ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 2012-2013 OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY THE LEGISLATIVE OFFICE OF 2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY 2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Scan with a compatible mobile phone to visit our website ISSN 1036-4390 (Print) ISSN 1835-0569 (Online) © Office of the Legislative Assembly This publication is subject to copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 2003, no part of it may in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to the publishers. First published September 2013 Published in Australia by the Office of the Legislative Assembly Office of the Legislative Assembly Civic Square, London Circuit Canberra ACT 2601 Australia Telephone 6205 0439 Facsimile 6205 3106 Email – [email protected] Web – www.parliament.act.gov.au Produced by: ACT Government Publishing Services Publication No 131004 Printed on 100% recycled paper ii Office of the Legislative AssemblyAnnual Report 2012–2013 TRANSMITTAL CERTIFICATE Vicki Dunne MLA Speaker Legislative Assembly for the ACT Civic Square London Circuit Canberra ACT 2601 Dear Madam Speaker, I am pleased to submit to you this annual report on the activities of the Office of the Legislative Assembly for the period 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013. I certify that the attached annual report is an honest and accurate account of the operations of the Office during this period. Tom Duncan Clerk Legislative Assembly for the ACT September 2013 Office of the Legislative AssemblyAnnual Report 2012–2013 iii CONTENTS Transmittal certificate iii Annual reports referred to Assembly Committees 16 The Clerk’s overview 2012-2013 vi Establishment of Select Committee on New Legislative framework vi Estimates 2013-14 – Leader of Opposition Organisational review and restructure vi elected as chair 16 New Assembly website vi Appointment of Ethics and Integrity Adviser for the eighth Assembly 16 Records and information system (OLARIS) vi Statement by chair of the public accounts Community radio vi committee concerning statutory appointments 16 Library services vii Assembly passes executive member’s bill 16 2012-2013 at a glance viii Number of ministers in the Territory 17 The year ahead ix Resignation of member and announcement Second edition of Companion to the of new member 17 Standing Orders ix Assembly hosts 44th Presiding Officers Strategic planning ix and Clerks Conference 17 Communications planning ix Interparliamentary activities 18 Audio visual services ix Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 18 Assembly website: further development x Kiribati twinning arrangement 18 Wireless connectivity x Structure and format of Presiding Officers Section A – Performance reporting 1 and Clerks Conference (POCC) 19 The organisation 2 Financial report and management discussion Role of the Office 2 and analysis 19 Office’s approach 3 Analysis of the Office’s performance 19 Office goals 3 Goal 1 – Improve services to the Assembly and Structure 3 its committees 19 Organisational structure 6 Goal2 – Enhance accountability and Assembly proceedings 7 governance arrangements 22 Chamber proceedings 7 Goal 3 – Build more effective mechanisms for public engagement 24 Assembly committees 7 Goal 4 – Work towards an environmentally Procedural digest 12 sustainable Assembly 29 Apology for forced adoption practices 12 Goal 5 – Maintain a highly skilled, satisfied and Investigation by Ombudsman 12 committed workforce 30 Consideration of statutory appointments by Section B - Consultation and scrutiny reporting 33 Assembly committees – confidentiality Internal and external scrutiny 34 and reporting requirements 13 Legislative Assembly committee reports 36 Review of the Assembly’s constitution Size of the Assembly 13 Legislation report 37 Eighth Assembly elected 14 Section C – Legislative and policy based reporting 37 Election of opposition MLA as Speaker 14 Risk management and internal audit 38 New Assembly committees established with equal numbers 15 Risk management 38 Changes to Standing Orders – Executive Internal audit 38 members business and 24 hours notice for Fraud prevention 39 amendments 15 Public interest disclosure 39 New continuing resolution – Independence Freedom of information 40 of the Assembly from religious faith 15 Section 7 statement 40 iv Office of the Legislative AssemblyAnnual Report 2012–2013 Section 8 statement 43 Eighth Assembly 93 Section 79 statement 44 Summary of committee statistics 1989—2013 95 Internal accountability 44 Summary of committee statistics 1989 - 2013 95 Human resource performance 45 Appendix 10 – Hansard and transcription 101 Members’ staff employment 46 Appendix 11 – Broadcasting and IT 104 Staffing profile 47 Broadcasting & IT related activity 104 Learning and development 49 Internet and intranet activity 105 Workplace health and safety 50 Appendix 12 – Library and reference services 107 Workplace relations 51 Library services 107 Strategic asset management 51 Reference and information services 108 The Assembly Building 52 Appendix 13 – Members of the Seventh and Capital upgrade funding and expenditure 52 Eighth Assemblies 109 Chamber roof replacement 52 Members of the Seventh Assembly 109 Asset maintenance and repairs 53 Members of the Eighth Assembly 110 Office accommodation 54 Appendix 14 – Office holders of the Seventh and Eighth Assemblies 111 Additions and deletions 55 Seventh Assembly 111 Territory records 56 Eighth Assembly 111 Human Rights Act 57 Appendix 15 – Ministers of the Seventh and Sustainable development 57 Eighth Assemblies 112 Water consumption 57 Third Gallagher Ministry (23 November 2011) 112 Electricity consumption 57 Fourth Gallagher Ministry (8 November 2012) 112 Gas consumption 57 Fifth Gallagher Ministry (10 November 2012) 113 Waste 57 Appendix 16 – Remuneration of MLAs 114 Transport energy 57 Appendix 17 – Visits by members and Appendices 65 parliamentary officers from other legislatures, Appendix 1 – Sitting days 66 delegations and others 115 Appendix 2 – Proceedings 67 Appendix 18 - Non-executive members’ staff Appendix 3 – Minutes of proceedings 68 employment 116 Appendix 4 – Bills and amendments 69 Appendix 19 – Administrative support for Bills 69 the Assembly branch of the Commonwealth Amendments circulated 69 Parliamentary Association 2012 - 13 119 Appendix 5 – Bills presented 70 Appendix 20 – Education program 121 Appendix 6 – Questions with and without notice 71 Appendix 21 – Results of members survey 122 Appendix 7 – Chamber support timeliness Appendix 22 – Financial statements and performance 72 management discussion and analysis 123 Appendix 8– Committees – Seventh and Eighth Discussion and analysis 123 Assemblies 73 Seventh Assembly 73 Eighth Assembly 84 Appendix 9 – Committee statistics – Seventh and Eighth Assemblies 92 Seventh Assembly 92 Office of the Legislative AssemblyAnnual Report 2012–2013 v THE CLERK’S OVERVIEW 2012-2013 New Legislative framework On 1 July 2012 the Legislative Assembly (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2012 commenced. For the first time in the Assembly’s history, the primary support agency of the legislature performed its functions under a stand-alone statutory framework. More details on the operation of the new Act are included later in this report. Organisational review and restructure During the year, the newly formed Office of the Legislative Assembly (the Office) undertook a wide-ranging review of its organisational structure to consider options for improving its service capabilities, governance and accountability. Following the review and an extensive staff consultation process, a number of significant organisational changes were introduced, which came into effect on 2 April 2013. More information on the scope and nature of the changes is included in Section A of this report. New Assembly website The Assembly launched a new website on 30 April 2013. The site has been well received, both by the community and by users within the Legislative Assembly. In general, feedback suggests that people using the site have found it easy to navigate, and to find specific information. Further suggestions for improvement, such as the addition of a customised search engine, will be considered in future upgrade projects. Records and information system (OLARIS) The Office introduced its records and information management system (OLARIS) on 3 September 2012. The system is based on TRIM and includes a Diem Portal interface to make it intuitive and easy to use. OLARIS has received widespread acceptance within the Office, and as at 30 June 2013, 4,909 documents had been captured electronically. Community radio In May 2013, the Speaker wrote to all community radio stations offering them the opportunity to replay Assembly question times and adjournment debates, to complement the current rebroadcasts by a local community radio station. Three stations have expressed interest and, at the time of reporting, the Office was investigating ways of allowing community radio stations automated access to the proceedings from the Assembly website. vi Office of the Legislative AssemblyAnnual Report 2012–2013 Library services Management of the Assembly Library was transferred from the Department of Territory and Municipal Services to the Legislative Assembly on 1 July 2009.