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Chapter 1

OVERVIEW

A review by our Chief Executives of our performance during 2005–06, the corporate governance and accountability structures defining the way that we do business, details of our financial performance, and achievements from key support areas.

Accountability

Responsiveness to Ministers

2005–06 saw the introduction of new feedback and reporting mechanisms on our responsiveness to Ministers. This has resulted in better monthly reporting to the Defence Committee on Defence's performance in meeting the provision of high quality, coordinated advice to the Ministers and the Parliamentary Secretary.

Defence provided its Ministers and Parliamentary Secretary with 5,958 submissions or briefs during 2005–06, a 12 per cent increase on the previous year.

Some 8,300 items of ministerial correspondence were referred to Defence during the year. The increased operational tempo across Defence, and prominence of Defence issues in the media, translated to an increase in the number of letters requiring complex or coordinated responses. As a result, the percentage of responses completed on time fell in 2005–06 to 65 per cent.

Table 1.1 Ministerial Correspondence and Advice
Types of Advice/Correspondence 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06
Submissions and briefs 4,250 5,093 5,308 5,958
Ministerial correspondence dispatched(1) 4,207 3,342 4,842 4,863
Percentage of responses completed on time(2) 83% 77% 70% 65%

Notes:

  1. The Defence Annual Report 2004–05 erroneously included figures for correspondence received rather than dispatched.
  2. Standard time for Ministerial correspondence is two weeks.

During the year, 65 Cabinet Submissions or Memoranda were provided to Cabinet or its National Security Committee.

As well, Defence received 217 parliamentary questions on notice, and published 214 responses in Hansard. In addition, 18 questions from the Senate were transferred to other portfolios. Defence also responded to 211 questions on notice from members of parliamentary committees.

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