Purchaser-provider arrangements
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Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
Administration of the Caring for our Country initiative
The department has a cross-portfolio arrangement with DEWHA for the administration of the five-year, $2 billion Caring for our Country initiative, which began in July 2008. Caring for our Country integrates the delivery of previous natural resource management programs, including the National Landcare Program, Natural Heritage Trust, Environmental Stewardship Program and Working on Country Indigenous land and sea ranger program.
As the Caring for our Country initiative is made up elements funded through DAFF and DEWHA and delivers outcomes for both departments, there are references to Caring for our Country activities in both this annual report and the DEWHA annual report.
Performance for DAFF-related programs in 2008–09 was measured against the indicators outlined in Output 1.1 administered items (see pages 21–23). Performance for all measures was satisfactory.
The Natural Heritage Ministerial Board is responsible for administration of the parts of Caring for our Country that are delivered through the Australian Government Land and Coasts Team comprising DAFF and DEWHA officers. In 2008–09, DEWHA transferred $11.7 million to DAFF for administrative costs.
As outlined in the DEWHA 2008–09 Portfolio Budget Statements, performance in 2008–09 was measured by:
- establishment of the level of adoption of sustainable on-farm practices for ongoing monitoring (measured through Australian Bureau of Statistics survey)
- establishment of the level of participation in landcare, industry or other groups working to maintain or deliver ecosystem services for public benefit (measured through Australian Bureau of Statistics survey)
- at least 300 community groups engaged in coastal protection and rehabilitation
- increase in the number of Indigenous rangers
- increase in the number of Indigenous rangers trained under nationally accredited land management qualifications
- thirty natural resource management facilitators and coordinators appointed in jurisdictions across Australia
- increase in area of land protected and managed
- increase in area under environmental contracts or stewardship agreements
- delivery of election commitments commenced
- Caring for our Country five-year outcomes agreed
- Caring for our Country targets for 2009–10 agreed and published
- Caring for our Country 2009–10 business plan released
- increase in area of coastal environments and critical aquatic habitats protected and managed
at least 300 coastal protection and rehabilitation projects funded - establishment of a policy and governance framework to implement the Great Barrier Reef Rescue plan
- at least $30 million invested in activities that will improve water quality of the Great Barrier Reef
- increase in the area of land protected and managed through the National Reserve System, including declared Indigenous Protected Areas, in at least 10% of Australia’s 85 bioregions and at least 25% of Australia’s bioregions that have less than 10% in protected areas
- maintenance of the contribution of Indigenous Protected Areas to the National Reserve System
- continued investment in the management of World Heritage areas.
In 2008–09, performance for all measures was satisfactory.
Section 43 of the Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997 requires the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts to prepare an annual report on the Natural Heritage Trust’s activities.
The full report on the trust’s performance will be available on the internet.
Centrelink
Payments under various programs
The department has a purchaser–provider arrangement with Centrelink, which is a statutory authority responsible to the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Human Services.
Under the arrangement, Centrelink delivers payments for drought-related programs such as Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payments, the Murray–Darling Irrigator Grant Package, the Transitional Income Support Program, the Climate Change Adjustment Program, Farm Help, the Citrus Canker Assistance Package, the Farmers Hardship Bonus and the Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package.
A business partnership agreement between Centrelink and the department outlines the services to be delivered. In 2008–09 we purchased Centrelink services for $24.89 million (2007–08: $31.78 million), made up of:
- drought-related programs—$17.75 million (2007–08: $24.62 million)
- Farm Help, Transitional Income Support Program and Climate Change Adjustment Program—$3.7 million (2007–08: $3.44 million)
- Citrus Canker Assistance Package—$0.01 million (2007–08: $0.01 million)
- Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant Package—$2.73 million (2007–08: nil—program began in 2008–09)
- Farmers Hardship Bonus—$0.70 million (2007–08: nil—program began in 2008–09).
Table 34 shows performance during the year under these arrangements for drought‑related programs, Farm Help and the Exceptional Circumstances Exit Grant, which have specific performance measures. Payments under the equine influenza measures and the sugar industry, tobacco growers and citrus canker schemes were made to all those deemed eligible.
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
Economic research, forecasts, statistical services and briefings
The department provides economic research, forecasts, statistical services and briefings to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (DRET). This work is undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) and relates to minerals, energy and climate change.
Funds are appropriated to DRET, which pays ABARE according to a schedule in the ABARE–DRET Research Agreement. The agreement defines the services, outlines costs, and includes a protocol for quarterly progress monitoring. Performance outcomes are detailed against each project.
In 2008–09, performance for all measures was satisfactory.
|
Key performance indicators |
Target |
Source |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Exceptional Circumstances relief payments |
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|
Determine the initial eligibility of the customer. Centrelink’s standard is that 80% of determinations of successful applications will be made within 42 days from the lodgement of the initial claim. |
80% |
Centrelink monthly management information report |
98% |
|
Payments are made to those who are eligible for assistance. The amount paid equals the amount to which an individual or family is entitled to and payment errors are rectified once they have been identified. |
|
Centrelink Quality On Line Reporting Tool (QOLStat) |
|
|
Based on the information provided, the eligibility of an applicant is correctly assessed. |
95% |
|
95% |
|
The amount paid to a recipient is correct. |
95% |
|
100% |
|
Payments are corrected once an error has been identified. |
100% |
|
100% |
|
Farm Help—Farm Help closed to new applications on 30 June 2008 |
|||
|
Income support is provided to low-income families in financial need |
|||
|
Determine the initial eligibility of the customer. Centrelink’s standard is that 80% of determinations of successful applications will be made within 42 days from the lodgement of the initial claim. |
80% |
Centrelink monthly management information report |
No grant applications received in 2008–09 |
|
Payments are made to those who are eligible for assistance. The amount paid equals the amount to which an individual or family is entitled to and payment errors are rectified once they have been identified. |
|
|
No grant applications received in 2008–09 |
|
Based on the information provided, the eligibility of an applicant is correctly assessed. |
95% |
||
|
The amount paid to a recipient is correct. |
95% |
||
|
Payments are corrected once an error has been identified. |
100% |
||
|
Customers are provided with an effective decision support system for adjustment and/or exit |
|||
|
Make re‑establishment grant payments in a timely fashion. Centrelink’s standard is that 80% of payments to eligible customers (excluding review and appeal cases and applicants seeking ministerial discretion) will be made within 13 weeks from the lodgement of the second claim (re‑establishment claim). |
80% |
Centrelink monthly management information report |
Re-establishment grants paid were review and appeal cases and applicants seeking ministerial discretion |
|
Professional advice is received by a minimum of 90% of those who commence on the income support (hardship customers). |
90% |
|
It is a mandatory requirement that people on the program receive professional advice |
|
All Farm Help recipients develop a Pathways Plan (hardship customers may cancel off‑farm help before developing a Pathways Plan). |
100% |
|
It is a mandatory requirement that people on the program develop a Pathways Plan |
|
Recipients who participate in a professional advice session will consider that the session was of value in providing decision-making support. |
90% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
87%, which is within an acceptable range |
|
Recipients who undertake training will consider that the session was of value in developing skills to improve their financial situation, identifying transferable market skills and assisting in re‑establishment. |
80% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
86% still farming derived long-term benefits from the program |
|
Recipients who consider professional advice and training make a significant contribution to re‑establishment or adjustment. |
80% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
84% |
|
Recipients who believe they are better off at the end of Farm Help than before starting the program in terms of financial self‑reliance/security. |
90% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
93% |
|
Recipients who have undertaken a quarterly review with the Centrelink rural services officer since commencing on the program. |
100% |
|
No grant applications received in 2008–09 |
|
The program is successful in supporting industry adjustment |
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|
Program recipients undertake some form of adjustment in their current business operation (broken down into farmers who restructure their farm enterprise, farmers who increase their reliance on off‑farm income, farmers who exit, and farmers who exit and make a successful transition to another form of employment). |
75% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
81% of program recipients undertook some form of adjustment in the 12 months after finishing the program. In the second interview period, 40% of recipients had undertaken further adjustment |
|
Farmers act in accordance with their Pathways Plan (that is, meet adjustment outcomes through professional advice and training). |
100% |
Department’s exit surveys and longitudinal study |
100% of farmers surveyed who compulsorily completed a Pathways Plan acted in accordance with it |
Australian Agency for International Development
Management of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity Building Program
The department has a strategic partnership agreement with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between DAFF and AusAID in a whole‑of-government approach to development work in the Asia–Pacific region.
Records of understanding under the agreement detail activities funded through Australia’s aid program, along with accountability requirements. There are separate records of understanding for AusAID’s Sanitary and Phytosanitary Capacity Building Program and Emerging and Re‑emerging Zoonotic Disease Regional Initiative Program.
The department is funded to manage the two programs to deliver outputs set out in the their design documents. Performance indicators are listed against each of the services in the records of understanding, as are all resource implications. Our management of these programs is fully costed, including salaries, salary on‑costs, travel and associated overheads.
The first of these programs finished on 30 June 2009. Scheduled activities were implemented and completed during 2008–09. We provided an activity completion report to AusAID in July 2009 as part of our deliverables requirements. AusAID accepted two formal reports, and an external review recommended priorities for the final year of program implementation.
Scheduled activities under the capacity-building program were implemented, except for several workshops rescheduled to July–September 2008. Political upheaval in Myanmar necessitated the relocation and rescheduling of one activity.
The zoonotic disease program design document was reviewed to place greater emphasis on avian influenza preparedness. The program will continue under largely similar arrangements into 2009–10.
National Measurement Institute
Analytical testing services
The National Residue Survey engages the National Measurement Institute by competitive tender to provide analytical testing services. This is a fee‑for-service arrangement. The services vary according to the individual memorandum of understanding for each program for which the institute is the successful tenderer. The contracts cover all accountability and resourcing aspects.
In 2008–09 the agreed activities were performed in accordance with contractual arrangements. The institute was successful in the last round of competitive tendering for analytical testing services and will provide these services for a number of our programs in 2009–10.
Analysis of imported food
Under the Imported Food Control Act 1992, the AQIS Imported Food Program appoints laboratories and analysts to carry out tests. Importers choose from among those appointed by AQIS for the analysis of food samples taken during inspection of imported food products. The institute is one of the analysts appointed under the Act. The client of the analyst is usually the importer who pays for the analysis.
However, goods for which a government‑to-government arrangement has been negotiated and which are imported under a foreign certification arrangement are audited at a rate of 5%. In those cases, AQIS pays for the cost of the analysis and the institute’s services may be used. In 2008–09, AQIS paid the institute approximately $103,492 for such services.
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
Integrated Cargo System
During 2008–09, AQIS had a purchaser–provider arrangement with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for requested changes to its Integrated Cargo System. No charges were made for this service during the reporting period.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Costs of analytical testing for imported food survey
During 2008–09, AQIS provided Food Standards Australia New Zealand with $55,011 for the costs of analytical testing in a survey of imported foods that could potentially contain melamine. The items tested were collected by state and territory food regulatory agencies around Australia.
08 Oct 2009