after the $105 million re-profiling exercise, sits at around $670 million odd. I look forward to updating the Assembly on progress in achieving that target throughout the next few months.
We are also having the budget committee meetings of cabinet. I know how much my colleagues look forward to receiving their reports every two months around the progress of agencies in delivering their milestones and other issues around the capital works program.
We have reintroduced the publication of quarterly reports, which I think will be relevant and useful for the community—and also for Mr Smyth, who FOIs. We are really doing half his work for him and making them easier to read and understand. I know how much he looks forward to receiving those. I must warn him that there is repeatedly good news coming in those reports, so any satisfaction—
Mr Barr: We look forward to his press release.
MS GALLAGHER: That is right, a press release—but maybe not the satisfaction he gets when he comes across bad news.
We acknowledge that, while you can put all these measures in place—planning and assessment processes—there are some capital projects that, by their nature, will carry timing and cost risks. It is not only planning issues; there are market conditions, sometimes the scarcity of labour and materials and unforeseen circumstances which
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