Corporate Information

Corporate Overview of the TSRA

OBJECTIVES

• Support delivery of the TSRA services to Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people in the Torres Strait region;
• promote the efficient and effective use of human, financial and physical resources;
• create a rewarding, safe, healthy and equitable working environment;
• ensure the provision of efficient services for the TSRA Administration and Board and the Minister in order to facilitate decision-making;
• manage and maintain assets of the TSRA; and
• create and maintain systems which promote good corporate governance within both the Board and Administration arms of the TSRA.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Audit

The TSRA continued to be scrutinised by government audit agencies during the year. The TSRA actively responds to deficiencies identified by audit agencies and endeavours to continually improve the quality of administrative, and program procedures. Internal: The Office of Evaluation and Audit (OEA) undertakes internal audits of the TSRA in accordance with S. 76 of the ATSI Act 2005. In June 2006, OEA undertook an internal audit of the TSRA. External: The 2005-2006 financial statement audit commenced after the reporting period in July 2006 by HLB Mann Judd on behalf on the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), resulting in an unqualified audit opinion

Audit Committee

The TSRA Audit Committee was elected in November 2004. The TSRA Board endorsed the following Members to form the Committee:

• Mr Terry Waia, Member for Saibai Island
• Mr Maluwap Nona, Member for Ngurupai (Horn) and Muralag (Prince of Wales) Islands,
• Mr Bill Shibasaki, Member for Port Kennedy and
• Mr Ted Billy, Member for Warraber Island (elected to the Committee at the TSRA Board Meeting in June 2006).

The Audit Committee is formed primarily to assist the TSRA Board in fulfilling its responsibilities relating to the accounting and reporting practices of the TSRA. The committee also assists the TSRA and Board in corporate governance areas, particularly in regard to complying with obligations under the Commonwealth and Securities Act 1997.

During 2005-2006, the Audit Committee met three times:

• 29 August 2005
• 6 March 2006
• 5 June 2006

Risk Management

Indemnities and insurance premiums for officers:

• The TSRA has not given any indemnity to current or former officers against a   liability.
• The TSRA pays an annual premium for insurance to Comcover, which in some cases, namely professional indemnity, does protect against a current or former officer’s liability for legal costs.
• The review and update of the TSRA’s Risk Management Strategy continues as a high priority and will include training to all staff.

Certified Workplace Agreement & Individual Workplace Agreements

The TSRA Certified Agreement continues to be in use with the majority of staff employed under this Agreement. A number of staff however are employed under individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), which have been approved by the Office of the Employment Advocate.

Property

The TSRA has an office accommodation usage of 994 square metres for 79 staff and the TSRA Chairperson, providing an average of 15.58 square metres per person.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The TSRA is an EEO employer and upholds the Australian Public Service Values. The TSRA “provides a workplace that is free from discrimination and recognises and utilises the diversity of the Australian community it serves.” Staff members and management receive up to date information and have access to the publications from the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), Department of Employment
and Workplace Relations (DEWR) and numerous other agencies on employment related issues including, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Harassment Free Workplaces and Workplace Diversity. EEO and Harassment officers for the TSRA have been elected from within the staff. EEO statistical information is collected upon recruitment of all TSRA staff and provided to the APSC.

Freedom of Information (FOI)

A statement outlining the structure of the TSRA, as required under Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982, can be found in Appendix 2. During the reporting period no FOI request was received for access to native title documents. No applications for Internal Review or applications to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, for review of a decision in relation to a request was received.

Industrial Democracy

As an integral part of the Certified Agreement the TSRA has established a Workplace Agreement Consultative Committee, as the consultative body with representatives from management and employees. The TSRA fosters and promotes regular management, section and staff meetings.

Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S)

The TSRA recognises its responsibilities under the Occupational Health and Safety (Commonwealth Employment) Act 1991. The TSRA and staff cooperate on OH&S Policy and operational matters as stated in the Certified Agreement, and take part in appropriate national consultation. Staff members are informed of the current issues and receive OH&S publications from Comcare as they are developed. The OH&S
position is currently vacant and an Officer will be selected from within the staff to fill this position.

Privacy

For the reporting period, the Privacy Commissioner did not issue a report on the TSRA under Section 30 of the Privacy Act 1988 and no personal privacy complaints were made against the TSRA.

Commonwealth Disability Strategy (CDS)

The TSRA is aware of and acknowledges the CDS, which is a planning framework that assist agencies to ensure their policies, programs and services are accessible for people with disabilities. The TSRA is in the process of developing an action plan in order to implement the principles of the CDS.

Corporate Documents

Between 1 July 2005 and 30 June 2006, the TSRA produced the TSRA 2004–2005 Annual Report and the TSRA 2005–2009 Corporate Plan. Additionally, the TSRA produced eleven community newsletters (known as the TSRA News). The TSRA News is a publication distributed throughout the Torres Strait region and Australian mainland via insertion in the local newspaper, Torres News and through the
TSRA website. The aim of TSRA News is to inform people living in the Torres Strait and on the mainland of the TSRA’s goals, progress and achievements. It consists of articles and photographs specifically relating to the activities and achievements of the TSRA’s elected and administrative arms.

The TSRA continues to draw on the Torres Strait Development Plan. This plan is required under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005. A revised Torres Strait Development Plan for the four years 2005-2009 was developed and printed 2005.