Prime Minister and Cabinet

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees — employment and capability strategy

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Australian Public Service Commission	1.2	2.6	2.6	-

The Government will provide $6.4 million over three years to improve employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Australian Public Service (APS).

This strategy, which involves increasing the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the APS and enhancing their skills, will increase the APS’s capacity in relation to Indigenous issues.

Further information can be found in the press release of 12 August 2005 issued by the Prime Minister.

Auditing of Australian Government entities

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Australian National Audit Office	1.1	0.8	0.8	0.9
Related revenue ($m)
Australian National Audit Office	1.1	0.8	0.8	0.9

The Australian National Audit Office will be provided with $3.6 million over four years to meet the additional costs incurred for increased audit coverage of nine fee-paying Australian Government entities including Telstra Corporation, Australia Post and Medicare Australia. The funding will be fully recovered through an increase in audit fees.

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet — funding for taskforces and increased capacity

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet	5.6	5.2	5.2	5.3

The Government will provide $21.4 million over four years to improve the capacity of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) to support the Prime Minister and the Government.

PM&C regularly hosts taskforces, particularly in relation to whole-of-government issues, which are staffed by officers of relevant departments and agencies. PM&C’s workload is also increasing in relation to its role in coordinating government policies.

This funding will provide for the hosting of four taskforces by PM&C in 2005-06; overhead costs for hosting current and future taskforces; and an increased core staffing level.

National Australia Day Council — increased support

Expense ($m)

	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet	0.5	1.0	1.0	1.0

The Government will provide $3.5 million over four years to the National Australia Day Council to enhance Australia Day celebrations and promote good citizenship and values through the Australian of the Year awards.

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