Management of the Office

102. Being a small agency, the Office relies on the assistance of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in handling staff and other administration issues and in providing general support. We would like to record our grateful thanks for this assistance.

Significant Developments

103. In June 1995, work commenced on installation of a secure Local Area Network (LAN) in the Office. The system is being provided on loan by the Department of Defence. The new LAN will enhance the security of electronic information processing in the Office, and will also improve the Office's efficiency. We are grateful for Defence's assistance, and particularly thank the staff of DSD who arranged the installation and provided invaluable support during the project.

104. In response to our request, the Australian Archives began appraising records which have accumulated since the Office of the Inspector-General was created in 1987. Discussions are continuing on the form and content of an appropriate disposal schedule and authority to assist with long-term management of the records of the Office.

Internal and External Scrutiny

105. The Office continues to meet all requirements for internal and external scrutiny of its finances and administration.

106. In line with the requirement that all Government agencies have a fraud control plan which is regularly reviewed, the Office undertook an updated risk assessment, with the assistance of PM&C, to enable revision of the existing plan.

107. The Office received assistance from Ernst & Young in the preparation of its financial statements for the year ending 30 June 1995, and received an unqualified audit report from the ANAO in relation to that statement.

108. The Assistant Inspector-General represented the Office at hearings of the relevant Senate Legislation Committee during the year.

Staffing

109. In the first half of 1994-95, the Office received considerable assistance from temporary staff members who were brought in to work on the ASIS Task Force, and from the IGIS's legal advisers, Mr Ross McClure of the Australian Government Solicitor's Office, Melbourne and Mr Peter Hanks of the Melbourne Bar.

Composition of the Office

110. During 1994-95, staff of the Office comprised:

  • Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
    (Statutory office-holder, Secretary equivalent)
    Mr Roger Holdich (until 5 April 1995)
    Mr Ron McLeod (from 6 April 1995)
  • Assistant Inspector-General
    (Senior Executive Band 1)
    Mr Philip Moss
  • Senior Investigation Officers
    (Senior Officer Grade C)
    Mr Matthew Collett
    Mr Rod Tier
    Ms Tracey Wilson (acting from 31/3/94 until 31/12/94)
  • Personal Assistant to the Inspector-General
    (Administrative Service Officer Class 5)
    Ms Sandy Thomas
  • Executive Officer
    (Administrative Service Officer Class 5)
    Ms Tracey Wilson (from 1/1/95 until 31/1/95)
  • Administrative Assistant/Personal Assistant to the Assistant Inspector-General
    (Administrative Service Officer Class 3)
    Ms Robyn Kelly

111. The following staff provided temporary assistance to the Office during the year:

  • Ms Kathleen Brigdale
  • Ms Pam Davoren
  • Ms Pam Dean
  • Mr Ross Laing
  • Ms Helen Lu
  • Ms Rossel Mangulabnan
  • Dr Wendy Southern

Performance Pay

112. During the 1994-95 financial year, two members of staff were paid performance pay.

Social Justice; Access and Equity

113. The Office continues to be committed to the Government's Social Justice Strategy and to the concept of Access and Equity within the Australian Public Service.

Equal Employment Opportunity

114. Because of the Office's small size and its co-location with the Department of the PM&C, the Department's EEO Plan applies to this Office by agreement between the IGIS and the Secretary of PM&C.

Occupational Health and Safety

115. The Office is covered by PM&C's Occupational Health and Safety Plan. In the reporting year, steps were taken to acquire new work stations and ergonomic furniture for the Office's administrative support staff.

Industrial Democracy

116. The Office has its own Industrial Democracy Plan, which continues to be implemented.

Training and Development

117. All members of staff undertook some form of personal development during the year. Courses attended covered computer-based training, financial administration, investigative skills and management training.

Consultancy Services

118. Ernst & Young provided assistance with the preparation of the financial statements in this report.

Advertising and Market Research

119. The Office incurred no expenditure on general advertising during 1994-95.

120. No market research and no advertising campaigns were undertaken by the Office during the reporting period.

FOI Act 1982

122. This Office is an exempt agency for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.