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

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

Commonwealth Numbered Acts

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