In 2017-18 CMTEDD continued to support the Chief Minister, Cabinet and its subcommittees providing high level strategic advice to fulfil their obligations and effectively manage the ACT’s relationships with the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and a number of intergovernmental committees and fora, including Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
CMTEDD coordinated the ACT Government’s response to the recommendations of the final Report, Working with Children Checks, Redress and Civil Litigating and the Criminal Justice Reports of the Royal Commission into Institutional Response to Child Sexual Abuse.
The directorate lead and delivered several projects to support important new, or amendments to existing, legislation and schemes including:
- the WoG preparations for the Open Access Information Scheme under the FOI Act 2016, including delivery of the Open Access Information web page;
- supported the introduction of amendments to the Ombudsman Act 1989 to improve information-sharing to ensure child protection, law enforcement and oversight bodies have access to the information they need to be effective in dealing with child welfare and safety concerns;
- implementation of the Reportable Conduct Scheme (including consequential amendments to the Ombudsman Act) which will provide independent oversight, through the ACT Ombudsman, of the way Canberra's workplaces report, investigate and handle allegations of misconduct involving children; and
- the successful delivery of the ACT Government’s pilot deliberative democracy process; a citizens’ jury on the Compulsory Third Party (CTP) Insurance Scheme. CMTEDD increased the number of digital services to 330 that are now available through Access Canberra. Canberrans now have easier and simpler access to information and range of services including: land titles (through a new online portal); fair trading; Justices of the Peace; and operational licences. Access Canberra’s shopfronts and contact centre recorded more than 1 million visits, while the Access Canberra website recorded more than 3 million visits. Access Canberra continued to keep the community safe through its regulatory functions including the inspection of vehicles, plumbing and gas installations, and worksites and workplaces (WorkSafe ACT).
CMTEDD announced the ACT Centre for Data Excellence, to assist directorates to increase the use of data to inform policies and improve services. In May 2018, the ACT Digital Account was released. Available as both a browser experience via www.myaccount.act.gov.au and as a mobile app, the account enables citizens to engage and customise their interaction with government across a growing range of services, by verifying their identity using a single username and password.
The directorate supported the Government’s commitment to grow and diversify the ACT economy in several key sector capabilities, including: Space and Spatial Technology; Cyber Security; ICT and e-Government; Sport Technology; Health Innovation; Agriculture and Environmental Sciences. This included funding of $750,000 to support industry access to the Australian National Space Test Facilities and the ACT Centre for Entrepreneurial Agri-technology. In addition, CMTEDD will continue to maximise opportunities within the Defence sector through the work of the Defence Industry Advocate and the Defence Industry Advisory Board.
CMTEDD managed the ACT Government’s branding including social media accounts, and WoG media monitoring and strengthened its engagement with the community through the delivery of a WoG Communications & Engagement Strategy. The strategy set the priorities for key public information activities and opportunities for the community to engage in conversations with us. The Canberra community was kept well informed via the Our Canberra Newsletter (online and print) distributed to 180,000 households, and more than 47,000 subscribers.
Canberra continues to attract tourism and is in a strong position to achieving its tourism 2020 target of growing overnight visitation to $2.5 billion by 2020. The directorate, through VisitCanberra, achieved significant aviation outcomes for Canberra with the expansion of international flights in and out of Canberra which is now a globally connected city. Canberra International Airport now has 14 international flights per week landing from both Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, increasing international visitors to Canberra by 16.9%. Domestic aviation was also improved with enhanced services provided by Tigerair, including a new service to Brisbane and increased frequency of the Melbourne service. Domestic overnight visitors grew 10.6% to the year ending December 2017.
Lonely Planet announced that Canberra was ranked third in their top cities to visit list in 2018. This provided a unique opportunity to raise awareness of Canberra as a tourism destination and drive overnight visitation from key markets.
CMTEDD supported, hosted and delivered a range of entertainment, community activities, celebratory and sporting events at various venues, including: Floriade; Enlighten; the Rugby League World Cup 2017; ICC World Twenty20 2020 Cricket (WT20 2020); Canberra Nara Candle Festival; New Year’s Eve; Australia Day celebrations; Symphony in the Park; Canberra Day celebrations; Reconciliation Day; the Canberra Balloon Spectacular; and the Lights! Canberra! Action! film festival. Thirty-five high profile matches were held at GIO Stadium and Manuka Oval attracting over 336,000 patrons, while Stromlo Forest Park, and EPIC hosted 239 events, and the National Arboretum Canberra also attracted significant numbers.
The attendance and economic impact of these events is significant. Floriade recorded an overall attendance of 434,414 over 30 days generating over $37.4 million, and Enlighten recorded an overall attendance over 17 days of 319,622, generating $4.4 million. All other events were well attended, with both local and international visitors contributing to Canberra’s economy.
The directorate, through artsACT, contributed to the development and implementation of ACT Arts Policy though the release of the Social Inclusion in the Arts Plan, which will inform future improvement and access to arts events and programs. In addition, the directorate finalised a number of activities throughout 2017-18, including: the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Consultation Report and the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts Action Plan; new Arts Activities funding (allowing greater flexibility for artists); a new three year funding agreement with the Australian National University (ANU) School of Music and School of Art and Design for 2018-2020; and initiation of the Canberra Wellington Indigenous Artists Exchange pilot in collaboration with the Wellington City Council.
CMTEDD progressed the Women in Trades Grants Program to deliver funded projects targeting the increase in uptake of women into male dominated trades. The ACT became a signatory to National Partnership on the Skilling Australians Fund, providing access to approximately $20.4 million of Australian Government funding for vocational education and training over the life of the agreement, with a particular focus on apprenticeships and traineeships.
The directorate continued to develop and implement strategies to improve the ACTPS including; the development of a Whole of Government, ‘Culture READY’ strategy to support positive workplace culture, and the development and implementation of the ACT Government Veterans Employment Strategy and Veterans page on the ACTPS Employment Portal. CMTEDD also held the first Disability Employment Service (DES) Provider Expo in August 2017, which aimed to link members of the community and new school leavers with Local providers that support the employment of people with disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Shared Services delivered quality outcomes through continued innovation and improvements in service delivery including:
- the automation of invoicing across Government, which resulted in over 76% of invoices being paid through the system, with 95% of those paid within 28 days, an increase in performance of 10% on last year;
- the launch of the new WoG Shared Services Website that provides quicker and easier access to corporate information, products, and service, resulting in the reduction in printing and paper forms; and
- winning the category of Excellence in Process Improvement and Innovation at the 2018 Shared Services & Outsourcing Network (SSON) Excellence Awards.
CMTEDD led innovative and best practice in procurement, planning, and financing for the delivery of Territory infrastructure. Early engagement across government was key to planning and delivery of the Territory’s Capital Works program. The directorate also provided expert advice on Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) worth $1.5 billion in total, including the ACT Law Courts project and the Light Rail Stage 1, and managed over $400 million in Territory Capital Works annually.
The directorate, under the Smarter Government Spending initiative, announced in the 2017-18 Budget, will better coordinate its property custodianship through consolidation of the management of non-specialised property. It achieved this through a partnership approach with other directorates to identify efficiencies.
Work also commenced on two new office buildings in Civic and Dickson that will accommodate 1,900 staff and enable the implementation of the ACT Government’s hub and spoke model of WoG accommodation strategy. Early works and excavation has commenced on both sites. Both projects are on track for completion in 2020.
CMTEDD delivered and implemented the Contractor Central portal, which provides improved governance, compliance, and reporting by allowing Managers across government to quickly recruit and manage labour hire, streamlining business processes and improving transparency. Staff are engaged through a single system providing a consistency and effective management of contracted workers. It also provides competitive pricing through the NSW Contingent Workforce Scheme, and has a focus on providing local industry with more opportunity to do business with the ACT Government. This initiative has saved the ACT Government over $4 million and consolidated over $45 million in annual spending, along with budget savings. There are currently 44 suppliers pre-qualified to supply the ACT Government and over 370 workers engaged.
CMTEDD, through the Treasury, has continued to enhance the Territory’s budget management, including finalising the implementation of a whole of government initiative, the Government Budget Management System. Additionally, Treasury prepared the Territory’s Consolidated 2016-17 Annual Financial Statements, the 2017-18 Budget Review and the 2018-19 Budget, consistent with legislative requirements and timeframes.