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Outcome 2
RESOURCES FOR OUTCOME
|
(1) Budget |
(2) Actual 2003-04 |
Variation (column 2 minus column 1) |
Budget | |
|
Administered expenses |
63 151 |
54 289 |
(8 862) |
16 563 |
|
Total administered expenses |
63 151 |
54 289 |
(8 862) |
16 563 |
|
Price of departmental outputs | ||||
|
Output 2.1 Policy advice, program management and agency support in relation to sports, anti-doping and industry development measures which support the Australian sports sector |
3 805 |
3 636 |
(169) |
6 056 |
|
Revenue from Government |
3 291 |
3 083 |
(208) |
5 586 |
|
Revenue from other sources |
514 |
553 |
39 |
470 |
|
Total price of outputs |
3 805 |
3 636 |
(169) |
6 056 |
|
TOTAL FOR OUTCOME 2 |
66 956 |
57 925 |
(9 031) |
22 619 |
|
2003-04 |
2004-05 | |||
|
Average staffing level |
21 |
34 | ||
7 Budget estimates are as at 2004-05 Portfolio Budget Statements.
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION INDEX
|
Annual report page reference |
PBS page reference | |
|
Outcome 2 Development of a stronger and internationally competitive Australian sport sector and encouragement of greater participation in sport by all Australians |
62 |
55 |
|
Administered items | ||
|
Water and Alpine Safety |
65 |
55 |
|
Sports and Recreation Program (Anti-Doping) |
66 |
55 |
|
Australian Government assistance to stage the Deaflympic Games |
67 |
54(PAES) |
|
Output 2.1 Policy advice, program management and agency support in relation to sports, anti-doping and industry development measures which support the Australian sports sector |
68 |
56 |
ACHIEVEMENT OF OUTCOME
Development of a stronger and internationally competitive Australian sports sector and encouragement of greater participation in sport by all Australians
Australian Government appropriations to the sports sector totalled almost $189 million. Around $126 million of this was allocated to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to develop an effective national sports system, strengthen Australia's high performance sports system and offer improved participation in quality sporting activities. More than $6 million was allocated to the Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA) to deter the use of banned doping practices through testing, education and advocacy services and coordination of the national anti-doping program.
The remaining $57 million was appropriated to the Department. The Department provides policy advice, program management and agency support on sport, anti-doping, industry development and major event support and coordination. The Department works closely with the ASC and ASDA on those issues, such as anti-doping, where each has specific and distinct functional responsibilities. Program funds administered by the Department included Australian Government assistance to the M2006 Commonwealth Games, Water and Alpine Safety and the Anti-Doping Research programs.
In 2003-04, the adoption and implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code) was a priority for governments and members of the sports movement from around the world. Governments commenced negotiations through the United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to move from the non-binding Copenhagen Declaration to an international convention through which governments would commit to their obligations under the Code. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) changed its emphasis from development of the Code to implementation of the Code and monitoring adherence to the Code. The Department assisted WADA in the preparation of a new strategic plan reflecting this changed emphasis.
As with the Sydney 2000 Games, the Victorian Government and the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games (M2006 Games) Corporation, which is organising the staging of the Games on behalf of the Victorian Government, will rely on considerable support from the Australian Government for the successful conduct of the M2006 Games. Australian Government agencies will provide a range of security and non-security services including athlete preparation, drug testing, border security, communications and broadcasting, dignitary handling and protection, national law enforcement, security intelligence, non-security defence support and counter-terrorism measures.
The Minister for the Arts and Sport chairs a committee of ministers to oversee the Government's non-security involvement in the M2006 Games and is a member of a Ministerial Committee coordinating M2006 security issues.
High levels of sport participation
The Department works closely with the ASC, the states and territories and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to coordinate a national work program that sets strategic priorities for measuring and analysing participation in sport and physical activity. This work informs the strategic advice provided to Government.
The Exercise, Recreation and Sport Survey (ERASS) forms part of this work program. The ERASS collects information on the frequency, nature and type of activities undertaken by people aged 15 years and over for exercise, recreation and sport during the 12 months prior to interview. During the 12 months prior to interview in 2003, of those Australians aged 15 years and over, an estimated:
- 69.7 per cent (10.9 million) participated in at least one physical activity per week;
- 27 per cent (4.2 million) exercised five or more times a week; and
- 82.5 per cent (12.9 million) participated in at least one physical activity over the year.
Trend data over time shows that the proportion of Australians aged 15 years and over who have participated in no physical activity in the past 12 months has declined from 22.2 per cent in 2001 to 17.5 per cent in 2003.
Stronger and internationally competitive Australian sports sector
The Department contributes to the development of a competitive Australian sports sector through its work on strengthening the fight against doping in sport, coordinating Government involvement in major sporting events and supporting the development of the sport and leisure industry.
The Department worked closely with the ASC and ASDA to investigate changes necessary to the national anti-doping system to ensure compliance with the Code. Both the ASC and ASDA are identified as National Anti-Doping Organisations under the Code. The Australian Sports Drug Agency Act 1990 was amended to enable ASDA and the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee (ASDMAC) to align their policies and procedures to meet their obligations under the Code. The amendments received Royal Assent on 25 March 2004.
The Department also worked closely with ASDA and the ASC to examine whether changes were required to existing approaches to the investigation and hearing of possible doping violations.
The Australian Government is supporting the Melbourne 2005 Deaflympic Games (M2005 Games) and the M2006 Games. Through the provision of financial and other support for these events, the Government is providing opportunities for Australia's high-performance athletes to participate in world-class sporting competition.
These events also provide opportunities for achieving lasting national legacies and benefits including:
- enabling the sports sector to further develop and apply its expertise in major events management;
- generating trade, investment, business and tourism promotion opportunities; and
- allowing Australia to strengthen bilateral relations with the national governments of countries that send teams to compete in these events.
By demonstrating its capacity to host safe, secure and successful major sporting events, the Australian sports sector will also enhance its prospects of successfully bidding to host major sporting events in the future.
The Government is working to support the development of a world-class sport and leisure industry for Australia through the Australian Government's strategic national plan, Game Plan 2006. To maximise export opportunities for sport and leisure industry products and services in 2003-04, funding was provided to Australia Sport International, a non-government organisation tasked with promoting Australia's sports-related expertise to the world to promote export opportunities and raise awareness through industry networking events and an electronic newsletter. The Department works closely with Australia Sports International to achieve Game Plan 2006 objectives.
 |
Members of the M2006 Taskforce Section, Arts Support and M2006 Taskforce Branch. Left to right: Sue Evens, Kate Taylor, Stephen Richards and Terry Turnbull. |
Administered items
Water and Alpine Safety
Key initiatives undertaken
The Department administers grants totalling $2.504 million to four national recreation safety organisations to develop and implement strategies to reduce the number of aquatic and skiing accidents and deaths in Australia.
Annual grants to national recreation safety organisations support the general administration of the organisations and assist in the delivery of water and alpine safety programs. Special-purpose funding was also provided to support 14 projects to develop and implement strategies to reduce the number of aquatic and skiing accidents and deaths in Australia in 2003-04.
The 12 water safety projects funded from special purpose payments complied with the Government's five national water safety objectives (see table 2.20).
Table 2.20 Water and alpine safety - key objectives|
Australian Government water safety objectives |
Number of projects funded which met objective |
|
A greater understanding of water safety issues by undertaking targeted research and statistical analysis |
2 |
|
The assurance that risk management strategies are in place to secure all aquatic locations |
1 |
|
Greater awareness by at-risk population groups of the water safety message specific to them |
1 |
|
Training of teachers, coaches and instructors in the requirements of a balanced water safety education program |
4 |
|
Increased water safety skills and knowledge by all Australians |
4 |
Two alpine safety projects were funded in 2003-04. These were to:
- provide quality standardised rescue and first aid treatment of injured skiers and other visitors to alpine areas; and
- increase public awareness of the need for high standards of safety in Australian alpine areas.
All organisations met the required performance indicators and payments were acquitted within the specified timeframe.
Sports and Recreation Program (Anti-Doping)
High quality research
Under the Backing Australia's Sporting Ability - A More Active Australia policy, funds were allocated for new anti-drugs research. In 2003-04, $885 000 was made available for this purpose compared with $789 366 in 2002-03.
An Anti-Doping Research Panel (ADRP) coordinates the allocation of the research funding and monitors the progress of funded projects. Table 2.21 lists the anti-doping research projects that received funding in 2003-04. The ADRP is chaired by the Department and includes representatives from relevant Australian Government agencies and two non-government scientific experts.
All projects complied with grant requirements for provision of progress reports within agreed timeframes.
Table 2.21 Sport and Recreation Program (Anti-Doping) - high quality research 2003-04 funding|
Priority research areas |
|
Funding |
|
Factors enhancing the oxygen carrying capacity of blood |
Statistical population studies to support new analytical methodologies using EPO 2000 Project urine samples. (Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory) * |
$159 500 |
|
Improved Method for the Detection of Erythropoietin Isoforms in Urine. (Australian Sports Drug Testing Laboratory) * |
$183 400 | |
|
Factors regulating and enhancing growth |
Defining interactions between anabolic and peptide hormones: requirement for a robust test for growth hormone doping. (Garvan Institute of Medical Research) * |
$300 000 |
|
Detection of Bio-Markers of Human Growth Hormone Administration by Surface-Enhanced Laser Desorption Time-of-Flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. (Kolling Institute of Medical Research) * |
$97 600 | |
|
Exogenous and endogenous anabolic steroids |
Identification of Potentially Undetected Androgens Derived from Marketed Non-Androgenic Steroids: Implications for Sport (Anzac Research Institute) |
$67 500 |
|
Development of Certified Reference Materials for the detection of doping with nandrolone (National Analytical Reference Library) |
$77 040 | |
|
Projects relating to the prohibited substances list |
No projects were funded under this research area. |
Australian Government assistance to stage the Deaflympic Games
High quality administration of financial assistance for Melbourne 2005 Deaflympic Games
The 2005 Deaflympic Games (M2005 Games) will be held in Melbourne and Ballarat on 5-16 January 2005. The M2005 Games is an important event for Australia generally and Australia's deaf and hard-of-hearing community in particular.
The Melbourne 2005 Deaflympic Games Ltd (M2005 Organising Committee) is managing the planning, promotion, staging and service delivery of the Games. The Australian and Victorian Governments have each agreed to provide up to $4 million to the M2005 Organising Committee to support the staging of the Games. In addition, the Australian Government, through the ASC, provided an additional $150 000 to support the M2005 Games.
A funding agreement between the Australian Government and the M2005 Organising Committee was signed on 11 June 2004. The agreement sets out the financial management and accountability responsibilities of the M2005 Organising Committee. Subject to satisfactory compliance with these requirements, the financial assistance will be provided in three instalments during 2004-05.
OutputsOutput 2.1 Policy advice, program management and agency support in relation to sports, anti-doping and industry development measures which support the Australian sports sector
High quality and timely policy advice and Ministerial services
The Department provides policy advice on a range of sports issues.
Table 2.22 Advice provided within agreed timeframes|
Type of advice |
Total |
Provided within agreed timeframes (%) |
|
Ministerial correspondence |
63 |
74 |
|
Briefings | ||
|
- initiated by the Department |
172 |
not applicable |
|
- meeting briefs |
64 |
77 |
|
Question time briefs |
57 |
28 |
|
Parliamentary Questions on Notice |
5 |
60 |
The low compliance rate for question time briefs was partly due to the need for the Department to coordinate input from a number of agencies. In all cases, alternate timing for the submission of question time briefs was negotiated with the Minister's office and all briefs were provided within those timeframes. The Department will continue to monitor its performance in providing timely responses and is upgrading its processes to assist that monitoring.
This is the first year that performance information has been collected in this way and trends will be available from 2004-05.
The Department provided policy advice on a range of complex issues including:
- the management of complex anti-doping issues;
- in conjunction with the ASC and ASDA, exploring legislative, policy and procedural options for improving the national anti-doping system;
- coordination of Australian Government involvement in the M2006 Games, including advice on the provision of financial and other support to the Victorian Government;
- appropriate support for the staging of the M2005 Deaflympic Games; and
- a coordinated whole-of-government communications strategy for the M2005 and M2006 Games.
 |
Facilities that will be used for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games include the Melbourne Cricket Ground (opening and closing ceremonies, athletics), the Rod Laver Arena (boxing and netball) and the Vodafone Arena (basketball and cycling). Photographer: Gollings Photography Pty Ltd. |
Highly effective contribution to, and coordination of, international anti-doping initiatives
The Government is represented on the Executive Committee and Foundation Board of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) by the Minister for the Arts and Sport. The Department provides policy advice to the Minister in performing this role. In addition, the Department has coordinated, with expert input from the ASC and ASDA, the Government's involvement in the development of the World Anti-Doping Code and the UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport.
The Department's contribution to these initiatives is summarised in table 2.23.
Table 2.23 International Anti-Doping initiatives|
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) | ||
|
Initiative |
Purpose |
Contribution by the Department |
|
WADA Executive Committee and Foundation Board meetings |
Promotion, coordination and harmonisation of anti-doping measures internationally |
The Department represented the Oceania Region and Australian Government at three meetings of the WADA Executive Committee and two meetings of the WADA Foundation Board in 2003-04. The Department made a contribution at these meetings on a number of issues including:
The Department is represented on the WADA Strategic Plan Evaluation Committee convened by the WADA Executive Committee and played a key role in the drafting of the 2004-09 Strategic Plan and its greater emphasis on monitoring compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code (the Code). |
|
Government funding for WADA |
Provide funding for the promotion, coordination and harmonisation of anti-doping measures internationally |
100 per cent of Australian Government contribution to annual WADA budget paid on time. The timeliness of government funding has been a difficulty for WADA who have been appreciative of the good example set by the Oceania region. |
|
World Anti-Doping Code |
Development of standards and harmonisation for international anti-doping measures |
Coordination of amendments to the Australian Sports Drug Agency Act 1990 (the Act) to enable ASDA and the Australian Sports Drug Medical Advisory Committee to align their policies and procedures to meet their obligations under the Code. The Act received Royal Assent on 25 March 2004. |
|
United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) | ||
|
Initiative |
Purpose |
Contribution by the Department |
|
UNESCO International Convention against Doping in Sport |
Development of an international anti-doping instrument that will harmonise and coordinate anti-doping efforts across governments |
The UNESCO Director General invited the Australian Government, due to its anti-doping expertise and the strong international leadership it had demonstrated on anti-doping issues, to join a UNESCO Drafting Group for the Convention Against Doping in Sport. The Department represented the Australian Government at:
Through these meetings and consultations with stakeholders throughout 2003-04, the UNESCO Drafting Group developed a draft Convention that will be presented to national governments for comment in 2004-05. The UNESCO Convention Against Doping in Sport will provide an instrument for national governments to strengthen their national anti-doping programs, and harmonise and coordinate anti-doping efforts in line with the Code. It is proposed that governments work towards ratifying the convention before the Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy in February 2006. |
Compliance with accountability standards
As with arts bodies in the Portfolio, the General Guidance for Directors and Statutory Authorities, discussed at page 46, will be a useful reference document on best practice in governance and accountability for the Portfolio's sports bodies the ASC and ASDA.
No internal or external audits of sports programs were conducted during 2003-04.
Well coordinated approach to Commonwealth involvement in Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games (M2006 Games)
The Minister for the Arts and Sport is coordinating the Australian Government's involvement in the M2006 Games. The M2006 Taskforce supports the Minister in performing this role.
The Taskforce's responsibilities are to coordinate the involvement of over 25 Australian Government agencies expected to provide services and support for the M2006 Games, and to liaise with the Victorian Government on planning and delivery of Australian Government support.
It also services the M2006 Ministerial Committee on Non-Security Matters and a High Level Official Group (HLOG) comprising Secretaries of relevant Australian Government departments which provides advice to the Ministerial Committee. The HLOG is chaired by the Secretary.
Through this facilitation process, the M2006 Taskforce finalised submissions to the 2004-05 Budget process which resulted in the provision to the Victorian Government of $102.9 million in direct financial assistance and the commitment of other services and support valued at $169.6 million.
The M2006 Taskforce evaluated its effectiveness through qualitative evaluation of its stakeholders. The survey sought stakeholder assessment of the Taskforce's level of contact with agencies, its efficiency and effectiveness, its ability to provide necessary assistance to stakeholders, the timeliness of consultation, and satisfaction with the extent to which they were consulted and involved.
The survey results (see graph 2.7) found that:
- on the whole, the relevant Australian Government agencies were satisfied with the actions that the M2006 Taskforce had taken to coordinate the Australian Government response to the M2006 Games; and
- the higher the level of consultation that the M2006 Taskforce provided to the agency, the higher the agency's overall level of satisfaction with the Taskforce's performance.
In addition, the Department's annual client service survey report showed that 100 per cent of sports clients were satisfied with the policy advice, program management and agency support for the sports sector provided by the Department.
Graph 2.7 M2006 Taskforce client survey
Highly effective budget management
As identified in the resources for outcome table on page 60, the overall price of Output 2.1 was $169 000 under the budget estimate. Program expenses were on track with the budget estimate and running cost expenses accounted for the major part of the variation. This variation relates mainly to consultancies that were rescheduled for 2004-05.
Managers conduct a regular evaluation of budget outcomes, and commentary on variations between budget and expenditure is provided to EMG on a monthly basis. The commentary also includes forecasting of budget issues where possible.
Case Study M2006 Games - a whole-of-government approach
The challenge facing the M2006 Taskforce this financial year was to achieve a coordinated whole-of-government response that represented sound budgetary and policy outcomes. The large number of stakeholders, their often divergent views, the scope and breadth of coordination required (inter-Government, intra-Government, domestic and international), the range of funding options (direct funding, in-kind or cost-recovery), and the need to integrate security and non-security planning combined to produce a complex planning task with the potential to overlook critical elements or to have negotiations stall. To achieve its aim, the Taskforce worked through an inter-departmental committee and a series of whole-of-government working groups to coordinate a funding submission for the M2006 Games and to keep more than 20 Australian Government agencies abreast of key milestones and emerging issues. These forums were critical in developing the national benefits and legacies adopted by the Australian Government for the M2006 Games. They were also central to agreeing how Australia, and Australians, could derive the most benefit from the Games in terms of diplomatic, economic, tourism, cultural and sporting objectives - and how these could be communicated to the general public. By providing sound advice, building strategic alliances, creating strong stakeholder buy-in, and helping to articulate whole-of-government goals, the M2006 Taskforce successfully coordinated the Australian Government's $272.5 million assistance package, which was announced in the 2004-05 Budget. In this context, another major achievement for the Taskforce was the successful outcome of contractual negotiations with the Victorian Government. By working with Ministers and agencies across the Australian Government, and with its Victorian counterparts, the Taskforce brokered agreement on how the Australian Government's $102.9 million direct funding contribution would be spent and accounted for. As part of the funding agreement, the Taskforce devised a series of checks and reporting mechanisms to ensure the integrity of the funded projects and alignment with the Government's M2006 Games policy objectives. The Minister for the Arts and Sport and the Victorian Minister for the Commonwealth Games signed the funding agreement on 28 June 2004.
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