GOVERNMENT AGENCIES —
FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
1061. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the minister representing the Treasurer:
This question is asked on behalf of
Hon Tjorn Sibma who is on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the financial and
operational performance of agencies since 1 July 2017.
(1) Has Treasury
undertaken any functional reviews, structural reviews and/or similar reviews of
the financial management and performance of any agency?
(2) If yes to (1), which agency or
agencies have been subjected to that analysis?
(3) If yes to (1), could the
Treasurer explain the details and the outcomes of the review or reviews?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON
replied:
I
thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. The following
answer has been provided by the Treasurer.
(1) Analysing and advising on agencies'
financial management and performance is a core ongoing function of the Department of Treasury. Although Treasury
itself has not undertaken any functional or structural agency reviews,
Treasury in its role as a central agency has been party to a number of reviews
since 1 July 2017, including a Department of Training and Workforce Development
capability review; a Department of Communities functional review of disability
services; a Department of Communities functional review of corporate functions;
a Housing Authority machinery-of-government reform; and a Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development capability review.
(2) Refer to the response to (1).
(3) The
Department of Training and Workforce Development capability review: the
Department of Training and Workforce
Development commenced a capability review in early 2018 to ensure efficient and
effective service delivery in vocational education and training
functions. The recommendations of the review were considered by government in
late 2018 and reflected in the 2018–19 midyear review.
The
Department of Communities functional review of disability services: the
functional review of disability services was commissioned by government
to inform decision-making on the type and level of residual disability services
to be administered by the state once all eligible participants had transitioned
to the commonwealth-administered National Disability Insurance Scheme. The
review informed government's decisions as part of the 2020–21
budget.
The Department of Communities
functional review of corporate functions: Communities has commenced a review of
its corporate policy and contracting functions. The review is focused on
current and forecast budget settings and a review of the functions Communities
delivers to ensure that they meet statutory requirements and the needs of
stakeholders. The review is ongoing.
Housing Authority
machinery-of-government reform: in November 2019, cabinet approved the
structural separation of the functions of the Housing Authority, with land
development and related commercial functions to be transferred to
DevelopmentWA. Social housing and other non-commercial functions will remain
within the Department of Communities. The reform activities being overseen by a
steering committee chaired by the director general of Premier and Cabinet are
ongoing.
The Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development capability review: a capability review of the
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development was undertaken during
2018, with oversight by a steering committee
with representatives from DPIRD, Treasury and the Department of the Premier
and Cabinet. The purpose was to review the function, structure and resourcing
required to deliver the government's priorities in primary industries
and regional development. The outcomes of the review were considered by
government as part of the 2019–20 budget, with additional expenditure of
$131.5 million reflected in that budget.