Australian Electoral Commission Annual Report 2015–16

3 PERFORMANCE REPORTING National Electoral 19 September 2015 Canning 2 517 Education Centre 2 5 December 2015 North Sydney 1 EDUCATION SESSIONS BY-ELECTIONS HELD FEDERAL ELECTION HELD THIS FINANCIAL YEAR THIS FINANCIAL YEAR SHORTLY AFTER 2015–16 In this section: Performance against agency directions 16 Performance against Regulator Performance Framework 23 Additional performance information 23 We report on our performance against the five agency directions specified in the 2015–19 AEC Corporate Plan. We also report against the Regulator Performance Framework, and provide additional information to complete the AEC’s performance story for 2015–16. Australian Electoral Commission Annual Report 2015–16 Table 2: Mapping of PBS Performance Criteria Performance against for 2015–16 to Corporate Plan Agency Directions agency directions (Purposes) 2015–19 AEC CORPORATE PLAN AGENCY DIRECTIONS (PURPOSES) This section provides performance reporting on the AEC’s activities against the five agency Deliver a changed Govern the Re‑establish the Build an agile model for organisation for Professionalise the reputation of the and responsive directions specified in the 2015–19 AEC PBS PERFORMANCE CRITERIA electoral events quality and assurance workforce AEC organisation Corporate Plan. Federal Elections, By‑elections and Referendums The Corporate Plan agency directions Federal electoral events are successfully delivered. both draw from and contribute to the AEC Maintain ability to conduct a federal electoral event performance criteria set out for 2015–16 within the timeframe determined by the Electoral under ‘AEC Program 1.1 – Deliver electoral Commissioner. events’, available in Budget 2016–17 Portfolio Electoral Roll Management Budget Statements (PBS), Budget Related High level of confidence in the Electoral Roll. Paper No. 1.8 (Finance Portfolio), page 83 (available at www.finance.gov.au/publications/ Support Services for Electoral Redistributions portfolio‑budget‑statements/16‑17). Effective and timely conduct of redistribution activities. Party Registrations and Financial Disclosure A matrix chart mapping the PBS performance Party registration processed in accordance with the Performance agency directions against criteria to the Corporate Plan agency directions Electoral Act. is shown Table 2. Financial disclosures obtained and placed on the 3 public record in accordance with the Electoral Act. Industrial and Commercial Elections Industrial elections are delivered in accordance with the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and each organisation’s rules. reporting Protected Action Ballots are delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Fair Work Act 2009 and the orders issued by the Fair Work Commission. Torres Strait Regional Authority elections are delivered erformance in accordance with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait P Islander Act 2005. Public Awareness Electoral education is provided to Australian schools through the operation of the National Electoral Education Centre, conduct of teacher professional development workshops and provision of education resources. Information is timely and accurate, uses appropriate technology and channels, and meets accessibility standards. Provide targeted and culturally appropriate electoral services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the delivery of the Indigenous Electoral Participation Program. 16 17 StatementAustralian Electoral by Commissionthe Electoral Commissioner Annual Report 2015–16 I, as the accountable authority of the Australian Electoral Commission, present the 2015–16 annual performance statements of the Australian Electoral Commission, as required under paragraph 39(1)(a) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). In my opinion these annual performance statements are based on properly maintained records, AGENCY DIRECTION 2 accurately reflect the performance of the entity, and comply with subsection 39(2) of the PGPA Act. Tom Rogers Govern the organisation for quality and assurance Electoral Commissioner 4 October 2016 Performance criteria Source Result 2.1 Assurance framework is implemented AEC 2015–19 Met Our performance against the agency directions is as follows. Corporate Plan, p. 9 2.2 An enterprise performance and reporting AEC 2015–19 Met AGENCY DIRECTION 1 framework is implemented Corporate Plan, p. 9 2.3 High level of confidence in the accuracy of AEC 2015–19 Met Deliver a changed model for electoral events the electoral roll Corporate Plan, p. 9 Performance criteria Source Result Explanation 1.1 Federal electoral events are successfully AEC 2015–19 Partly met Criterion 2.1 was met with implementation of a documented assurance framework, together with a delivered Corporate Plan, p. 9 complementary operational compliance plan, that were endorsed by the Business Assurance Committee at 1.2 Maintain ability to conduct a federal electoral AEC 2015–19 Met its June 2016 meeting. event within the timeframe determined by the Corporate Plan, p. 9 Criterion 2.2 was met with the introduction of a performance and reporting framework underpinned by the Electoral Commissioner Accountable Authority Instructions and regular reporting to the AEC Executive. Criterion 2.3 was met with an increase in roll completeness, with almost one million people added to the roll Performance agency directions against Explanation since the 2013 federal election. There has also been an improvement in the core component of roll integrity Criterion 1.1 was partly met. Assessment of the service plans of the two federal by‑elections, Canning, WA through more sophisticated quality controls that give greater confidence in the accuracy of the roll. 3 (September 2015) and North Sydney, New South Wales (December 2015) identified minor aspects that were not achieved according to the plans. What we did alignment of the AEC’s Internal Audit Plan with the Criterion 1.2 was met with the development and refinement of an election readiness framework – risk profile. specifically the introduction of the 2016 Election Ready Road Map. At the issue of writs, inputs were ready Throughout the year the AEC’s focus has been on electoral integrity through the AEC values of quality, A range of measures were implemented via the Roll reporting to conduct both the Canning and North Sydney by‑elections, and the 2016 federal election. agility and professionalism. The AEC upholds the Program, based on the Electoral Integrity Framework, sanctity of the ballot paper in all its forms and at to improve roll completeness and accuracy, and What we did The POLITE inputs: provide a foundation for adapting all times, supported by the ballot paper handling reduce state and federal electoral roll divergence. to changing circumstances; guide the conduct of principles and the concept of ‘every task matters’. The measures included streamlining workflows and In April 2015, the AEC introduced the Election Ready erformance workloads nationally to assist in updating the roll P Road Map (ERRM), a key component of the election the right tasks at the right time; and coordinate work A new planning, performance and reporting within required timeframes. readiness framework. across different (but interconnected) areas of the framework was implemented throughout 2015–16. AEC. This framework was applied in the delivery of It supports staff involved in planning, delivering Areas for further improvement The ERRM sets out the sequence of actions over the two by‑elections. outcomes, and managing resources and finances. three phases that need to be completed between The implementation of the performance, planning This was integral to the structures, processes, the return of writs from the previous election and Recommendations from the Joint Standing and reporting framework, together with the controls and behaviours that support sections of the issue of the writs for the next election. It also Committee on Electoral Matters, the Keelty Report assurance framework, has led to improved Executive the PGPA Act. In addition, an assurance framework connects the lessons learned from the last electoral and the Australian National Audit Office were decision‑making throughout the agency and supports was implemented that outlines how the Executive event with the actions the AEC needs to take in considered in planning the delivery of the 2016 the established continual improvement platform. Leadership Team will gain assurance that the agency preparing for, and delivering, the next electoral event. federal election. The implementation of an electronic document and is operating efficiently and effectively, and meeting The ERRM influences all layers of the AEC. Areas for further improvement records management system will further enhance agency objectives. availability of the right information to support The elements (or ‘inputs’) that must be ready before A revised framework was introduced to assess The AEC has also focused on improving the risk‑based decision‑making. the AEC as a whole can be ‘election ready’ have lessons learned from conducting the Canning and foundations that support the organisation with been categorised on the ERRM under the following North Sydney by‑elections. This framework is a not only the introduction of the performance and headings (summarised by the AEC as ‘POLITE’): more efficient and effective way of evaluating federal reporting framework, but also enhancements to elections, and will be used to assess the 2016 federal Personnel, Organisation, Legislation, Information, the project

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