Appendix 2 - Statement of Corporate Governance
The policy management, performance and strategies of the Attorney General’s Department are co-ordinated by the Director General reporting to the Attorney General, the Honourable R J Debus, MP.
The Department is structured into a number of business units reflecting the core responsibilities of the Department’s service provision to the NSW legal system. The Department has grouped the units into programs to focus operations and planning. Each unit is headed by a Business Centre manager. The executive team meets on a regular basis to plan and monitor the Department’s performance.
Commitment to Best Practice
The Department has a commitment to achieve best practice in corporate governance and, in particular, to the establishment and communication of corporate strategies, to ensure that the Department’s actions conform with legal and other requirements, and that finances and other resources are well controlled. As part of the best practice approach I introduced regular senior management meetings to provide updates on operational and management issues including audit matters and comments on financial reports. The Department’s internal auditors are periodically invited to attend these meetings.
Statement of Financial Performance
The 2000-01 financial year will see the introduction of a Service and Resource Allocation Agreement (SRAA) between the Department and NSW Treasury. The SRAA will provide a framework within which future decision-making can be made and will establish performance targets for the Department.
The results of the Department will be monitored by the NSW Treasury on a quarterly basis.
Financial Reporting and Internal Controls
The Department has a three-year internal audit plan, which is reviewed and updated each year. The current plan has been extended for a further twelve months and covers the period up to April 2001. It has both a financial and operational emphasis and is prepared and monitored by the Department’s internal auditors, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Key areas of activity covered under the three-year plan include information technology systems, contract management and tendering, product sales and levy of fees, corporate and business planning, and performance management systems.
The Department has established an Audit Committee comprising three senior managers and myself. The Committee meets quarterly to review progress against the Audit Plan, audit findings, recommendations and management responses.
A system to follow up the implementation of audit recommendations has been introduced.
As part of the Internal Audit Plan, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu conducted a follow-up review of the 1998/1999 internal audits for the purpose of gaining reasonable assurance that the recommendations highlighted in these audits were responded to in an appropriate manner. The review demonstrated that all major recommendations were implemented or being implemented by Management.
At the end of each financial year I issue a questionnaire to all cost centre managers seeking their assurances on a range of issues associated with the preparation of the Department’s financial statements and internal controls.
Risk Management
The Department has undertaken a review of its internal controls and risk management based on NSW Treasury’s Risk Management Framework and has developed an action plan to further focus the Department’s staff on the need to manage business risk in an efficient and effective manner.
The key deliverables will be:
· Better allocation of resources;
· Increased performance leading to achievement of corporate objectives with less risk;
· More streamlined systems and processes; and
· Increased understanding that risk management is each staff member’s responsibility.
Standards of Behaviour
The Department ensures that its staff adheres to its Code of Conduct.
In addition, the Department has developed a best practice fraud and corruption prevention strategy. These documents cover such matters as relations with the public, Government and fellow staff, public comment, fairness and equity, the use of confidential information, the disclosure of financial and other private interests and relations with the Ombudsman and the independent Commission Against Corruption.
Statement of Responsibility
The Director General, senior management and other employees have put in place an internal control process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of the Department’s objectives. The internal audit function conducts a program of review to assess these controls. The Department has recently commenced implementation of the Control Self-Assessment to enable improved management of risks within the Department and to increase staff awareness.
To the best of my knowledge, this system of internal control has continued to operate satisfactorily during the financial year ended 30 June 2000.
Laurie Glanfield
Director General
information current as of: 13 February 2012