Page 1095 - Week 03 - Thursday, 22 March 2012
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I thank you for the clarification that you have given here this morning, minister. This is what we have been trying to get to the bottom of for the last two days. I think your answers to the questions are rather late but I thank you for bringing them to the notice of this Assembly now.
Financial Management Amendment Bill 2012
Mr Barr, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development and Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation) (10.11): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
Mr Speaker, today I am tabling the Financial Management Amendment Bill 2012. This bill amends the FMA to strengthen the processes underpinning the amendment of performance criteria by ACT government agencies. It should be noted that this amendment is part of an ongoing program of work being undertaken by Treasury to provide assurance that the processes and guidelines that accompany the ACT government performance management framework are robust and transparent.
This framework is important, as it is the basis upon which government services can be measured against planned targets. Part of the framework is the ability of agencies to review and, if necessary, amend their performance criteria. Under section 19D of the FMA, when an agency amends its criteria the responsible minister is authorised to approve the amendment.
The Auditor-General’s report on the 2010-11 financial audit commented on occasions when these instruments had been prepared incorrectly. This bill will strengthen the process by amending the FMA to include the Treasurer in the review and approval process of the instruments prepared by agencies to amend performance criteria. Including the Treasurer in subsection (2) means the notifiable instrument under section 19D(5) is only made if signed by both the minister and the Treasurer. Further changes have been made to section 19D(3) as a consequence of the change in subsection (2).
Mr Speaker, I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Smyth) adjourned to the next sitting.
Energy Efficiency (Cost of Living) Improvement Bill 2012
Mr Corbell, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement, Human Rights Act compatibility statement and a regulatory impact statement.
Title read by Clerk.
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