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CORPORATE OVERVIEW |
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PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITYExternal and internal auditThe Library’s Audit Committee met four times during the year and considered external and internal audit reports. Australian National Audit Office reportsThe following reports contain Auditor-General recommendations implemented by the Library: 2001–02
2002–03
Internal audit reportsThe following internal audit reports were considered by the Audit Committee:
Parliamentary committees and government inquiriesThe Library lodged submissions and/or attended public hearings in response to the following Inquiries:
Augustus Earle (1793–1838) Ministerial DirectionsUnder section 28 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts must consult Library Council members before notifying them of a general policy of government. The Minister wrote to the Library in July 2002 regarding a new general policy on Foreign Exchange Risk Management and again in May 2003 regarding a new general policy on Cost Recovery. Legal actionsA claim was lodged in the ACT Supreme Court on 8 May 2003 on behalf of Wagdy Hanna and Associates Pty Ltd seeking damages from the Library for a breach of contract in respect of a 1996 tender process for one of the Library’s offsite storage facilities. OmbudsmanNo new issues relating to the Library were referred to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s Office. The Library continued to supply information throughout the year to the Ombudsman relating to a complaint about the tender process referred to above. Freedom of InformationThe Library received no requests for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cwlth). A Freedom of Information Statement is provided at Appendix 3. A list of the Library’s key supporting policies and documents is provided at Appendix 4. Indemnities and insurance premiumsIndemnity is provided to directors and officers of the Library under the coverage of the Library’s insurer, Comcover, which is a Commonwealth Government self-managed fund for insurable risk. Premiums are levied as part of the overall insurance coverage and are based on the agreed insurance value and previous claims history. Insurance coverage includes property, business interruption, fidelity guarantee, property in transit, general liability, products liability, directors and officers, and professional indemnity. Like many agencies, the Library experienced a significant increase this year in its premium. In our case, costs rose by 102 per cent or $0.544m. Social justice and equityThe Library continued its commitment to meeting the Government’s objective of enhancing social justice and equity, outlined within the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society. The Library aims to provide all Australians with equitable access to its services in a manner appropriate to their individual needs. In particular, the Library:
During the year the Library issued two key publications relating to Australia’s Indigenous population:
Service CharterThe Library released its revised Service Charter during the year. The charter facilitates a dialogue with users of the Library’s services. It sets out the Library’s commitment to users, the standards of service they can expect and the mechanisms for providing feedback or making a complaint. The charter is made available via the website <www.nla.gov.au/charter/> and as a print publication. The Library welcomes feedback as well as suggestions for service improvement. This year a total of 158 formal compliments and 44 formal complaints were received as set out in the tables overleaf. Compliments
Complaints
The average time taken to respond to complaints was six days, and the Library’s services to the public were available at the stated times throughout the year. Consultancy servicesDuring the year, 33 consultancy contracts were entered into by the Library at a total cost of $1 052 844. The consultants were selected in accordance with the Library’s Procurement Guidelines, on the basis that specialist expertise was considered necessary and was not available within the Library. Consultancies with an individual value of $10 000 or more are listed at Appendix 5. Advertising and market researchThe following advertising and market research organisations were contracted to provide services at a total cost of $123 035. Advertising and Market Research Organisations Contracted
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