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PUBLIC GOVERNANCE, PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT 2013 (NO. 123, 2013) - NOTES

 

No. 123, 2013

 

 

 

 

 

An Act about the governance, performance and accountability of, and the use and management of public resources by, the Commonwealth, Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies, and for related purposes

  

  

  


Contents

Chapter 1--Introduction                                                                                       2

Part 1-1--Introduction                                                                                                       2

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                              2

1............ Short title............................................................................................. 2

2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2

3............ This Act binds the Crown................................................................... 3

4............ This Act extends to things outside Australia....................................... 3

Division 2--Objects of this Act                                                                               4

5............ Objects of this Act.............................................................................. 4

Division 3--Guide to this Act                                                                                   5

6............ Guide to this Act................................................................................. 5

Part 1-2--Definitions                                                                                                           9

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                                 9

7............ Guide to this Part................................................................................ 9

Division 2--The Dictionary                                                                                     10

8............ The Dictionary.................................................................................. 10

Chapter 2--Commonwealth entities and the Commonwealth          14

Part 2-1--Core provisions for this Chapter                                                        14

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               14

9............ Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 14

Division 2--Core provisions for this Chapter                                               15

10.......... Commonwealth entities..................................................................... 15

11.......... Types of Commonwealth entities...................................................... 15

12.......... Accountable authorities..................................................................... 15

13.......... Officials............................................................................................ 16

Part 2-2--Accountable authorities and officials                                               17

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               17

14.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 17

Division 2--Accountable authorities                                                                  18

Subdivision A--General duties of accountable authorities                           18

15.......... Duty to govern the Commonwealth entity......................................... 18

16.......... Duty to establish and maintain systems relating to risk and control.. 18

17.......... Duty to encourage cooperation with others....................................... 19

18.......... Duty in relation to requirements imposed on others.......................... 19

19.......... Duty to keep responsible Minister and Finance Minister informed... 19

Subdivision B--Rules about general duties of accountable authorities     20

20.......... Rules about general duties of accountable authorities........................ 20

Subdivision C--Application of government policy                                         20

21.......... Non-corporate Commonwealth entities............................................. 20

22.......... Corporate Commonwealth entities.................................................... 21

Subdivision D--Special provisions applying to accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities                                                                                                         21

23.......... Power in relation to arrangements..................................................... 21

24.......... Power to establish advisory boards................................................... 22

Division 3--Officials                                                                                                   23

Subdivision A--General duties of officials                                                       23

25.......... Duty of care and diligence................................................................. 23

26.......... Duty to act in good faith and for proper purpose.............................. 23

27.......... Duty in relation to use of position..................................................... 23

28.......... Duty in relation to use of information............................................... 23

29.......... Duty to disclose interests.................................................................. 24

Subdivision B--Provisions relating to general duties of officials               24

30.......... Termination of appointment for contravening general duties of officials  24

31.......... Interaction between Subdivision A and other laws........................... 25

Subdivision C--Officials to whom the Public Service Act or Parliamentary Service Act applies            26

32.......... Officials to whom the Public Service Act or Parliamentary Service Act applies      26

Part 2-3--Planning, performance and accountability                                   27

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               27

33.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 27

Division 2--Planning and budgeting                                                                   29

34.......... Key priorities and objectives of the Australian Government............. 29

35.......... Corporate plan for Commonwealth entities....................................... 29

36.......... Budget estimates for Commonwealth entities.................................... 30

Division 3--Performance of Commonwealth entities                                31

37.......... Records about performance of Commonwealth entities.................... 31

38.......... Measuring and assessing performance of Commonwealth entities... 31

39.......... Annual performance statements for Commonwealth entities............. 31

40.......... Audit of annual performance statements for Commonwealth entities 32

Division 4--Financial reporting and auditing for Commonwealth entities          33

41.......... Accounts and records for Commonwealth entities............................ 33

42.......... Annual financial statements for Commonwealth entities................... 33

43.......... Audit of annual financial statements for Commonwealth entities...... 34

44.......... Audit of subsidiary's financial statements......................................... 35

Division 5--Audit committee for Commonwealth entities                      37

45.......... Audit committee for Commonwealth entities.................................... 37

Division 6--Annual report for Commonwealth entities                           38

46.......... Annual report for Commonwealth entities........................................ 38

Division 7--Whole-of-government financial reporting                            39

47.......... Monthly financial reports.................................................................. 39

48.......... Annual consolidated financial statements.......................................... 39

49.......... Audit of annual consolidated financial statements............................. 39

Part 2-4--Use and management of public resources                                     41

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               41

50.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 41

Division 2--Funding and expenditure                                                                43

51.......... Making amounts appropriated available to Commonwealth entities.. 43

52.......... Commitment and expenditure of relevant money.............................. 43

Division 3--Banking                                                                                                    44

53.......... Banking by the Commonwealth........................................................ 44

54.......... Banking by corporate Commonwealth entities.................................. 44

55.......... Banking of relevant money by Ministers and officials...................... 44

Division 4--Borrowing                                                                                              46

56.......... Borrowing by the Commonwealth.................................................... 46

57.......... Borrowing by corporate Commonwealth entities.............................. 46

Division 5--Investment                                                                                              47

58.......... Investment by the Commonwealth.................................................... 47

59.......... Investment by corporate Commonwealth entities.............................. 48

Division 6--Indemnities, guarantees, warranties and insurance        49

60.......... Indemnities, guarantees or warranties by the Commonwealth........... 49

61.......... Indemnities, guarantees or warranties by corporate Commonwealth entities            49

62.......... Insurance obtained by corporate Commonwealth entities.................. 49

Division 7--Waivers, set-offs and act of grace payments                      50

63.......... Waiver of amounts owing to the Commonwealth............................. 50

64.......... Setting off amounts owed to, and by, the Commonwealth................ 50

65.......... Act of grace payments by the Commonwealth.................................. 50

Division 8--Special provisions applying to Ministers and certain officials         52

Subdivision A--Gifts of relevant property                                                        52

66.......... Gifts of relevant property.................................................................. 52

Subdivision B--Liability of Ministers and certain officials for unauthorised gifts and loss     52

67.......... Liability for unauthorised gifts of relevant property.......................... 52

68.......... Liability for loss--custody................................................................ 52

69.......... Liability for loss--misconduct.......................................................... 53

70.......... Provisions relating to liability of Ministers and officials................... 54

Division 9--Special provisions applying to Ministers only                     55

71.......... Approval of proposed expenditure by a Minister.............................. 55

72.......... Minister to inform Parliament of certain events................................. 55

Part 2-5--Appropriations                                                                                               57

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               57

73.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 57

Division 2--Appropriations relating to non-corporate Commonwealth entities and the Commonwealth                                                                                                                      58

74.......... Receipts of amounts by non-corporate Commonwealth entities........ 58

75.......... Transfers of functions between non-corporate Commonwealth entities 58

76.......... Notional payments and receipts by non-corporate Commonwealth entities              60

77.......... Repayments by the Commonwealth.................................................. 60

Division 3--Special accounts                                                                                  61

78.......... Establishment of special accounts by the Finance Minister............... 61

79.......... Disallowance of determinations relating to special accounts............. 62

80.......... Special accounts established by other Acts....................................... 62

Part 2-6--Cooperating with other jurisdictions                                                64

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               64

81.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 64

Division 2--Cooperating with other jurisdictions                                       65

82.......... Sharing information with other jurisdictions..................................... 65

83.......... Auditing by State and Territory Auditors-General............................ 65

Part 2-7--Companies, subsidiaries and new corporate Commonwealth entities                67

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               67

84.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 67

Division 2--Companies and subsidiaries                                                          68

Subdivision A--The Commonwealth's involvement in companies             68

85.......... The Commonwealth's involvement in companies............................. 68

Subdivision B--Subsidiaries of corporate Commonwealth entities            68

86.......... Subsidiaries of corporate Commonwealth entities............................. 68

Division 3--New corporate Commonwealth entities                                 69

87.......... Establishing new corporate Commonwealth entities......................... 69

Chapter 3--Commonwealth companies                                              71

Part 3-1--General                                                                                                                71

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               71

88.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 71

Division 2--Core provisions for this Chapter                                               72

89.......... Commonwealth companies............................................................... 72

90.......... Wholly-owned Commonwealth companies....................................... 73

Division 3--Special requirements for wholly-owned Commonwealth companies            74

91.......... Duty to keep the responsible Minister and Finance Minister informed 74

92.......... Audit committee................................................................................ 75

93.......... Application of government policy..................................................... 75

Part 3-2--Planning and accountability                                                                   76

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               76

94.......... Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 76

Division 2--Planning and budgeting                                                                   77

95.......... Corporate plan for Commonwealth companies................................. 77

96.......... Budget estimates for wholly-owned Commonwealth companies...... 77

Division 3--Reporting and accountability                                                      79

97.......... Annual reports for Commonwealth companies................................. 79

98.......... Auditor of Commonwealth companies.............................................. 80

99.......... Audit of subsidiary's financial statements......................................... 80

Chapter 4--Rules, delegations and independent review    82

Part 4-1--The rules                                                                                                             82

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               82

100........ Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 82

Division 2--The rules                                                                                                 83

101........ The rules........................................................................................... 83

102........ Rules relating to the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities.... 83

103........ Rules relating to the Commonwealth and non-corporate Commonwealth entities    84

104........ Rules modifying the application of this Act...................................... 84

105........ Rules in relation to other CRF money............................................... 85

Part 4-2--Delegations                                                                                                        86

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               86

106........ Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 86

Division 2--Delegations                                                                                            87

107........ Finance Minister............................................................................... 87

108........ Treasurer........................................................................................... 88

109........ Finance Secretary.............................................................................. 89

110........ Accountable authority....................................................................... 90

Part 4-3--Independent review                                                                                     93

Division 1--Guide to this Part                                                                               93

111........ Guide to this Part.............................................................................. 93

Division 2--Independent review                                                                           94

112........ Independent review........................................................................... 94

 


 

 

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

No. 123, 2013

 

 

 

An Act about the governance, performance and accountability of, and the use and management of public resources by, the Commonwealth, Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies, and for related purposes

[Assented to 29 June 2013]

 

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

 

[Minister's second reading speech made in--

House of Representatives on 16 May 2013

Senate on 19 June 2013]

 

(117/13)

 



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