Corporate Overview

Corporate Overview by the General Manager, Mr Wayne See Kee

2006-2007 has been a very eventful and challenging year for the TSRA's administration in delivering programs throughout the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area region.

Organisational Capacity  
In the past 12 months, the size of the TSRA has slightly increased. Of note is the establishment of the Land and Sea Management Unit (LSMU) which began its operations  this financial year by delivering Natural Heritage Trust, National Landcare and other environmental focused programs on behalf of the Australian and Queensland Governments.

Workforce Development
The TSRA has increased its focus on workforce development since my last report through a number of initiatives and innovative approaches addressing this priority area facing modern government and the private sector alike.  Some of the initiatives adopted in 2006-2007 include:
i. Sponsoring staff members in structured leadership development programs
ii. Strategic training delivery
iii. Introduction of cadetships into the TSRA
iv. Participation in the school to work program
v. Continued traineeships
vi. Further development of the Performance Management Program
vii. Internal leadership program
viii. Active promotion of employment in the Australian Public Service

The TSRA also contributed to the Australian Public Service Commission's State of the Service Report for 2006-2007.

Public Service Medal
The TSRA also nominated three employees for public service medals this year. During the 2007 Queens Birthday Honours list announcements in June, the Governor General announced Ms Yoshiko Hirakawa (from TSRA's Secretariat Section), as a recipient of this prestigious medal for her excellent performance in the public service. Congratulations Yoshiko.

Program Delivery
In delivering its 2006-2007 budget of $56,832,500 the TSRA has again worked closely with numerous Australian and Queensland Government Departments to ensure that a whole of government approach was taken. The TSRA would like to thank those agencies that have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to partner initiatives during the past year in all of its six output areas. We look forward to maintaining these productive working relationships into 2007-2008.

The organisations' program delivery systems are also being enhanced to allow the TSRA to deliver its programs more effectively into the future.

Relationship with the Board
The TSRA Administration and Board maintained its good working relationship this year. In particular, TSRA Chairperson Mr Kris and the TSRA's Executive continued to be strong advocates for the Torres Strait, taking a whole of government approach and working with the Australian and Queensland Governments as well as at the community level, to discuss and address key regional issues in 2006-2007.

Outlook for 2007-2008
In line with the TSRA Board's directions, the Administration will focus on a number of key program and operational areas in the coming financial year. Some of the priority areas will be:

a) CDEP Program Reform
b) Enhancing Business Development Services
c) Social Justice Program Reform
d) Workforce Capacity Building
e) Fisheries Reforms
f) Regional Partnership Building
g) Exploring Opportunities for Indigenous Home Ownership

The following contains a summary of the TSRA's activities in performing its functions under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (CAC) Act 1997, the Public Service Act 1999, Financial Management and Accountability (FMA) Act 1997, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Act 2005 and various other public service initiatives/directives.

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 Section 193W of the ATSI Act 2005. The internal audit will commence in July 2007 and focus on the evaluation of programs administered by the TSRA.
External: The 2006-2007 financial audit incorporated an IT General Controls Review which was undertaken in March 2007. The audit of the financial statements commenced after the reporting period in August 2007. HLB Mann Judd conducted the audit on behalf on the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), resulting in an unqualified audit opinion, as indicated by the delegate of the Auditor General, at the beginning of the 2006-2007 TSRA Annual Report's Financial Statements.

Audit Committee
The TSRA Audit Committee was elected in November 2004 and the following Members form the present committee:
Mr Terry Waia, Member for Saibai Island
Mr Bill Shibasaki, Member for Port Kennedy
Mr Ted Billy, Member for Warraber Island (elected June 2006)

Membership of the Committee will increase following a decision of the TSRA Board to include an Independent Member who has the appropriate technical skills and competencies to meet the requirements of the position with an understanding of accounting and auditing standards in a public sector environment.

The Audit Committee is a crucial component of corporate governance and is fundamental to assisting myself and the Board to:
a) ensure all key controls are operating effectively;
b) ensure all key controls are appropriate for achieving corporate goals and objectives;
c) meet statutory and fiduciary duties.

The Committee also assists the TSRA Administration and Board in corporate governance areas, particularly in regard to complying with obligations under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.

During 2006-2007, the Audit Committee met twice:
- 23 November 2006
- 16 April 2007

Commonwealth Authorities and Companies (CAC) Act Improved Governance Framework
The TSRA has progressed all recommendations from the Australian Government's review of CAC agencies in 2006-2007 within the required timeframes. These best practice approaches have been incorporated into the organisation's standard operation.

Certificate of Compliance
In line with section 16(1)(c) of the CAC Act, the Finance Minister requires all Commonwealth Authorities to provide a Compliance Report on legislative compliance and financial sustainability. This is a new annual requirement, with the first report being provided for the 2006-2007 financial year. In line with this requirement, TSRA will be providing the Finance Minister, and the Minister for Family and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs with a copy of this report.

Business Continuity Plan
The TSRA prepared a Business Continuity Plan in accordance with the directive made by the Australian Government in 2006. Business Continuity Planning has been defined as the discipline of developing and maintaining advance plans of action to enable an organisation to respond to an 'event' [risk event, disaster or emergency] to enable its time-critical business processes to continue with a politically (and commercially) acceptable impact from the organisation's perspective upon staff, clients and services, and at the same time protecting the reputation of the organisation.

In considering the request of the Australian Government, the TSRA recognised that a
Business Continuity Plan would be a very valuable internal planning document and guide to staff on actions needed in the event of a major disaster.

Risk Management and Fraud Control
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 includes relevant training to all staff.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority had in place a Fraud Control Plan for 2006-2007. TSRA also started a cycle of fraud risk assessments and fraud control plan preparation and implementation. This cycle which will result in the fraud control plan will be finalised by 31 March 2008.

Collective Workplace Agreement & Individual Workplace Agreements
The TSRA Collective Workplace Agreement 2006-2009 was finalised in 2006-2007 and is in use with a number of staff employed under this Agreement. The majority of staff however, are employed under individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), which have been approved by the Office of the Employment Advocate. There are a total of 56 AWAs at various APS levels within the organisation.

Personnel
Payroll: TSRA continues to provide its own payroll and Human Resources (HR) services in-house. Frontier Software Pty Ltd, a HR and Payroll company, provide software and support services to enable the organisation to provide these services.

Staff Development and Training: Staff attended various internal and external training and
development courses throughout the year including, but not limited to Project Management, Risk Management, Contract Management, Superannuation, Payroll and Information Technology. The TSRA has a policy of offering office administration traineeships each calendar year and continued with two offers in 2006-2007.

Leave Records: All leave records are managed through the HR and Payroll electronic system.

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 (EEO)
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 statistical information is collected upon recruitment of all TSRA staff and provided to the APSC. The TSRA statistical data is set out in Appendix 4 (c) of the 2006-2007 TSRA Annual Report.

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 (2006-2007) period no FOI requests were received. 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 Workplace 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. Staff members are informed of the current issues and receive OH&S publications from Comcare as they are published. All OH&S positions are currently filled.

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
assists agencies to ensure their policies, programs and services are accessible for people
with disabilities.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

Between 1 July 2006 and 30 June 2007, the TSRA produced the TSRA 2005-2006 Annual Report. 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 in 2005.

Relationship with the Minister
Towards the end of the last reporting period, the Indigenous Affairs portfolio was moved and as a consequence, became part of the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA). This resulted in a new Minister, the Honourable Mal Brough.

During 2006-2007, both Mr Kris and myself had the opportunity to travel to Canberra to meet with Minister Brough and deliver an update on TSRA's programs and services, as well as on current and relevant Torres Strait matters. We also maintained dialogue with the Minister by providing regular briefs and correspondence.

This year we were again visited by a number of Australian and Queensland Government Ministers, parliamentarians and government representatives, including the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) Secretary, Dr Jeff Harmer.

In closing, I would like commend all of the TSRA Staff and Board Members for their
continued dedication and commitment toward delivering positive social, cultural and economic development outcomes in the Torres Strait. I look forward to working in partnership with you all in 2007-2008.