2015

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ANNUAL REPORT (GOVERNMENT AGENCIES) BILL 2014
GOVERNMENT AMENDMENT

SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Presented by
Mr Andrew Barr MLA
Chief Minister

ANNUAL REPORTS (GOVERNMENT AGENCIES) AMENDMENT BILL 2014

Supplementary Explanatory Statement
This explanatory statement relates to six amendments to the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Amendment Bill 2014 as introduced in the Legislative Assembly. 

Overview of Amendments
These amendments provide clarity to Government Agencies on aspects of producing Annual Reports as recommended by the Inquiry into Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Amendment Bill 2014 by the Standing Committee on Public Accounts.
These Government amendments are minor and technical in nature.

Amendment 1 (Clause 5 Page 5, line 7—); Amendment 2 (Clauses 6 and 7 Page 5, line 12—) Amendment 3 (Clause 8 Page 6, line 1—); Amendment 4 (Clause 9 Page 6, line 8—) 

Amendments 1-4 relate to changes to the Bill previously circulated in respect of the timeframe by which Responsible Ministers, Government Agencies, Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly must present, or request extension of time to present, Annual Reports. 

The bill previously circulated provided for a period of 4 months from the end of the financial year. Amendments 1- 4 provide for a period of 15 weeks.

Amendments 1 and 4 provide clarification of arrangements for tabling Annual reports in an election year. 
 
Amendments 5 
Amendment 5 (Schedule 1, clause 1.16 Page 11, line 16) relates to the requirement for the ACT Gambling and Racing Commission to report its findings from gaming law inquiries in the applicable annual report. Amendment 5 omits the omission in the version of the Bill previously presented and ensures that this provision will remain in the Gambling and Racing Control Act 1999. 

Amendment 6 
Amendment 6 (Schedule 1, proposed new part 1.19A Page 13, line 11—) relates to the requirement for entities to report on Public Interest Disclosures under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012. The amendment omits this requirement from the primary legislation with these provisions to be captured in the Annual Reports (Government Agencies) Amendment Bill 2014 and the Annual Report Directions.