Red Tape Reduction

48 Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (30 July 2015). What is the current status of government red tape reduction amongst the not-for-profit sector?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers): I have been advised:

The Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (DCSI), in partnership with the non-government sector and other government agencies, is leading the implementation of a number of state government initiatives to reduce red tape in the non-government organisation (NGO) sector. The initiatives include:

establishing generic grant agreements;

developing consistent legal clauses;

introducing rolling (3+3+3 year) contracts; and

delivering a tender-ready training program for small community organisations with a focus on multicultural and Aboriginal groups.

DCSI is also investigating the feasibility of introducing a whole-of-government NGO Indexation Policy, to develop a consistent approach across government.

A working group from the Human Services Partnership Forum is also developing new funding guidelines for all not-for-profit organisations in South Australia, which are due to be released in 2015-16.

A program to assist non-government organisations to be tender-ready is in place, and a tool, the STARservice Development program, has been developed to assist agencies to assess their governance and management capabilities. This program is now available and is currently being promoted.