Policy Advice, Coordination and Cabinet Support Service

Policy Advice, Coordination and Cabinet Support Service provides advice across the areas of social, health, law, justice, economic, environment, intergovernmental relations and performance policy. In addition to providing detailed briefings for the Premier on all matters before Cabinet and coordinating a broad range of whole-of-government activities, this service gives expert advice to facilitate the operation of Cabinet and its related processes. These processes include administration of all Cabinet information, custodianship of Cabinet records from current and previous governments and direct logistical support to Ministers in Cabinet meetings.

During 2012-13, Policy Advice, Coordination and Cabinet Support Service contributed to the department’s strategic objectives by providing:

• high quality and timely support and advice for Cabinet and Cabinet Committees processes
• effective policy development and coordination
• delivery of government priorities and improved performance of public services
• leading key priority projects including The Queensland Plan and Open Data.

During 2012-13 Policy Advice, Coordination and Cabinet Support Service achieved the following results:

Service Standards	Notes	2012-13 Target/est.	2012-13 Est. actual	2012-13 Actual
Participant satisfaction with the Community Cabinet consultation process	1	95%	..	..
Client satisfaction with DPC support in completion of the Cabinet Bag		90%	99%	99%
Client satisfaction with DPC support for Cabinet Committees		95%	100%	100%
Client satisfaction with DPC engagement with the policy development process		95%	94%	94%
Client satisfaction with advice and support to deliver government commitments		90%	91%	91%
Client satisfaction with advice by DPC to agencies on Cabinet and CBRC submissions		90%	91%	91%
Client satisfaction with policy advice provided by DPC on achievement of the government’s community objectives		90%	93%	93%
Client satisfaction with advice by DPC to agencies on performance management and reporting requirements		90%	89%	89%
No. of Cabinet meetings supported		46	47	51
No. of Community Cabinet meetings supported		10	10	9
No. of Cabinet Committee meetings supported	2	80	53	51
% of Cabinet Secretariat timeframes met for Cabinet decisions		100%	100%	100%

Notes:

1. This Service Standard has been discontinued as it was a measure of participant satisfaction with the outcomes of Community Cabinet (and therefore not departmental activity), rather than the services provided by the department in supporting Cabinet activities.
2. Reduction in Cabinet Committee meetings supported reflects the practices of the current government.

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Social and Health Policy

Social and Health Policy provides strategic policy advice and options on all aspects of policy development and emerging, significant policy issues and related reforms in the areas of social and health policy. Particular areas of responsibility include health and ambulance, education, early childhood education and care, community services, child safety and disability services, housing and homelessness, arts, veterans’ affairs, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and multicultural affairs.

Achievements

• Worked with human service agencies to confirm timeframes and milestones for the government’s priorities and election commitments including the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry, the audit of Queensland Health’s payroll system, establishment of the new Queensland Schools Planning Commission and the roll-out of independent public schools.
• Provided analysis and advice on implementation of national health reforms including the establishment and operation of Hospital and Health Services and introduction of activity-based funding.
• Provided advice and analysis to support the establishment of the Queensland Mental Health Commission and the new Health Ombudsman.
• Represented the department on the Queensland Skills and Training Taskforce and worked with the Department of Education, Training and Employment on the government’s response to the Taskforce’s final report to drive reform of vocational education and training in Queensland.
• Supported the Queensland Government’s participation in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (now known as DisabilityCare Australia) in collaboration with the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services and Queensland Treasury and Trade.
• Worked with agencies to ensure the delivery of quality services to vulnerable Queenslanders including options to reduce the administrative burden on the non-government sector that delivers these services.
• Worked with key agencies to implement significant reforms and improvements to Queensland's social housing system.
• Worked with agencies to develop policy responses to meet Queensland’s long-term social challenges and opportunities including: Great teachers = Great results, the Homelessness-to-Housing Strategy 2020, the Queensland Youth Strategy, and the Your Life Your Choice and Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial disability initiatives.

Future directions

• Lead ongoing work with human service agencies to implement the government’s priorities and commitments, including ensuring expenditure is directed to front-line services.
• Lead the development of the government’s response to the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry Report, and work with the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and other relevant departments to implement the 10-year road map for child protection.
• Support the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to improve efficiency and reduce red tape for the not-for-profit sector to assist with more effective delivery of front-line services.
• Work with the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, and Queensland Treasury and Trade to prepare 24 | Annual Report 2012-13 people with a disability, the non-government sector and the government for Queensland’s transition to DisabilityCare Australia.
• Continue to work with Queensland Health to implement the key directions of the Blueprint for better healthcare in Queensland.
• Work with the Department of Education, Training and Employment to ensure professional excellence, boost school autonomy and strengthen discipline in schools by implementing the Great teachers = Great results initiative.
• Support the Department of Education, Training and Employment to deliver 10 new independent schools by 2017, improve school viability and address maintenance backlogs to revitalise schools and ensure students are learning in better facilities.
• Support the development of innovative policy responses to deliver real change in education and health outcomes for Indigenous Queenslanders.
• Work with the Departments of Housing and Public Works, Natural Resources and Mines, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs to remove barriers to home ownership for Indigenous Queenslanders.
• Continue to promote and support strong multicultural communities by ensuring that cultural differences are viewed as a positive and valuable resource for Queensland including working on the Cultural Diversity Policy.
• Continue to work with the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs on the extended Cape York Welfare Reform Trial.
• Continue to work with the Department of Housing and Public Works to implement significant reforms and improvements to Queensland's housing system, including through the Housing 2020 Strategy for social housing, the Logan Renewal Initiative and the Homelessness to Housing Strategy 2020.

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Law and Justice Policy

Law and Justice Policy has a central role in addressing Queensland’s key law and justice issues, including corrective services and prisons, emergency management, police, law reform, crime and sentencing, youth justice, the regulation of the liquor and gaming industry, fair trading and the courts. The area includes the Criminal Justice Research unit that provides specialised research to help the Queensland Government develop coordinated, evidence-based policies on criminal justice issues.

Achievements

• Jointly facilitated with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General (DJAG), the government’s significant litigation directions, including coordination of regular reports by departments to the Premier and Attorney- General.
• Commenced a whole-of-government review of the government’s indemnity guidelines to provide a simpler process for the granting of indemnities to public officers.
• Led a whole-of-government review of government air services to examine whether the government’s air wings could be managed more efficiently and effectively.
• Coordinated a whole-of-government submission to Cabinet on disaster readiness ahead of the 2012 disaster season, including developing a disaster management handbook for senior officers as well as ministerial officers involved in disaster management.
• Coordinated, with the Queensland Police Service, the development of the Cairns Safer Streets initiative, which is a whole-ofgovernment response to crime in Cairns, designed to address crime in a collaborative, holistic manner. The initiative includes:
• the Cairns Safer Streets Task Force, a team of local officers from key agencies, led by a senior police officer, who will work to develop practical, on-the-ground solutions to crime and its causes in Cairns
• a feasibility assessment of payment by outcome models to improve effectiveness of service delivery outcomes, including to address youth and young adult crime.
• Conducted the “Have Your Say” Youth Crime Survey, to gather views from the community about the criminal justice system and possible changes. The information will be provided to the Attorney-General to inform the development of a Blueprint for the Future of Youth Justice.
• Coordinated and monitored whole-of-government implementation of recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry interim and final reports.
• Coordinated the ongoing evaluation of the two year Drink Safe Precinct (DSP) trials, a coordinated, place-based approach to improving safety and reducing alcohol-related violence at three key locations in Queensland — Surfers Paradise, Townsville and Fortitude Valley. The evaluation will provide a stronger evidence base to inform alcohol-related policy in Queensland in the future. It involves close cooperation between relevant Queensland Government agencies, members of the local DSP committees and external researchers.

Future directions

• Lead an ‘open government’ reform project to streamline Queensland’s complaints management system and enhance the overall accountability of government.
• Work with the DJAG to implement recommendations from the Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee’s review of the Crime and Misconduct Commission and the Callinan and Aroney review of the Crime and Misconduct Act 2001.
• Monitor completion of implementation of the recommendations of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry final report.
• Work with DJAG to evaluate the boot camp trial to divert convicted young offenders from custodial detention over two years and prevent ‘at risk’ young people from entering a criminal path.
• Manage the Indigenous Criminal Justice Research Agenda to inform the development of more effective responses to reduce Indigenous crime and offending.
• Coordinate and finalise the evaluation of the DSP trials — a coordinated, place-based approach to planning initiatives to improve safety and reduce alcohol-related violence in Fortitude Valley, Surfers Paradise and Townsville — in close cooperation with relevant government agencies and local DSP committees.
• Continue to work with DJAG to develop options for the government’s consideration of the future of the DSP trials, including considering new statewide models to address alcohol related violence.
• Evaluate the Justice of the Peace Trial, to determine whether it was effective in achieving its goals, including improving clearance rates.
• Work with the Department of Community Safety and the Queensland Police Service on the outcomes of the review of the police and emergency services portfolio by Mr Michael (Mick) Keelty AO APM, former Federal Police Commissioner.
• Work to progress private sector access to the Document Verification Services, to enhance identity security in Queensland.
• Work with Commonwealth and state jurisdictions to progress the development of a national interoperable public safety mobile broadband capability to address the radio communications needs of public safety agencies.

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Environment and Resources Policy

Environment and Resources Policy includes the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Secretariat and is dedicated to providing strategic advice and policy coordination to the Premier and Cabinet on environment, resource management including mining, planning, local government, agriculture, fisheries and forestry issues, national parks, recreation, sport and racing.

Key responsibilities in 2012-13 included the development of policies, programs and legislation for Queensland, and participation in intergovernmental and interdepartmental committees and forums that ensured the government’s agenda was delivered effectively and consistently.

Achievements

• Continued to facilitate cross-government delivery of conservation and Indigenous tenure resolution processes for Cape York Peninsula through the Cape York Peninsula Central Coordination Group.
• Provided strategic leadership in the development of the Queensland Agricultural Strategy and Queensland Agricultural Land Audit, and drought, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry policies to strengthen Queensland’s agricultural sector.
• Contributed to, and managed risks related to the government’s planning reform agenda, including legislative amendments and the implementation of a Single State Planning Policy, the State Assessment and Referral Agency and statutory regional plans.
• Contributed to, and provided strategic leadership in, the development and implementation of the government’s local government reform agenda, including legislative amendments, de-amalgamation, and community recovery and resilience.
• Provided strategic leadership in the National Partnership Agreement on Coal Seam Gas and coordinated preparation of the COAG Reform Council milestone reports to achieve milestone payments.
• Contributed to the establishment of the bulk water price path that reduced water prices for South East Queensland in accordance with the government’s commitment to reduce the cost of living.
• Contributed to resource legislation amendments to ensure timely development of projects and foster industry growth.
• Contributed to the delivery of the government election commitment to reinvigorate Queensland racing, specifically through the establishment of new governance arrangements for the racing sector.
• Facilitated and coordinated the development of an updated Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan), to continue to address water quality in the Great Barrier Reef, released in July 2013.
• Released the Second Reef Water Quality Report Card in April 2013 through the Paddock to Reef Program, which showed encouraging progress towards water quality goals and targets.
• Prepared the (third) Reef Water Quality Report Card 2011, released in July 2013, which confirms management changes and water quality is improving.
• Coordinated the 2013 Scientific Consensus Statement, an independent review and synthesis of advances in scientific knowledge of water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef and the impacts of land use, used to inform the Reef Plan 2013.
• Showcased the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan at the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns in July 2012.

Future directions

• Provide strategic leadership in the delivery of the government’s ongoing planning and local government reform agendas.
• Contribute to the cross-government delivery of the Cape York Peninsula Bioregion Management Plan to allow for an integrated approach to conservation of our natural heritage and appropriate development opportunities for Indigenous communities.
• Provide strategic oversight in implementing Queensland’s Agriculture Strategy including the development of sectoral action plans to underpin delivery of the strategy’s objectives.
• Provide strategic leadership on the government’s response to the draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan and implementation initiatives.
• Provide strategic advice and oversight to the review of Local Management Arrangements for Sunwater Channel Irrigation Schemes.
• Provide input to the management of the growth of the coal and coal seam gas industry in Queensland, including coordinating the implementation of state commitments under national agreements.
• Release and begin implementation of the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan 2013.
• Release further report cards that will demonstrate progress towards the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan goals and targets.
• Contribute to the development of a high quality strategic assessment of the Great Barrier Reef Coastal Zone.

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Economic Policy

Economic Policy is responsible for developing and providing strategic policy advice and options on all aspects of economic development and reform issues in Queensland.

Particular areas of responsibility include economic conditions, fiscal analysis and budget coordination, micro-economic reform issues, labour market analysis and transport, infrastructure, industrial relations, energy, small business and industry policy.

Achievements

• Led and coordinated advice across government on a range of energy issues including electricity pricing and the freeze of residential electricity prices (Tariff 11), and working with Queensland Treasury and Trade on the impact of the carbon price on Queensland.
• Supported Queensland Treasury and Trade to coordinate the 2013-14 Budget process, furthering the government’s goals to fully fund natural disaster reconstruction and achieve a general government-sector fiscal balance by 2015-16.
• Supported Queensland Treasury and Trade on trade issues, including the development of Trade Queensland as a stand-alone body, as well as supporting the Premier’s trade visits.
• Supporting the reform of Queensland’s rail and port infrastructure, including working with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to establish Queensland Rail as a statutory authority.
• Supported Queensland Treasury and Trade to establish new procedures to stop the proliferation of red tape and regulatory burden.
• Supported the Economic Development Board and worked with the Government Land and Asset Management group in the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, to realise the best value from the government’s property portfolio.
• Provided advice on transport and infrastructure matters including the Long Distance Passenger Transport Review, establishment of the Gold Coast Waterways Authority, the Queensland Road Safety Action Plan 2013-2015 and reform of drivers’ licensing and registration.
• Supported development of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Brisbane City Council for the transfer of South Bank and Roma Street Parklands and supported the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning to effect the handover on 30 June 2013.
• Assisted agencies to identify infrastructure priorities, developed submissions for federal government funding and delivered key initiatives, including providing additional inner city rail capacity in Brisbane out to 2020.

Future directions

• Contribute to the 2014-15 State Budget process with Queensland Treasury and Trade to support the government’s goal of identifying efficiencies across government to support achieving a general government sector fiscal balance in 2015-16.
• Provide advice to the government on electricity pricing and transport reform through the work of the Interdepartmental Committees.
• Continue to work with the Public Service Commission and Queensland Treasury and Trade to deliver public sector enterprise bargaining outcomes that support the government’s strategic fiscal and economic goals.
• Continue working closely with the Department of Housing and Public Works to deliver on key government projects, including the CBD Government Administrative Precinct and reform agenda for the agency.
• Continue to provide advice to the Premier on all issues relating to the delivery of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and ensure that the government’s fiscal priorities are adhered to during budget considerations for the games.
• Provide and coordinate advice to the Premier on the progress of initiatives committed to under the DestinationQ Partnership, and other tourism-related programs aimed at meeting the government’s 2020 growth target for the tourism industry to double overnight expenditure to $30 billion by 2020.
• Continue to provide advice to the Premier on issues regarding trade and investment and industry development, including the development of the government’s trade strategy and ongoing government support for priority industries as part of supporting Queensland’s economic growth through tourism, resources, construction and agriculture
• Provide continued support to Queensland Treasury and Trade and the Office of Best Practice Regulation to review and reduce the regulatory burden, and the number of pages of State Regulation by 20 per cent by 2018.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of the government’s science and innovation strategies and delivery of the government’s commitments on using scientific evidence to inform policy.
• Support the government to deliver key policy priorities for transport and infrastructure including agreed recommendations of the Commission of Audit, continued reform of rail and ports, assessment of service delivery models for the Camera Detected Offence Program and cutting red tape in driver licensing and registration.
• Continue to support the government in seeking federal government funding for key infrastructure priorities including the Bruce Highway, Inner Brisbane Rail Capacity, Toowoomba Second Range Crossing and the Gateway Upgrade North.
• Provide advice to the Premier on transport and infrastructure policy and priorities, and assist in identifying delivery options which support achievement of a general government sector fiscal balance in 2015-16.

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Intergovernmental Relations

Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) provides a foundation for collaboration across government to ensure that the Premier and Director-General are provided advice and support on a range of intergovernmental issues at a national and international level, including the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) and in regard to international treaties.

Achievements

• Supported the Premier at the July 2012, December 2012 and April 2013 COAG meetings focusing on significant national education reforms, national disability care reforms, royal succession and other COAG-related activities including:
• the development and endorsement of national partnerships, intergovernmental agreements and implementation plans
• the coordination of Queensland Government involvement in the review of expiring national partnerships, in consultation with Queensland Treasury and Trade
• providing support on a range of areas, such as business regulation and competition, mental health, environmental regulation, sustainability and congestion, Public Sector Mobile Broadband spectrum allocation, early childhood education, disaster resilience, health, education, social housing and Closing the Gap on Indigenous Disadvantage.
• Supported the Premier as a member of CAF.
• Supported the Premier as a member of the national Business Advisory Forum.
• Coordinated development and implementation of the Queensland Government Principles for Intergovernmental Activities, including reviewing existing national partnerships and project agreements, developed and maintained a register of Intergovernmental Agreements, and coordinated reporting on the implementation of national partnerships and project agreements to the Premier and Cabinet in consultation with Queensland Treasury and Trade.
• Represented and supported the government in existing treaty-related forums (e.g. the Torres Strait Treaty), supported the Premier in agreeing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Papua New Guinea to support training and implementation of service delivery, and represented Queensland at the Standing Committee on Treaties. This role included facilitating the government’s input to the Commonwealth’s treaty-making process, through the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
• Managed the Queensland Government’s relationship with cross-border communities, particularly, with the NSW Cross-Border Commissioner, including:
• providing advice and funding to evaluate health services in the Goondiwindi area
• overseeing a review of cross-border policing issues, through liaison with the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.
• Facilitated the government’s liaison with the Australian Defence Force through the annual Queensland-Defence Consultative Forum on 22 May 2013, and coordinated the Queensland Government submission to the Defence White Paper 2013.

Future directions

• Coordinate Queensland Government policy development to support reform of the Australian Federation, including institutional architecture and reform processes.
• Support the Premier and coordinate Queensland Government agencies’ involvement in the Queensland-Papua New Guinea Government Exchange Taskforce.
• Coordinate the development of whole-of-government policy on issues of national significance through the COAG process.
• Coordinate Queensland’s COAG program of work and progress implementation of related commitments, including negotiating proposed new intergovernmental agreements and funding relations and ensuring these are implemented.
• Support the Premier as a member of CAF to advocate the government’s position on key policy decisions including interstate harmonisation and promotion of a more efficient and effective system of federalism.
• Continue to represent and support the government in key treaty-related forums (e.g. Torres Strait Treaty) and represent the government at the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties.
• Continue to facilitate government liaison with the Australian Defence Force through the annual Queensland-Defence Consultative Forum.

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Cabinet Services - Cabinet Secretariat

Cabinet Secretariat provides strategic and operational support to Cabinet and to the Premier as Chair of Cabinet. Support is also provided to Cabinet Committees and Community Cabinet meetings.

Achievements

• Managed the Cabinet processes to ensure comprehensive and informed opportunities for policy deliberation.
• Coordinated and managed 443 Cabinet and 194 Cabinet Committee submissions.
• Provided support to 51 Cabinet meetings and 51 Cabinet Committee meetings.
• Organised and supported nine Community Cabinet meetings.
• Prepared and managed the publication of 188 proactive release Cabinet decision summaries.
• Conducted the successful implementation of the new Cabinet Information System, TCIS across government for the secure coordination and transmission of Cabinet documents.
• Provided training and support for TCIS.

Future directions

• Continue to support Cabinet’s engagement with the community through Community Cabinets, giving a wider cross-section of people in regional Queensland the opportunity to talk directly to Ministers and other top government decision makers.
• Support the government’s Cabinet and Cabinet Committee forward agenda as it implements its priorities and commitments.

Cabinet Services - Performance Unit

The Performance Unit monitors performance and delivery of government commitments and decisions, and provides advice to the Premier and Cabinet on performance. It also supports agencies to improve the implementation of the Queensland Government Performance Management Framework (PMF).

Achievements

• Supported the delivery of the government’s priorities and assisted in improving the performance of public services.
• Provided leadership and worked with government agencies to improve the quality of planning, measuring and monitoring performance and public reporting.
• Supported the Premier and Cabinet in managing the government’s commitments and regularly reported on their implementation and delivery.
• Coordinated the preparation and publication of the Final report six month action plan July-December 2012, the January-June 2013 six month action plan and its corresponding final report and the July-December 2013 six-month action plan.
• Supported departments to improve the implementation aspects of Cabinet documentation so that Ministers are informed of the implementation and delivery challenges associated with specific policy initiatives.
• Continued to improve implementation of the Queensland Government Performance Management Framework including publishing updates to the Agency Planning Requirements, Annual report requirements for Queensland Government agencies and the 2013-14 strategic management planner.
• Represented Queensland on the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision and chaired the cross-jurisdictional Children’s Services Working Group for the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services.

Future directions

• Continue to improve the Queensland Government PMF.
• Review and streamline performance monitoring and reporting processes of government commitments provided to the Premier and Cabinet.
• Work closely with Queensland Government departments to monitor and report progress on government commitments and decisions.
• Work closely with Queensland Treasury and Trade to enhance the performance information presented in budget papers and support agencies to implement these reforms.

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Priority Projects Division

In February 2012, the Priority Projects Division was formed to provide strategic advice to the Premier, with the responsibility of leading delivery of key Queensland Government priority projects including The Queensland Plan: a 30-year vision for Queensland, Open Data and One Stop Shop initiatives.

During 2012-13 Priority Projects contributed to the department’s strategic planning objectives by leading the development of The Queensland Plan and implementing the Open Data and One Stop Shop initiatives as outlined below.

Achievements

• Directly engaged with Queenslanders to begin development of The Queensland Plan, a shared vision for the next 30 years.
• Delivered the first The Queensland Plan Mackay Summit in May where more than 400 representatives came together to develop the questions to be put to all Queenslanders.
• Delivered a The Queensland Plan peak bodies’ workshop where more than 140 industry and community representatives provided input into the development of The Queensland Plan.
• Led the development and implementation of the Open Data initiative as a priority project in the Premier’s drive to deliver an open and accountable government, as well as innovative new services and solutions for Queenslanders.
• Jointly coordinated the delivery of an open data portal as a central location for publicly released Queensland Government data.
• Jointly led the whole-of-government collaboration on the One Stop Shop initiative to design seamless and simple access to Queensland Government services for our customers.

Future Directions

• Lead consultation with Queenslanders to inform the development of The Queensland Plan as a shared long term vision for our state’s future.
• Deliver a major summit in October 2013 with a representative cross section of Queenslanders to develop The Queensland Plan.
• Lead the development of the government response to The Queensland Plan, including its implementation plan.
• Ongoing engagement with local governments, industry and community representatives to ensure that The Queensland Plan is delivered.
• Continue to lead the cultural change across the Queensland Government required to prioritise the release of public sector data for reuse in developing innovative new services and solutions.
• Engage with industry to align the Open Data initiative with their needs and expectations.
• Jointly lead the implementation of the One Stop Shop initiative with a focus on the consistent delivery of government services online and by phone to provide seamless and simple access to customers.

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