Annual Report 2002–03 Volume I
Ministerial and parliamentary services
Download 1.71 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Main achievements
- Areas of continuing improvement
Ministerial and parliamentary servicesFaCS delivered services to both ministers and to the parliamentary secretary on behalf of the Family and Community Services portfolio, including the Child Support Agency, Centrelink, the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Main achievementsDuring 2002–03 FaCS upgraded the ministerial correspondence tracking system to provide writers with a better tool for preparing replies and to address timeliness issues and improve the reporting database. A FaCS Style Guide was published to explain standard usage. A number of training sessions were provided to staff throughout the state and territory office network to improve writing skills and understanding of ministers’ needs in this area. FaCS undertook a project to develop best practice policy advice guidelines. The project involved establishing a panel to assess the quality of policy advice submissions to the ministers. This was a response to Audit Report 21 of 2001-02 Developing Policy Advice by the ANAO. The criteria used to rate submissions were based on three broad elements of form, content and process. An eight-measure rating scale was used: excellent-very good—good—satisfactory—marginally satisfactory—unsatisfactory—incomplete—unable to be ranked. The panel, consisting of three former senior FaCS staff, applied the criteria to 31 submissions dealing with policy advice. While the sample submissions were generally rated as satisfactory, there is room for improvement. Improvement initiatives include formal FaCS training based on feedback from the panel and self-assessment actions by branches against the criteria. This pilot review provided aggregate ranking of FaCS’ policy advice at outcome level only. In 2003-04 the assessment process will be implemented fully with the intention that it be continued on an annual basis and the ratings will be applied to each output group.
In 2002–03 FaCS obtained specific feedback from Minister Vanstone’s office about office satisfaction with the service provided by FaCS. The office considers FaCS responsive to the Minister’s needs and provides sound policy advice but in some instances would like briefings to be more timely and more concise. The number of redrafts of ministerial correspondence also needs to be reduced. Figure 21: Signatories for ministerial correspondence The ministers and the parliamentary secretary sign replies to members and senators, and to constituents from their respective electorates. FaCS replies directly to others (more than half of all correspondents). Figure 22: Timeliness for responding to Questions on Notice Minister Vanstone expects to receive draft answers to questions on notice within 23 days. This allows sufficient time for clearance within the Parliament’s standard of 30 days (Senate) or 60 days (House of Representatives). FaCS is meeting the 23-day standard in around three out of four cases. Table 73: Ministerial and parliamentary services—number of briefings, submissions, ministerial correspondence and questions on notice
a These figures include campaign mail. b New Question Time Briefings and each major revision. c Written submissions requested by the ministers, the parliamentary secretary or their staff. d Written submissions initiated by departmental officers, for the attention of the ministers or the parliamentary secretary. e Material that cannot be attributed to any single output group. It includes policy that covers multiple programs and correspondence referred to other departments for a response.
Directory: sites -> default -> files files -> Answer True False 2 points Question 2 files -> Northern England’s set-jetting locations files -> Nstructions for Acquiring Excess Equipment online, through the 1033 Program files -> Occupational health and safety files -> The Black Panther Party’s Ten Point Program files -> International programs roel profile files -> Fermi Questions a guide for Teachers, Students, and Event Supervisors Lloyd Abrams, Ph. D. DuPont Company, cr&D/ccas experimental Station Wilmington, de 19880 files -> Personal Information Name: Maha Al-Ammari Nationality: Saudi Relationship Status Download 1.71 Mb. Share with your friends:
|