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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-09-14 Daily Xml
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OUTBACK COMMUNITIES AUTHORITY

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question on the Outback Communities Authority.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Members will recall that the Outback Communities Authority was established on 1 July 2010. I understand that the authority has now prepared the Outback Communities Authority's Strategic Management Plan 2011-15. Will the minister update the chamber on the details of the authority's strategic management plan?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:25): I thank the member for his very important question. It really is indicative of the poor state of this house when we have to—

The Hon. G.E. Gago: Absolutely.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Unbelievable. Absolute non-performers! I am pleased to advise that last month I approved the Outback—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Half the front bench will get the chop very shortly, I can tell you, and they will come from this house. I am pleased to advise that last month I approved the Outback Communities Authority's Strategic Management Plan 2011-15, incorporating the 2011 annual business plan and 2011-12 annual budget. The strategic management plan has been formed following numerous consultations with outback communities in recent times. The authority uses research collated by its predecessor, the outback areas community development trust, and acknowledges that many of these issues are ongoing.

Some of the key issues highlighted during community consultation are increased mining and tourism activity, planning and policy development and standards of infrastructure provision, as well as volunteering and fundraising in our state's outback areas. Through provisions in the Outback Communities (Administration and Management) Act 2009, the authority now has a legitimate role to play in representing outback issues to policy and decision-makers. Additionally, legislative changes have also allowed for individual communities to raise revenue for local services and facilities by initiating a voluntary community contribution scheme, if they choose to do so.

The authority has been tasked with considering how to better engage the people who live and work in the outback, recognising the challenges in achieving this goal across a large geographic area, with small and diverse communities scattered across remote locations. Nevertheless, the authority is committed to exploring innovative solutions to overcome these challenges.

The business to the authority is delivered through three specific yet fully integrated units within the office of the authority. These units—corporate, infrastructure and community development—together represent the broad business focus of the authority. The strategic management plan is the first strategic plan for the authority and is a statement of the authority's aims and objectives over the next five years. It incorporates and is supported by other operational documents, including the annual business plan, the annual budget, the long-term financial plan and the asset management plan. Through its strategic management plan the authority has identified six key objectives:

to build and maintain relationships with people who live and work in the outback;

to articulate the views, interests and aspirations of the outback communities to policymakers;

to manage the provision of public services and facilities to outback communities;

to support outback people in their community development aspirations;

to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of the authority's affairs.

In future annual business plans the authority will report on the outcomes of performances against the previous years key performance indicators. This information will be included in the annual report tabled to myself and subsequently in state parliament. I take this opportunity to congratulate the Outback Communities Authority on its initial successes and look forward to working with the authority to build upon these successes.

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