Appendix 6: Explanation of Programme Budget Variance

This appendix references the appropriation programme expenditure 2014 - 2015 Table 2-12 on page 27 and provides additional information on the reason for the variances for each programme area’s expenditure as compared to budget allocations.

During 2014 - 2015, the TSRA operated under a programme structure which was focused on the delivery of outcomes and realisation of measurable benefits against the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Regional Plan 2009 - 2029 and the Torres Strait Development Plan 2014 - 2018.

The 2014 - 2015 actual programme spend from appropriation totalled $55.238 million compared to a budget allocation of $55.537 million, resulting in a variance of $0.299 million or 0.54 per cent.

In the main, the variances can be attributed to changes in project phasing between financial years or under-expenditure in the grants projects due to the number of applications which are approved following the assessment process. The notes to Table 6-4 provide reasons for variances greater than two per cent between budget and actual.

The following programmes recorded variances between budget and actual.

Table 6-4: Programme Budget Variance, 2014 - 2015 (unaudited)