PGPA Newsletter 59

Finance has an established PGPA Advisory team that monitors our dedicated inbox during extended business hours. 

Email us at: pgpa@finance.gov.au

In addition, through the pandemic response period for urgent decisions you should contact either:

Scott Dilley
First Assistant Secretary, Governance Division
Mobile: 0448 410 171 or Email: scott.dilley@finance.gov.au

Brad Cook
Assistant Secretary, PGPA Advisory
Mobile: 0406 380 148 or Email: brad.cook@finance.gov.au

Kim Baker
Assistant Secretary, Accountability & Reporting
Mobile: 0418 630 659 or Email: kim.baker@finance.gov.au

We know that in some circumstances matters will be urgent, to support entities, Finance will provide 24/7 support.

Reporting deadlines
Finance is currently finalising options to defer deadlines for the publishing of 2020-21 corporate plans (31 August 2020) and the provision of 2019-20 annual reports to responsible Ministers (15 October 2020).  This is to allow Commonwealth entities and companies to focus effort and resources on the Government’s response to COVID-19. 

The deferrals will recognise that efforts to manage COVID-19 will be ongoing for at least six months, and will take account of the postponement of the 2020-21 Budget to October 2020. 

It is important to note that where an entity is in a position to meet the normal reporting timeframes they are encouraged to work towards these.

Finance understands that some entities have enabling legislation that requires stand-alone processes for corporate plans and annual reports. If this is the case please contact us (pgpa@finance.gov.au) to discuss how these might be managed.

Finance will communicate more specific advice in relation to the reporting deadlines shortly.

Digital Reporting Tool
Finance will cover the costs of software licencing for all entities for the 2019-20 Annual Reports and strongly recommends that the digital reporting tool is used to its full extent. 

To enable Commonwealth entities and companies to focus effort and resources on the Government’s response to COVID-19, whilst meeting legislative and Parliamentary requirements, additional reporting and production ‘gloss’ in annual reports is discouraged.  

Finance strongly suggests that entities only include content to meet the mandatory reporting requirements of the PGPA Rule. This can be achieved by taking full advantage of the functionality of the digital reporting tool, which provides for the full production, printing and publishing of the annual report. 

The digital reporting tool provides secure web based access to:

• develop all annual report content;
• undertake basic formatting;
• complete all mandatory templates;
• export the document in a basic format that can be printed and bound to meet the Parliament’s Tabling requirements; and
• HTML publish the report on transparency.gov.au

Finance will provide support and assistance to entities through this process.

Further information on access to the digital reporting tool will be provided shortly.  At this stage training arrangements will commence in May 2020. 

Please note there is no requirement to use the digital reporting tool for the production and publishing of 2020-21 corporate plans.

In relation to financial statements, there has been no decision to amend the end of financial year reporting timeframes.

Finance will continue to monitor the situation and be in contact with entities to discuss the progress in the financial statements process and any emerging issues.

Further advice will be issued to entities in May 2020 regarding end of year financial report requirements.