ANNUAL REPORT Published by the Department of Local Government and Community Services
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DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES 2014 - 2015 ANNUAL REPORT Published by the Department of Local Government and Community Services © Northern Territory Government 2015 Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this document may be reproduced without prior written permission from the Northern Territory Government through the Department of Local Government and Community Services. ISSN: 1835-2332 Enquiries should be made to: Department of Local Government and Community Services GPO Box 2850, Darwin NT 0801 Telephone: +61 8 8999 8583 Email: [email protected] www.dlgcs.nt.gov.au LETTER OF REPRESENTATION TO THE MINISTERS The Hon Bess Price MLA Minister for Local Government and Community Services The Hon Adam Giles Chief Minister Parliament House Darwin NT 0800 Dear Ministers In accordance with section 28 of the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, I am pleased to submit the 2014-15 annual report on the activities and achievements of the Department of Local Government and Community Services. Pursuant to the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, the Financial Management Act and the Information Act, I advise that to the best of my knowledge and belief: a) proper records of all transactions affecting the department are kept and employees under my control observe the provisions of the Financial Management Act, the Financial Management Regulations and Treasurer’s Directions b) procedures within the department afford proper internal control and these procedures are recorded in the department’s Accounting and Property Manual, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Financial Management Act c) there is no indication of fraud, malpractice, major breach of legislation or delegation, major error in, or omission from, the accounts and records d) in accordance with section 15 of the Financial Management Act, the internal audit capacity is adequate and the results of internal audits have been reported to me e) the financial statements included in the annual report have been prepared from proper accounts and records and are in accordance with the Treasurer’s Directions f) all Employment Instructions issued by the Commissioner for Public Employment have been satisfied g) in respect of my responsibilities pursuant to section 131 of the Information Act, I advise that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the department is working in compliance with Part 9 of the Information Act. Yours sincerely Mike Chiodo Chief Executive September, 2015 OUR OUR CORPORATE CONTENTS OVERVIEW OUR PEOPLE FINANCIAL APPENDIX 1 1 2 PERFORMANCE 3 4 GOVERNANCE 5 6 Contents This report has been prepared according to the Public Sector Employment and Management Act, the Financial Management Act and the Information Act. It provides a comprehensive account of the department’s functions, responsibilities and performance for the 2014-15 financial year, and highlights departmental achievements. This report is published in electronic PDF format, providing options for downloading the entire report or individual sections. Alternative document formats are available upon request from the Department of Local Government and Community Services. Before printing this document please consider the environment and avoid unnecessary paper usage. PART 1 | OVERVIEW PART 4 | OUR CORPORATE Details the department’s purpose, primary functions GOVERNANCE and objectives. Outlines the department’s clients and stakeholders as well as some key highlights during the Outlines the department’s culture, responsibilities and 2014-15 financial year. internal governance arrangements and reports on our corporate governance committees. Overview ............................................6 Corporate Governance .....................60 Chief Executive’s Foreword ................7 Highlights ..........................................8 Regional Highlights .........................10 Strategic Priorities for 2015-16 .......11 PART 5 | FINANCIAL Organisational Structure .................13 Reports on financial management including certification of the financial statements and audited financial statements. PART 2 | OUR PERFORMANCE Financial Statement Overview .........69 Financial Reports .............................74 Outlines performance and outputs against Budget Paper No.3 during the 2014-15 financial year. Performance Reporting ...................16 PART 6 | APPENDIX 1 Discloses detailed information adjunct to the main report. PART 3 | OUR PEOPLE Appendix 1 .....................................114 This section contains biographies and photos of the people who make up the department’s leadership team. It provides a staff overview and details the department’s human resource management, legislative requirements and formally acknowledges employee achievements. Our Leadership Team ......................42 Our People .......................................45 DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES | ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 4 OUR OUR CORPORATE CONTENTS OVERVIEW OUR PEOPLE FINANCIAL APPENDIX 1 1 2 PERFORMANCE 3 4 GOVERNANCE 5 6 OVERVIEW PART 1Details the department’s purpose, primary functions and objectives. Outlines the department’s clients and stakeholders as well as some key highlights during the 2014-15 financial year. DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES | ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 5 OUR OUR CORPORATE CONTENTS OVERVIEW OUR PEOPLE FINANCIAL APPENDIX 1 1 2 PERFORMANCE 3 4 GOVERNANCE 5 6 OVERVIEW Overview Our primary role is to build stronger regions and communities through Details the effective local government; to deliver and coordinate critical and essential department’s infrastructure projects and services to remote communities; and provide purpose, primary interpreting and translating services to support members of our community who speak a language other than English. functions and objectives. Outlines We are responsible for delivering an improved remote engagement model aimed at helping Aboriginal people and their communities realise the department’s their economic and social aspirations, including through the Community clients and Champions Program. We are responsible for promoting safety, equality and stakeholders as participation of women in the Territory, and improving Northern Territory well as some key men’s policy and services. highlights during the The Department of Local Government and Community Services is 2014-15 financial structured around four key divisions: Language and Business Services; Local Government; Strategy and Community Development; and the Office of year. Aboriginal Affairs. Our people We employ 600 people across the Northern Territory of which 48 per cent identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. Our clients Our Ministers Government agencies Non-government organisations Department of Local Government and Community Services staff Other government employees Regional and municipal councils Our stakeholders The Northern Territory community The Australian Government Other state and territory governments DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES | ANNUAL REPORT 2014-15 6 OUR OUR CORPORATE CONTENTS OVERVIEW OUR PEOPLE FINANCIAL APPENDIX 1 1 2 PERFORMANCE 3 4 GOVERNANCE 5 6 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S FOREWORD The Department of Local Government and Community Services has celebrated a number of achievements during the 2014-15 financial year and these are highlighted throughout this report. With plenty of departmental changes, 2014-15 has been a tough, challenging, yet rewarding year. Some key achievements we are While this annual report is for the single agency, the Department of Local particularly proud of include: Government and Community Services, we spent much of the year as two • ABC radio news bulletins distinct agencies, the Department of Local Government and Regions, and the recorded and transmitted Department of Community Services. Following changes to the Administration each weekday in two Arrangements Order on 12 December 2014 the departments joined as one Aboriginal languages: agency. This annual report provides details of activities of the stand-alone Warlpiri (Central agencies and the combined agency for the financial year 2014-15. Australia) and Yolngu Starting this financial year as recipients of shared corporate services Matha (East Arnhem provided by the Department of Housing after successful negotiations we region) established our own dedicated corporate services team that came into effect • the launch of the First on 1 December 2014 to provide in-house support. Circles Engagement Program in July 2014 in Another significant change within the department has been the Alice Springs establishment of the Office of Aboriginal Affairs that is responsible for driving Aboriginal policy reform to ensure policy issues are prioritised and • the department’s coordinated across government. response to the destructive cyclones Lam The department continues to play a key role in the development of regional and Nathan and remote Northern Territory, with responsibilities spanning municipal and essential services for homelands and outstations, essential services • the commencement for 72 remote communities, remote infrastructure coordination, remote of asbestos removal land tenure, local government for both municipal and regional councils, works that started remote engagement and coordination, and Aboriginal interpreting services in Ramingining in to improve communication for many Aboriginal residents living in remote September 2014 areas. • staff