David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I move amendment (1) on sheet 1734:

(1) Schedule 1, page 14 (after line 7), after item 71, insert:

71A At the end of Division 2 of Part 3

Add:

26A Annual report regarding arrangements and grants

(1) The Emergency Management Minister must cause to be prepared, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, an annual report on the exercise of the Minister's functions and powers under section 20 (which deals with arrangements and grants) during the year.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), the report must include the following in relation to each process by which a decision was made during the year to make one or more section 20 arrangements or section 20 grants:

(a) details of how the process was conducted;

(b) for each arrangement or grant that was made as a result of the process:

(i) the name of the person (other than an individual) or body with or to which the arrangement or grant was made; and

(ii) details of the arrangement or grant made;

(c) for each person or body that, as part of the process, made an unsuccessful application (however described) for an arrangement or grant:

(i) the name of the person (other than an individual) or body; and

(ii) details of the arrangement or grant applied for.

(3) However, information described in paragraph (2)(c) can only be included in the report if the person or body that made the unsuccessful application provides their agreement in writing.

(4) The Emergency Management Minister must cause a copy of the report to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the end of the financial year to which the report relates.

26B Review of arrangements and grants

(1) The Emergency Management Minister must cause an independent review of the following matters to be undertaken before the fifth anniversary of the commencement of this section:

(a) the section 20 arrangements and section 20 grants that have been made, including their purposes and the payments made in relation to them;

(b) the appropriateness of the processes by which decisions to make or not to make such arrangements and grants have been made, taking into account the information reported under section 26A;

(c) the implementation of any guidelines for making decisions of that kind, and compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and instruments made under that Act in relation to those decisions;

(d) whether any additional measures should be taken (including amendments of this Act) to improve transparency relating to decisions of that kind, and if so what those measures should be.

(2) The person or persons who conduct the review must:

(a) give the Emergency Management Minister a written report of the review; and

(b) do so before the fifth anniversary of the commencement of this section.

(3) The Emergency Management Minister must cause a copy of:

(a) the terms of reference for the review; and

(b) the report of the review;

to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the report is given to the Minister.

(4) The Emergency Management Minister must also cause a copy of the terms of reference and report to be published on the NEMA's website as soon as practicable after the report is given to the Minister.