PGPA Newsletter 101

• New reporting requirements
• Key things you should be doing now
• An update on Digital Tabling
• DART and Transparency Portal functionality updates
• Useful resources

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Location of Corporate Commonwealth Entities) Repeal Order 2024 commences on 4 June 2024.

This instrument repeals the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Location of Corporate Commonwealth Entities) Order 2016 (the Order).

The Order required corporate Commonwealth entities with agricultural policy or regulatory responsibilities to be located in a regional community and within 10 kilometres by road of the main campus of a regional university that is recognised for research and teaching in the field of agricultural science. The Order only applied to one entity, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.

This repeal follows a recommendation from the Final report: Future structure and governance arrangements for the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, a recommendation which the Government announced it supported on 17 April 2024.

If you have any questions, please email us at PGPA@finance.gov.au.

Resource Management Guides (RMGs) are developed in-line with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, the Australian Digital Style Manual, and the Digital Service Standard. The suite of RMGs can be found here.

A digital first approach to guidance allows Finance to make updates in real-time so that users are fully informed of legislative and policy requirements. Real-time, live editing reduces the risk of users referring to information or requirements that are out of date which could impact on an entity meeting requirements under the PGPA Act or PGPA Rule.

To ensure that users are viewing the most up to date RMG, new functionality is available!
This new functionality replaces the need for static PDF versions of RMGs. Users can now print or download an entire RMG by clicking on the ‘printer’ icon displayed on the top right-hand corner on each web page of the RMG.



Simply follow these steps:

• click on the printer icon on the top right-hand corner of the RMG web page,
• then select “Print entire document (for PDF ready version)” or “Print this page”.

This allows you to print or save as a PDF to your respective drive or desktop.

On the top of each page, you will see there is a note that reminds you to return to the Finance website regularly for the latest version of the RMG.



TIP: Ensure you select ‘Background Graphics’ under Print Options (under ‘More settings’) for the best viewing format.
 
If you have any questions, please email us at PGPA@finance.gov.au.

Following on from the introduction of greenhouse gas emissions reporting last year, the 2023-24 emissions reporting process will start with a trial of expanded emissions reporting. This will include additional emissions sources such as solid waste, refrigerants, domestic travel accommodation and domestic hire car usage, as set out in the Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy.

RMG-135 Annual reports for non-corporate Commonwealth entities and RMG-136 Annual reports for corporate Commonwealth entities were recently updated and point to the Australian Government Emissions Reporting web page for current advice on emissions reporting requirements. This will be updated soon incorporating guidance for emissions reporting in 2023-24 annual reports.
 
Commonwealth companies will also be required to report on emissions from their operations commencing in 2023-24 annual reports. RMG-137 Annual reports for Commonwealth companies was recently amended in line with this requirement.

Recent Releases

• The Net Zero in Government Operations Annual Progress Report 2022-23 presents an aggregated summary of non-corporate and corporate Commonwealth entity greenhouse gas emissions at a whole-of-Australian-Government level.
• The Net Zero in Government Operations Strategy and roadmap describes the approach for implementing the Australian Government’s commitment to achieve net zero in government operations by 2030. These documents cover a range of actions and targets to be delivered by entities, including delivering an emissions reduction plan in June 2024.cover a range of actions and targets to be delivered by entities, including delivering an emissions reduction plan in June 2024.

Please visit Climate Action in Government Operations or contact us at climateaction@finance.gov.au for further information.