Outlook and Future Priorities
Strategic and operational priorities for CMTEDD in 2016-17 include:
- supporting the ACT Government to progress key policy reforms;
- creating, leading and fostering an innovative and responsive approach across all directorates to strengthen and diversify the ACT economy;
- guiding cultural change across government in order to achieve greater collaboration and innovation in the delivery of the ACT Government’s priorities;
- supporting a review by Mr Ian McPhee into the effectiveness of governance arrangements, including identifying any improvements that can be implemented to ensure appropriate governance in the Land Development and the Procurement and Capital Works Division of the Economic Development stream of the directorate;
- leading whole of government initiatives to strengthen public sector capability;
- preparing the 2016-17 Budget Review, the 2017-18 Budget and Territory’s consolidated financial statements;
- delivering the pre-election budget update and the policy costing responsibilities outlined in the Election Commitment Costings Act 2012;
- improving work health and safety and return to work outcomes for injured employees, including continued consultation on the design and implementation of a new workers’ compensation scheme for the public sector within the Territory’s regulatory jurisdiction;
- progressing, and continuing to improve, the ACT Government’s financial management frameworks;
- reviewing and evaluating programs, functions and projects to support the effective management of the Territory’s finances;
- continuing the safe and efficient implementation of the Loose Fill Asbestos Insulation Eradication Scheme;
- transforming the customer digital experience by offering personalised anytime, anywhere engagement with the ACT Government via any device with an Internet connection, using the iConnect shared platform;
- building on the Digital Canberra initiatives to grow Canberra’s digital capability;
- continue to better connect business and community to government through public service innovation;
- working with the private sector to grow its contribution to the Territory’s economy through a range of programs and approaches focused on increasing business innovation, trade development, private investment and new job opportunities;
- delivering the National Partnership Agreement on Asset Recycling;
- overseeing the replacement of 1,288 outdated public housing units with properties that meet contemporary building and energy efficiency standards and break down concentrations of disadvantage;
- delivering the Land Release Program;
- investigating and supporting alternative capital funding and procurement processes for major procurement projects in the ACT, with specific responsibility for Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), other complex infrastructure procurements and the assessment of unsolicited proposals;
- continuing to improve the maturity of ACTPS procurement and capital works delivery, including its focus on local industry;
- pursuing a strong economic development relationship with the research, higher education and training sectors;
- implementing the 2020 Tourism Strategy for the ACT, in conjunction with industry, with the aim of growing the Visitor Economy from the current value of $1.7 billion to $2.5 billion by 2020;
- continuing to attract new events to the Territory’s venues to increase attendance, activities and participation;
- contributing to the health and social wellbeing of the community through targeted programs that continue to support the ACT’s high levels of sport and recreation participation;
- finalising and implementing the ACT Events policy, including supporting the events sector, managing the ACT Event Fund and delivering a suite of events including Floriade, Enlighten, New Year’s Eve and the Canberra Balloon Spectacular;
- implementing the 2015 Arts Policy, including supporting artists and arts organisations, transitioning organisations to the Kingston Arts Precinct, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture, continuing strong community engagement and whole of community access to the arts; and
- developing and delivering a 10 year Strategic Direction for the National Arboretum Canberra, which reflects its unique role in conservation, tourism, events, recreation, culture and research.
The directorate will also have a major role in relation to the ACT Election in October 2016. This will include providing advice to the public service on caretaker provisions, providing the pre-election budget update, providing briefings to incoming Ministers and providing administrative support to incoming and outgoing Ministers and their staff.
I would like to thank all CMTEDD staff for their dedication and hard work during the past financial year and look forward to continuing to work with the directorate’s staff over the next year.
Kathy Leigh
Director-General
