Advisory Committees

The TSRA has two Advisory Committees: the Audit Committee and the Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee (IFAC).

Audit Committee

The TSRA Audit Committee has four members. The Audit Committee was established in accordance with Section 32 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (Cth). The TSRA Board is responsible for the appointment of the Audit Committee. The committee provides independent assurance and assistance to the TSRA Board on the risk, control and compliance frameworks and the TSRA's external accountability responsibilities.

The Chairperson of the Audit Committee is an independent member from Moore Stephens Accountants and Advisors. The Chairperson of the Audit Committee provides technical expertise and experience, supplying advice on best practice accounting and auditing standards in the public sector. Special meetings of the Audit Committee can be held if deemed necessary by the TSRA Chairperson or the Chairperson of the Audit Committee.

Membership, meetings and attendance for the Audit Committee are shown in tables 4-7, 4-8 and 4-9.

Membership

The membership of the Audit Committee is shown in Table 4-7.

Table 4-7 Audit Committee Members

Meeting dates

The Audit Committee met four times in 2013 - 2014, as shown in Table 4-8.

Table 4-8 Audit Committee Meeting Dates and Apologies

Attendance

Members' attendance at Audit Committee meetings is shown in Table 4-9.

Table 4-9 Attendance at Audit Committee Meetings

Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee

The Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee (IFAC) was established in 2012 under Section 142M of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (Cth). The objectives of the IFAC are to:

• Provide a forum for the discussion of strategic management and policy matters relevant to Torres Strait fisheries and act as an additional medium for the flow of information between the TSRA and Torres Strait communities.
• Provide advice and make recommendations to the TSRA Board with respect to:
• investment of resources into capacity building and support programmes for traditional fishers,
• policy proposals and management advice for Torres Strait fisheries,
• policy direction and approach to resource sharing and leasing,
• engagement and establishment of effective relationships with all fisheries stakeholders, and
• research strategic priorities and provide advice on research proposals.
• Establish sub-committees as required to ensure the range of issues requiring consideration are given proper attention.
• Undertake additional functions on behalf of the TSRA as determined by the TSRA Board.

The effectiveness of the IFAC in engaging with fisher communities and providing independent industry advice to the TSRA board was reviewed in 2014. Meetings of the IFAC were suspended while the review was conducted. The board determined that a different model of engagement with community fishers was required. The IFAC was disbanded on 5 June 2014.

Membership

The membership of the IFAC is shown in Table 4-10.

Table 4-10 Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee Members

Meetings

The IFAC meeting dates are shown in Table 4-11.

Table 4-11 Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee Meetings and Apologies

Attendance

Attendance at the IFAC meetings is shown in Table 4-12.

Table 4-12 Indigenous Fisheries Advisory Committee Attendance