Prime Minister and Cabinet

Auditing — increased activity

The Government will provide $3.5 million over four years to enable the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) to meet new requirements under the Australian Equivalents to the International Financial Reporting Standards, increase auditing of the Department of Defence (Defence) and audit the arrangements associated with the newly created Future Fund.

This measure includes funding of $0.9 million in 2005-06 for increased Defence auditing. These expenses have already been included in the budget estimates.

The funding will be partially recovered through increased revenue from fee-paying Australian Government entities totalling $0.4 million over four years from 2006-07.

Australian Public Service — employment portal and induction

The Government will provide $1.9 million over four years to develop an online Australian Public Service (APS) employment portal and a programme to improve the induction of employees into the APS.

The new portal will enhance the existing online APS Gazette. The interactive website will enable potential applicants to view and apply for APS positions.

The measure includes $0.5 million in capital funding in 2006-07 for IT infrastructure.

Australian Public Service — strategy for employment of people with a disability

The Government will provide $0.3 million in 2006-07 to enable an evaluation of current strategies used by Australian Public Service (APS) agencies to attract, recruit and retain people with disabilities, and to prepare practical guidance for APS agencies to help improve their performance in these areas. The guidance will help remove barriers to employment and provide support to agencies and employees to maximise the contribution of people with a disability in the APS.

Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management — conference

The Government will provide $0.4 million in 2006-07 to enable Australia to host the 2006 biennial conference of the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management.

The conference will bring together delegates from public sectors across the Commonwealth to canvass ways to improve public administration.

Council of Australian Governments — supporting its agenda

The Government will provide $17.5 million over two years from 2006-07 to undertake new initiatives arising from the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in February 2006. This measure includes capital funding of $0.2 million in 2006-07 for IT equipment for the Department of the Treasury.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is taking the lead on work covering the National Reform Agenda, therapeutic cloning and pandemic preparedness. Additional funding will also be provided to support PM&C in providing the secretariat to COAG and its work on the National Water and Living Murray initiatives.

The Department of the Treasury will be working on the National Reform Agenda including taking the lead on several working groups.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources will provide secretariat support for work on implementation arrangements for further reforms to the energy market.

The Department of Transport and Regional Services will coordinate a review into urban congestion focussing on national freight corridors.