Asset management
The agency’s asset management strategy emphasises whole-of-life asset management and seeks to minimise holdings of surplus and under-performing assets.
The agency’s stocktake of fixed and intangible assets in 2017–18 confirmed their location and condition, and emphasised to custodial officers their responsibility to ensure the safe-keeping of assets in their custody.
Details of the assets administered by the agency in 2017–18 can be found in section 7 (Financial statements).
Purchasing
In 2017–18, with the exception of those instances reported in its Certificate of Compliance, the agency complied with the Australian Government’s purchasing policies. Its procurement and purchasing activities were conducted in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules to ensure value for money, and efficient, effective, economical and ethical procurement outcomes.
Consultants
Due to the size of the agency, it is necessary to engage consultants to provide specialist expertise or independent research and to provide value for money. The decision to engage a consultant is made in accordance with the PGPA Act and regulations, and relevant agency and departmental policies.
In the 2017–18 year, seven consultancy contracts were entered into. In addition, two ongoing consultancy contracts were active during 2017–18 year. The total actual expenditure related to these consultancy contracts was $ 266,937.63 (GST exclusive).
Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website at www.tenders.gov.au.
Prior to engaging consultants, the agency takes into account the skills and resources required
for the task, the skills available internally, and the cost-effectiveness of engaging external expertise. Legal advice on consultancy arrangements is sought where relevant.
Grant programmes
Information on grants awarded by the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency during the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 is now available at asbestossafety.gov.au/about-us.
Australian National Audit Office access clauses
All of the agency’s awarded contracts or Deeds of Standing Offer valued at $100,000 (GST inclusive) or greater, contain standard clauses granting the Auditor-General access to contractors’ premises.
Exempt contracts
The agency did not enter into any contracts in 2017–18 that have been exempted under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) from reporting on AusTender.
Advertising and market research
In accordance with section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the agency is required to report on all payments over a certain amount to advertising agencies, market research organisations, polling organisations, media advertising organisations, public relations organisations and direct mail organisations.
The total payment by the agency for market research during the 2017–18 reporting year was
$98,890.00 (GST inclusive) paid to Colmar Brunton Pty Ltd to conduct the biennial national benchmark survey on awareness levels and attitudes towards asbestos in quarter three and four of 2018 and quantitative analysis of the results.
Procurement initiatives to support small business
The agency supports small business participation in the Commonwealth Government procurements market. Small enterprise participation statistics are available on the Department of Finance’s website (www.finance.gov.au/procurement/statistics-on-commonwealth-purchasing-contracts).
In supporting small business, the agency also uses the following:
- the Commonwealth Contracting Suite for low-risk procurements valued under $200,000
- Australian Industry Participation Plans in whole-of-government procurement where applicable
- the Small Business Engagement Principles (outlined in the Government’s Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda), such as communicating in clear, simple language and presenting information in an accessible format
- electronic systems or other processes used to facilitate on-time payment performance, including the use of payment cards.
The agency also recognises the importance of ensuring that small businesses are paid on time. The results of the survey of Australian Government Payments to Small Business are available on the Treasury’s website (www.treasury.gov.au).
Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance
The agency has considered and applied the principles of ecological and environmental sustainability to all of its projects and operations during the reporting period.
Projects included adhering to already established departmental policies and specifications regarding sustainability and preference for dissemination of the agency’s public reports through electronic media.
The agency accommodation is located in the NSW state office for a number of Australian Government departments and agencies, which enjoys a five-star NABERS rating on energy efficiency, water usage, waste management and indoor environment quality of a building or tenancy and its impact on the environment. More information regarding the NABERS rating system for buildings can be found on their website (www.nabers.gov.au).
Information publication scheme statement
Agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). This requirement is in Part II of the FOI Act and has replaced the former requirement to publish a section 8 statement in an annual report. Each agency must display on its website a plan showing what information it publishes in accordance with the IPS requirements. The agency’s current IPS information can be found at www.asbestossafety.gov.au/publications.
Changes to disability reporting in annual reports
Since 1994, Commonwealth non-corporate entities have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007–08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service Report and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010–11, entities have no longer been required to report on these functions.
The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been replaced by the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020, which sets out a 10-year national policy framework to improve the lives of people with disability, promote participation and create a more inclusive society. A high-level two-yearly report will track progress against each of the six outcome areas of the strategy and present a picture of how people with disability are faring. The first of these reports was made available in late 2014 and can be found at www.dss.gov.au.
