Part 1: Overview (continued)

Date

Departmental overview

The Treasury's mission

The Treasury's mission is to improve the wellbeing of the Australian people by providing sound and timely advice to the Government, based on objective and thorough analysis of options, and by assisting Treasury ministers in the administration of their responsibilities and the implementation of government decisions.

Policy outcome

In carrying out its mission, the Treasury has responsibility for the following outcome:

  • Informed decisions on the development and implementation of policies to improve the wellbeing of the Australian people, including by achieving strong, sustainable economic growth, through the provision of advice to government and the efficient administration of federal financial relations.

The Treasury has four policy groups that contribute to achieving this outcome and a further group that provides enabling services, Corporate Services and Strategy Group. The policy groups are:

  • Macroeconomic Group;
  • Fiscal Group;
  • Revenue Group; and
  • Markets Group.

Macroeconomic Group

Macroeconomic Group provides advice on a sound macroeconomic environment, which is an essential foundation for strong, sustainable economic growth.

Macroeconomic Group undertakes monitoring and analysis of economic conditions in Australia and overseas, which forms the basis of quality macroeconomic policy advice to portfolio ministers.

Macroeconomic Group also provides advice to government on a range of international economic policy issues, including strengthening multilateral regimes underpinning open trade and capital flows, supporting developing countries' development aspirations and on helping to shape the evolution of regional economic architecture.

Macroeconomic Group is also responsible for payments to international financial institutions as outlined in program 1.2 on pages 68-69.

Fiscal Group

Fiscal Group provides advice on effective government spending arrangements that contribute to the overall fiscal outcome and help deliver strong and sustainable economic growth.

Effective spending measures should meet their stated objectives, minimise behavioural distortions and deliver significant economic and other benefits compared with costs. Fiscal Group provides policy advice to portfolio ministers to promote government decisions that further these objectives.

Fiscal Group is also responsible for the efficient payment of general revenue assistance, National Specific Purpose Payments and National Partnership Payments to the States and Territories as outlined in programs 1.4 to 1.10 on pages 72-85.

Revenue Group

Revenue Group provides advice on effective tax and retirement income arrangements policy and on legislation to implement policy that contributes to the overall fiscal outcome and to strong, sustainable economic growth.

Tax and retirement income policy affects the wellbeing of Australians through influencing individuals' decisions on saving and investment, as well as through labour market participation and businesses' decisions about whether, where and how much to invest.

Well-designed tax legislation contributes to the ability of taxpayers to understand and comply with their tax obligations.

Revenue Group also provides advice on the fiscal and distributional impacts of changes to tax policy.

Markets Group

Markets Group provides advice on well-functioning markets that contribute to improving national productivity and promoting stronger economic growth, thereby enhancing the living standards of all Australians.

Well-functioning markets enable the most efficient use of resources and maximise consumer confidence in markets, which, in turn, enhance community benefits from economic activity.

Markets Group provides advice on policies that promote competitive, efficient markets to enhance consumer-wellbeing; a secure financial system and sound corporate practices; and foreign investment consistent with Australia's national interest.

Markets Group also maintains the operations of the Australian Government Actuary, the Financial Reporting Council and the Takeovers Panel, and provides business management for Standard Business Reporting.

Markets Group is also responsible for payments to support markets and business as outlined in program 1.3 on pages 70-71.

Corporate Strategy and Services Group

The Corporate Strategy and Services Group assists in setting and delivering the corporate strategic direction of Treasury. The group delivers quality and valued corporate advice and services for the department, its people and Ministers.

Corporate Strategy and Services Group is responsible for providing; accommodation and facilities management, communications advice and support, financial management, human resources management, training and development, information management and technology services, freedom of information management, media management and monitoring, ministerial and parliamentary support, procurement, publishing, security and travel.

Corporate Strategy and Services Group functions also include assisting with the development of whole-of-department corporate strategy; providing support to the Secretary, the Executive Board and the Audit Committee, including oversight of departmental structures and systems; designing and facilitating whole-of-department policy discussions; coordinating organisational strategy initiatives; overseeing the risk management framework; and undertaking and assisting with departmental reviews.

Treasury people values

Treasury people are skilled professionals, committed to providing quality advice, thinking analytically and strategically, and striving to achieve long-term benefits for all Australians. We uphold the important values and behaviours that shape the Treasury culture. These values influence all aspects of the way we work.

Treasury people:

  • strive for excellence;
  • value teamwork, consultation and sharing of ideas;
  • value diversity among our people;
  • treat everyone with respect;
  • exhibit honesty in all our dealings; and
  • treat colleagues with fairness.

Treasury people management principles are:

  • open, two-way communications at all levels;
  • clear definition of accountabilities;
  • remuneration based on work performance, determined by fair and transparent processes; and
  • facilitation of an appropriate work and private life balance.

The Treasury's role and capabilities

The Treasury's mission statement reflects the breadth of its ministers' responsibilities and underscores the key importance for the Treasury of a strong relationship with its ministers, built on trust and effective advice. As a central policy agency, the Treasury is expected to anticipate and analyse policy issues from a whole-of-economy perspective, understand government and stakeholder circumstances, and respond rapidly to changing events and directions. As such, the Treasury's interests are broad and diverse.

In undertaking its mission, Treasury takes a broad view of wellbeing as primarily reflecting a person's substantive freedom to lead a life they have reason to value.

This view encompasses more than is directly captured by commonly used measures of economic activity. It gives prominence to respecting the informed preferences of individuals, while allowing scope for broader social actions and choices. It is open to both subjective and objective notions of wellbeing, and to concerns for outcomes and consequences, as well as for rights and liberties.

To facilitate objective and thorough analysis, we have identified five dimensions that directly or indirectly have important implications for wellbeing and are particularly relevant to Treasury. These dimensions are:

  • The set of opportunities available to people. This includes
    not only the level of goods and services that can be consumed, but good health and environmental amenity, leisure and intangibles, such as personal and social activities, community participation and political rights and freedoms.
  • The distribution of those opportunities across the Australian people. In particular, that all Australians have the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life and participate meaningfully in society.
  • The sustainability of those opportunities available over time. In particular, consideration of whether the productive base needed to generate opportunities (the total stock of capital, including human, physical, social and natural assets) is maintained or enhanced for current and future generations.
  • The overall level and allocation of risk borne by individuals and the community. This includes a concern for the ability, and inability, of individuals to manage the level and nature of the risks they face.
  • The complexity of the choices facing individuals and the community. Our concerns include the costs of dealing with unwanted complexity, the transparency of government and the ability of individuals and the community to make choices and trade-offs that better match their preferences.

These dimensions reinforce our conviction that trade-offs matter deeply, both between and within dimensions. The dimensions do not provide a simple checklist; rather their consideration provides the broad context for the use of the best available economic and other analytical frameworks, evidence and measures.

The Treasury applies and develops its technical expertise, knowledge base and support systems to deliver on the Government's priorities. To maximise our potential, we nurture and strengthen our core organisational capabilities and consistently seek better ways to do business.

Our organisational capabilities are:

  • Deep understanding: understanding our mission, the economic and policy environment, and the views of our stakeholders.
  • Collaboration: collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to develop effective policy.
  • Proactivity and vision: anticipating policy, implementation and organisational issues.
  • Influence and reputation: building trust with the Government and other stakeholders, and influencing the policy agenda.
  • Improvement and adaptability: being flexible, adaptable and innovative.
  • Efficiency and productivity: managing costs, allocating resources and enabling efficiencies.

Financial performance

The Treasury received an unqualified audit report on the 2012-13 financial statements from the Australian National Audit Office. These statements can be found in Part 4 on pages 125-232.

Departmental

The Treasury ended 2012-13 with an attributable surplus of $3.0 million, compared to a deficit of $11.6 million in 2011-12. Employee expenses decreased by $12.7 million from 2011-12, which was associated with the corresponding decrease in operational funding. The Treasury's net asset position decreased by $17.9 million in 2012-13, mainly due to the transfer of the Standard Business Reporting software assets to the Australian Taxation Office.

The Treasury has sufficient cash reserves to fund liabilities as and when they fall due.

Administered

The Treasury incurred $81.4 billion in administered expenses in 2012-13 compared to $86.9 billion in 2011 12. There was a reduction in grant expenses to the States and Territories that the Treasury provides under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations.

The Treasury's administered net assets increased by $1.4 billion in 2012-13. This is mainly due to an increase in the value of financial assets offset by an increase in provisions and payables. The Treasury has sufficient cash reserves to fund liabilities as and when they fall due.

Figure 1: Treasury senior management structure (as at 30 June 2013)
Secretary: Dr Martin Parkinson PSM
Executive Director (Policy Coordination and Governance): Ms Jan Harris

Corporate Strategy and Services Group
Group General Manager: Mr Steve French

Financial and Facilities Management Division
General Manager: Mr Matthew King

Information Management and Technology Division
General Manager: Mr Peter Alexander

Ministerial and Communications Division
General Manager: Mr Luke Hickey

People and Organisational Strategy Division
General Manager: Ms Marisa Purvis-Smith

 
Macroeconomic Group: Executive Director (Domestic), Dr David Gruen

Macroeconomic Group: Executive Director (International/Special Envoy), Mr Barry Sterland

Domestic Economy Division
General Manager: Mr Jason Allford

Macroeconomic Policy Division
General Manager: Mr Simon Duggan

Macroeconomic Modelling Division
General Manager: Mr Russ Campbell

International Division
General Manager: Mr Jason McDonald

International Finance and Development Division
General Manager: Mr Matt Flavel

G20 Policy Division
General Manager: Ms H K Holdaway

G20 Operations and Logistics Division
General Manager: Ms Mary Balzary

Overseas Operations

Papua New Guinea
Mr Paul Flanagan

Indonesia
Ms Natalie Horvat

Solomon Islands
Mr Colin Johnson

Washington DC
Ms Amanda Sayegh

OECD (Paris)
Sue Vroombout

London
Mr James Kelly

Tokyo
Ms Kate Phipps

Beijing
Mr Adam McKissack

Jakarta
Mr Trevor Thomas

New Delhi
Mr Matt Crooke

 
Fiscal Group: Executive Director, Mr Nigel Ray

Budget Policy Division
General Manager: Mr John Lonsdale

Commonwealth-State Relations Division
General Manager: Mr Peter Robinson

Industry, Environment and Defence Division
General Manager: Ms Luise McCulloch

Social Policy Division
General Manager: Ms Amanda Cattermole

 
Revenue Group: Executive Director, Mr Rob Heferen

Law Design Practice
General Manager: Tom Reid

Tax Analysis Division
General Manager: Mr Roger Brake

Corporate and International Division
General Manager: Ms Christine Barron

Tax System Division
General Manager: Mr Gerry Antioch

Personal and Retirement Income Division
General Manager: Mr Paul Tilley

Indirect, Philanthropy and Resource Tax Division
General Manager: Ms Brenda Berkeley

Board of Taxation Secretariat
Secretary: Mr Roger Paul

Small Business Tax Division
Mr Hector Thompson

 
Markets Group: Executive Director, Mr Jim Murphy

Foreign Investment and Trade Policy Division
General Manager: Mr Jonathan Rollings

Financial Sys
tem Division

General Manager: Ms Meghan Quinn

Infrastructure Division
General Manager: Mr Chris Legg

Corporations and Capital Markets Division
General Manager: Mr David Woods

Competition and Consumer Policy Division
General Manager: Mr Geoff Francis

Retail Investor Division
General Manager: Ms Irene Sim

Australian Government Actuary
General Manager: Mr Peter Martin

Takeovers Panel
Director: Mr Allan Bulman

 

Figure 2: Treasury outcome and program structure (as at 30 June 2013)

Outcome 1: Informed decisions on the development and implementation of policies to improve the wellbeing of the Australian people, including by achieving strong, sustainable economic growth, through the provision of advice to government and the efficient administration of federal financial relations.

Program 1.1: Department of the Treasury

Macroeconomic Group

Domestic Economy Division
Macroeconomic Policy Division
Macroeconomic Modelling Division
International Finance and Development Division
International and
G20 PolicyDivision
G20 Operations and Logistics Division
Overseas Operations
Overseas Posts

   

Fiscal Group

Budget Policy Division
Commonwealth-State Relations Division
Industry, Environment and Defence Division
Social Policy Division

   

Revenue Group

Law Design Practice
Indirect, Philanthropy and Resource Tax Division
Corporate and International Division
Personal and Retirement Income Division
Tax Analysis Division
Tax System Division
Board of Taxation Secretariat
Small Business Tax Division

   

Markets Group

Foreign Investment and Trade Policy Division
Financial System Division
Infrastructure Division
Competition and Consumer Policy Division
Corporations and Capital Markets Division
Retail Investor Division
Australian Government Actuary
Takeovers Panel

Corporate Strategy and Services Group

Financial and Facilities Management Division
Information Management and Technology Division
Ministerial and Communications Division
People and Organisational Strategy Division

   
Program 1.2: Payments to International Financial Institutions

Macroeconomic Group: International Finance and Development Division 

Program 1.3: Support for Markets and Business

Markets Group: Financial System Division 

Program 1.4: General Revenue Assistance

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.5: Assistance to the States for Healthcare Services

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.6: Assistance to the States for Schools

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.7: Assistance to the States for Skills and Workforce Development

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.8: Assistance to the States for Disabilities Services

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.9: Assistance to the States for Affordable Housing

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

Program 1.10: National Partnership Payments to the States

Fiscal Group: Commonwealth-State Relations Division 

 


Figure 3: Treasury portfolio outcome and program structure (as at 30 June 2013)

Portfolio Minister — Treasurer

The Hon Chris Bowen MP

Assistant Treasurer

The Hon David Bradbury MP

Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation

The Hon Bill Shorten MP

Minister for Housing and Homelessness

The Hon Mark Butler MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer

The Hon Bernie Ripoll MP

 

Department of the Treasury

Secretary: Dr Martin Parkinson 

Outcome 1: Informed decisions on the development and implementation of policies to improve the wellbeing of the Australian people, including by achieving strong, sustainable economic growth, through the provision of advice to government and the efficient administration of federal financial relations

Program 1.1:

Program 1.2:

Program 1.3:

Program 1.4:

Program 1.5:

Program 1.6:

Program 1.7:

Program 1.8:

Program 1.9:

Program 1.10:

Department of the Treasury

Payments to International Financial Institutions

Support for Markets and Business

General Revenue Assistance

Assistance to the States for Healthcare Services

Assistance to the States for Schools

Assistance to the States for Skills and Workforce Development

Assistance to the States for Disabilities Services

Assistance to the States for Affordable Housing

National Partnership Payments to the States

 

Australian Bureau of Statistics

Statistician: Mr Brian Pink 

Outcome 1: Informed decisions, research and discussion within governments and the community by leading the collection, analysis and provision of high-quality, objective and relevant statistical information
Program 1.1: Australian Bureau of Statistics
 

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

Chairman: Mr Rod Sims 

Outcome 1: Lawful competition, consumer protection, and regulated national infrastructure markets and services through regulation, including enforcement, education, price monitoring and determining the terms of access to infrastructure services
Program 1.1: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
 

Australian Office of Financial Management

Chief Executive Officer: Mr Robert Nicholl

Outcome 1: The advancement of macroeconomic growth and stability, and the effective operation of financial markets, through issuing debt, investing in financial assets and managing debt, investments and cash for the Australian Government
Program 1.1: Australian Office of Financial Management
 

Australian Prudential Regulation Authority

Chairman: Dr John Laker AO

Outcome 1: Enhanced public confidence in Australia's financial institutions through a framework of prudential regulation that balances financial safety and efficiency, competition, contestability and competitive neutrality
Program 1.1: Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
 

Australian Securities and Investments Commission

Chairman: Mr Greg Medcraft

Outcome 1: Improved confidence in financial market integrity and protection of investors and consumers through research, policy, education, compliance and deterrence that mitigates emerging risks

Program 1.1:

Program 1.2:

Research, policy, compliance, education and information initiatives

Enforcement/deterrence

Outcome 2: Streamlined and cost-effective interaction and access to information for business and the public, through registry, licensing and business facilitation services

Program 2.1:

Program 2.2:

Legal infrastructure for companies and financial services providers

Banking Act and Life Insurance Act, unclaimed moneys and special accounts

 

Australian Taxation Office

Commissioner: Mr Chris Jordan AO

Outcome 1: Confidence in the administration of aspects of Australia's taxation and superannuation systems by helping people understand their rights and obligations, improving ease of compliance and access to benefits, and managing non-compliance with the law

Program 1.1:

Program 1.2:

Program 1.3:

Program 1.4:

Program 1.5:

Program 1.6:

Program 1.7:

Program 1.8:

Program 1.9:

Program 1.10:

Program 1.11:

Program 1.12:

Program 1.13:

Program 1.14:

Program 1.15:

Program 1.16:

Program 1.17:

Program 1.18:

Program 1.19:

Program 1.20:

Australian Taxation Office

Tax Practitioners Board

Australian Business Register

Australian Valuation Office

Product Stewardship for Oil

Cleaner Fuels Grant Scheme

Australian Screen Production Incentive

Research and Development Tax Offset

Private Health Insurance Rebate

Superannuation Co-contribution Scheme

Superannuation Guarantee Scheme

Fuel Tax Credits Scheme

Education Tax Refund

National Urban Water and Desalination Plan

National Rental Affordability Scheme

First Home Saver Accounts

Baby Bonus

Interest on Overpayment and Early Payments of Tax

Bad and Doubtful Debts and Remissions

Other Administered

 

Commonwealth Grants Commission

Secretary: Mr John Spasojevic

Outcome 1: Informed Government decisions on fiscal equalisation between the States and Territories through advice and recommendations on the distribution of GST revenue and health care grants
Program 1.1: Commonwealth Grants Commission
 

Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee

Convenor: Ms Joanne Rees

Outcome 1: Informed decisions by Government on issues relating to corporations regulation and financial products, services and markets through independent and expert advice
Program 1.1: Corporations and Markets Advisory Committee
 

Inspector-General of Taxation

Inspector-General: Mr Ali Noroozi

Outcome 1: Improved tax administration through community consultation, review and independent advice to Government
Program 1.1: Inspector-General of Taxation
 

National Competition Council

President: Mr David Crawford

Outcome 1: Competition in markets that are dependent on access to nationally significant monopoly infrastructure, through recommendations and decisions promoting the efficient operation of, use of and investment in infrastructure
Program 1.1: National Competition Council
 

Office of the Auditing and Assurance Standards Board

Chairman: Ms Merran Kelsall

Outcome 1: The formulation and making of auditing and assurance standards that are used by auditors of Australian entity financial reports or for other auditing and assurance engagements
Program 1.1: Auditing and Assurance Standards Board
 

Office of the Australian Accounting Standards Board

Chairman: Mr Kevin Stevenson

Outcome 1: The formulation and making of accounting standards that are used by Australian entities to prepare financial reports and enable users of these reports to make informed decisions
Program 1.1: Australian Accounting Standards Board
 

Productivity Commission

Chairman: Mr Peter Harris

Outcome 1: Well-informed policy decision-making and public understanding on matters relating to Australia's productivity and living standards, based on independent and transparent analysis from a community-wide perspective
Program 1.1: Productivity Commission
 

Royal Australian Mint

Chief Executive Officer: Mr Ross MacDiarmid

Outcome 1: The coinage needs of the Australian economy, collectors and foreign countries are met through the manufacture and sale of circulating coins, collector coins and other minted products
Program 1.1: Royal Australian Mint