AUSTRALIA:
Australian Government, Department of Finance and Deregulation
About the Department
As a central agency of the Australian Government, the Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) plays an important role in assisting government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met, particularly with regard to expenditure and financial management, deregulation reformand the operations of government.
Essential services delivered by Finance include supporting the delivery of the Australian Government Budget, the ongoing management of the Australian Government’s non-defence domestic property portfolio and key asset sales. Finance is also responsible for implementation of the Australian Government’s deregulation agenda and the financial framework for AustralianGovernment Agencies. Additionally, Finance provides entitlements advice and support to parliamentarians and their employees, maintains shareholder oversight for Government Business Enterprises (GBEs), provides general insurance services to government agencies and promotes improved risk management. Finance also provides strategic advice, guidance and service provision for the productive applicationof new and existing information and communication technologies to government operations.
David Tune is the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, having commenced on 31 August 2009.
He was previously the Associate Secretary, Domestic Policy Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Tune has worked in the Australian Public Service for around 30 years, in anumber of different agencies including the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of the Treasury.
Role
The Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) plays an important facilitation role at the centre of the Commonwealth Government. Finance helps the Government achieve its policy objectives by contributing to three key outcomes.
Following a review of agency outcomes in2008, Finance will report its activities against three key outcomes in 2009-10, replacing the four outcomes used by Finance in 2008-09.
* Outcome 1 – Informed decisions on Government finances and continuous improvement in regulation making through: budgetary management and advice; transparent financial reporting; a robust financial framework; and best practice regulatory processes.
*Outcome 2 – Improved Government administration and operations through, systems, policy and advice on: procurement; Commonwealth property management and construction; government enterprises; risk management; and application of information and communications technology.
* Outcome 3 – Support for Parliamentarians, others with entitlements and organisations as approved by Government through thedelivery of entitlements and targeted assistance.
Statement of Purpose
Finance’s statement of purpose is as follows:
«We provide high quality, strategic policy and financial advice to support government decision-making and improved Australian Government financial management.
We deliver professional support services to our Ministers, Parliamentarians and their staff, and the Government as a whole.»Better Regulation
The Government’s strong commitment to microeconomic reform includes an ambitious better regulation and redtape reduction agenda. Sustained regulatory reform supports increased productivity and international competitiveness, deepens the supply potential of the economy, drives the ability of the Australian economy to adapt more quickly, and raises the potential growth rate of theeconomy.
There are two broad spheres of activity supporting the Government’s regulatory reform agenda.
Deregulation Policy Division
The Australian Government has initiated reforms aimed at improving productivity and international competitiveness. An ambitious regulatory reform agenda is an integral part of these reforms. Addressing regulatory constraints and reducing the level of unnecessary or…