The ACIC’s financial accountability responsibilities are set out in the Commonwealth Resource Management Framework, which governs how officials in the Commonwealth public sector use and manage public resources.

Ecologically sustainable development

The five principles of ecologically sustainable development identified in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are integration, precautionary, intergenerational, biodiversity and valuation.

We are aware of these principles in our daily operations. We strive to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, including by making efficient use of resources and managing waste effectively.

We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment through ongoing minimisation strategies and new technologies and resources, including:

• using electronic document management systems and web-based information-sharing tools that reduce or eliminate the need to print and retain paper copies of documents
• using video and telephone conferencing where possible to reduce the need for local and interstate travel
• reviewing leased buildings and encouraging owners to improve their buildings’ energy performance
• ensuring that new leases entered into comply with the Australian Government’s energy policy
• procuring energy-efficient equipment and lighting solutions, including a smart lighting system that activates only when areas are occupied
• providing recycling facilities in breakout areas.

The integration of energy efficiency practices into our organisation and planning allows us to reduce our energy costs and our consumption of valuable resources.

Asset managment

During 2018–19, we engaged an independent professional valuer to undertake a desktop valuation of leasehold improvements and property, plant and equipment to determine whether asset book values at 30 June 2019 had changed materially since the previous fair value assessment in 2017–18. The valuer’s report concluded ‘After undertaking qualitative, quantitative and uncertainty analyses for the asset classes, we are of the opinion that there are no significant material difference between the carrying amounts and the fair values for the ACIC assets’. It is ACIC policy to undertake a full revaluation every three years and a desktop assessment each year in between.

Our asset mix (including assets under construction) at the end of 2018–19 comprised:

• $23.656 million of leasehold improvements
• $17.235 million of property, plant and equipment
• $27.170 million of intangibles.

Property

We have ACIC offices in each capital city to support the delivery of our national service. Premises in Hobart and Darwin are provided by those jurisdictions’ police forces and are not subject to formal lease arrangements. All other offices are under lease until at least 2022; most of those leases are due to expire from 2024 onward.

We have continued to engage with Victoria Police in the design of premises in its development at 311 Spencer Street, Melbourne, with the intention of moving the Victorian regional office in 2020. The Minister for Finance and the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works approved this project during 2017–18.

We monitor our property performance nationally with a view to minimising our property footprint and taking advantage of efficiency initiatives, including opportunities to share facilities. Overall, the agency has a fit-out density of 13.0 square metres per workpoint.

Purchasing

Our approach to procuring property and services, including consultancies, is consistent with Australian Government policy and legislation covering procurement. The Commonwealth Procurement Rules are applied to activities through the Accountable Authority Instructions and supporting operational policies and procedures, which are reviewed for consistency with the Commonwealth Procurement Framework.

The procurement framework reflects the core principle governing Australian Government procurement—value for money. Our policies and procedures also focus on:

• competitive, non-discriminatory procurement processes
• efficient, effective, economical and ethical use of resources
• accountability and transparency.

During 2018–19, we continued to participate in whole-of-government, coordinated procurement initiatives and used clustering and piggybacking opportunities to lower tendering costs and provide savings through economies of scale.

Consultants

Table 3.17 gives details our use of consultants in 2018–19.

Table 3.17: Consultancy contracts

During 2018–19, the ACIC entered into one new consultancy contract, involving total actual expenditure of $0.180 million (including GST). No ongoing consultancy contracts were active during 2018–19.

Consultants are typically engaged to investigate or diagnose a defined issue or problem, carry out defined reviews or evaluations, or provide independent advice, information or creative solutions to assist in the ACIC’s decision-making. Prior to engaging consultants, we take into account the skills and resources required for the task, the skills available internally, and the cost-effectiveness of engaging external expertise.

We make decisions to engage consultants in accordance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and related Regulations, including the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and relevant internal policies.

Information on the value of contracts and consultancies is available on the AusTender website at www.tenders.gov.au.

Access clauses

During 2018–19, we did not enter any contracts of $100,000 or more that excluded provision for access by the Auditor-General.

Exempt contracts

Contract details are exempt from being published on AusTender if those details would disclose exempt matters under the Freedom of Information Act 1982. No such contract details were excluded from being published on AusTender in 2018–19.

Procurement initiatives to support small business

The ACIC supports small business participation in the Australian Government procurement market. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small enterprise participation statistics are available on the Department of Finance’s website at www.finance.gov.au/procurement/statistics-on-commonwealth-purchasing-contracts/.

We support the use of SMEs through various means, including the use of template contracts for both low-risk and higher risk procurements, and compliance with the government’s Supplier Pay On-Time or Pay Interest Policy.

The ACIC recognises the importance of ensuring that small businesses are paid on time. The results of the survey of Australian Government payments to small business are available on the Treasury’s website www.treasury.gov.au.

Grants and sponsorships

The ACIC did not enter into any new grant or sponsorship arrangements during 2018–19.

Ecologically sustainable development

The five principles of ecologically sustainable development identified in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are integration, precautionary, intergenerational, biodiversity and valuation.

We are aware of these principles in our daily operations. We strive to operate in an environmentally responsible manner, including by making efficient use of resources and managing waste effectively.

We are committed to reducing our impact on the environment through ongoing minimisation strategies and new technologies and resources, including:

• using electronic document management systems and web-based information-sharing tools that reduce or eliminate the need to print and retain paper copies of documents
• using video and telephone conferencing where possible to reduce the need for local and interstate travel
• reviewing leased buildings and encouraging owners to improve their buildings’ energy performance
• ensuring that new leases entered into comply with the Australian Government’s energy policy
• procuring energy-efficient equipment and lighting solutions, including a smart lighting system that activates only when areas are occupied
• providing recycling facilities in breakout areas.

The integration of energy efficiency practices into our organisation and planning allows us to reduce our energy costs and our consumption of valuable resources.