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Report on Performance

Regional outputs and programmes

Overview
Output 2.1.1 : Regional services
Output 2.2.1 : Services to territories
Output 2.2.2 : Local government
Output 2.2.3 : Natural disaster relief

Overview

Our national economic performance continues to rely on Australia's regions. One-third of Australians live and work in non-metropolitan areas and contribute two-thirds of our national export income.

Globalisation, population changes, skills shortages and natural disasters continue to challenge our regions. Partnership between the government and communities is the key to helping regions face these challenges through growth and diversification.

What we do

The department, on behalf of the government, contributes to the wellbeing of all Australians by assisting regions to manage their own futures. Among other things, the department,

provided advice to the Australian Government on a broad range of social and economic issues affecting regional Australia
delivered information to regional Australians on Australian Government programmes and services
collated and analysed data on regional Australia to inform policy development
worked with other agencies and governments to evaluate and improve their services to regional and Indigenous Australians
administered $1,619 million in financial assistance for local government, to meet community priorities (page 158)
administered $124 million in grants and subsidies for community initiatives that support regional development (page 129)
established a small taskforce to provide advice to the Australian Government and develop, manage and coordinate the policy response following the decision to consider the future governance arrangements for Norfolk Island (page 147)
facilitated a nationwide consultation process about the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra
administered a programme of awards highlighting the contribution of local government to its communities (page 157)
delivered health, education, water and other essential services to the 2,744 people who live in Australia's non-self governing territories, often through the Western Australian, Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales governments (page 144)
administered $30 million in natural disaster mitigation funding and over $75 million in response and relief, in partnership with other government departments-including a $40 million advance in natural disaster relief funds and a $1 million contribution towards the Prime Minister's and Premier's Cyclone Larry Relief Appeal to assist Far North Queensland in its recovery from the impact of Cyclone Larry (page 163).

What this chapter covers

This chapter reports on the regional outputs and programmes the department was funded to deliver in 2005-06 (see Table 4.1). The chapter:

sets out our annual financial and other targets, as published in our 2005-06 Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) or amended in the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) and Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimate Statement (PSAES)
explains our actual results in 2005-06 and compares them with previous years' results where applicable
discusses factors that may be affecting or are likely to affect our results
summarises progress towards achievement of the indicators nominated for each output and programme using the following ratings:

fully achieved mostly achieved partly achieved not achieved

Table 4.1 Regional outputs and programmes in 2005-06

	Budget 2005-06^a $'000	Actual 2005-06 $'000	Variance^b (%)	Information
Output 2.1.1-Regional Services	39,655	40,092	1.1	Page 127
Administered programmes
Construction of the Bert Hinkler Hall of Aviation Museum	1,450	-	-100.0	Page 131
Regional Partnerships	111,625	83,710	-25.0	Page 132
Sustainable Regions	51,733	36,779	-28.9	Page 137
Remote Air Services Subsidy Scheme	3,608	3,153	-12.6	Page 141
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal	315	369	17.1	Page 142
Regional and Rural Research and Development Grants	228	183	-19.7	Page 143
Output 2.2.1-Services to Territories	18,074	18,064	-0.1	Page 144
Administered programmes
Services to Indian Ocean Territories	59,243	57,998	-2.1	Page 151
Norfolk Island
refurbishment of Kingston Pier	6,032	5,747	-4.7	Page 153
memorial for Minister Buffet (environmental trust fund)	322	234	-27.3	Page 154
Payments to the ACT
assistance for water and sewerage services	9,250	9,250	-	Page 154
compensation for the effects of national capital influence on the cost of providing municipal services	23,004	23,004	-	Page 155
Christmas Island rehabilitation	740	3,651	393.4	Page 155
Output 2.2.2-Local Government	2,234	2,474	10.7	Page 156
Administered programmes
Local Government Financial Assistance Grants	1,623,201	1,618,560	-0.3	Page 158
Supplementary funding to South Australian councils for local roads	9,000	9,000	-	Page 159
Output 2.2.3-Natural Disaster Relief	4,003	3,810	-4.8	Page 161
Administered programmes
Natural Disaster Mitigation^c	31,053	26,003	-16.3	Page 163
Bushfire Mitigation	5,000	4,945	-1.1	Page 165
National Aerial Firefighting	5,500	5,500	-	Page 166
Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements	89,540	69,111	-22.8	Page 167
The Prime Minister's and Premier's Cyclone Larry Relief Appeal	-	1,000	-
Outcome 2-All outputs
Total price of departmental outputs	63,967	64,439	0.7
Less receipts from independent sources	922	1,148	24.5
Net price to government (appropriation)	63,045	63,292	0.4
Administered programmes summary
Total cost of administered programmes	2,030,844	1,958,197	-3.6
Plus depreciation, write down of assets etc.	14,310	15,514	8.4
Total administered operating expenses	2,045,154	1,973,711	-3.5
Less administered revenues	28,673	63,886	122.8
Net cost to government	2,016,481	1,909,825	-5.3
Average staffing level	361	353	-2.2

^a The budget shown for both departmental outputs and administered programmes is the revised budget published in our 2005-06 Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements updated for additional funding provided through the Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates. Departmental outputs include own source revenue
^b The variance is the change in 2005-06 actuals over the revised 2005-06 Budget.
^c Includes $7.8m for the Gawler River Flood Mitigation Scheme provided through the 2005-06 Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates.