This annual report is presented to Parliament to meet the statutory reporting requirements of Public Sector Act 2009, Public Sector Regulations 2010 and Public Finance and Audit Act 1987 and meets the requirements of Premier and Cabinet Circular PC013 Annual Reporting.
This report is verified to be accurate for the purposes of annual reporting to the Parliament of South Australia. Submitted on behalf of the Electoral Commission of South Australia by:
Mick Sherry
ELECTORAL COMMISSIONER
Content included in 2016-17 Annual Report below:
- Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public
- Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987
- Agency purpose or role
- Objectives
- Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives
- Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency
- Legislation administered by the agency
- Organisation of the agency
- Other agencies related to this agency (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)
- Employment opportunity programs
- Agency performance management and development systems
- Occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs of the agency and their effectiveness
- Fraud detected in the agency
- Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud
- Whistle-blowers’ disclosure
- Executive employment in the agency
- Consultants
- Financial performance of the agency
- Other information requested by the Minister(s) or other significant issues affecting the agency or reporting pertaining to independent functions
- Section B: Reporting required under any other act or regulation
- Nil to report
- Section C: Reporting of public complaints as requested by the Ombudsman.
- Summary of complaints by subject
- Appendix: Audited financial statements 2016-17
Section A
Section A: Reporting required under the Public Sector Act 2009, the Public Sector Regulations 2010 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1987
Agency purpose or role
To provide services which enable the fair and independent election of government and governing bodies and which help and encourage the community to participate with confidence and trust in the democratic processes of representation.
Objectives
The Electoral Commission of South Australia (ECSA) conducts fair and independent state, local government and nominated agency government elections and utilises its skill base to support non-government electoral activities and offer electoral advice across all community sectors.
A range of electoral services and products are provided, covering the parliamentary and non-parliamentary sectors, including:
- conduct of elections for representatives to sit in the state parliament, local
- government authorities and other organisations (attendance or postal voting)
- monitoring and reporting disclosures of donations and campaign expenditure for registered political parties, candidates, agents and third parties
- administering the public funding for election campaigns for registered political parties and candidates
- reimbursements of administrative expenditure incurred by registered political parties
- electoral education and information provision for the South Australian community
- research and evaluation of electoral matters
- electoral roll products and maps
- support for parliamentary electoral district boundary and council boundary representation reviews.
Key strategies and their relationship to SA Government objectives
| Key strategy | SA Government objective |
| Achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the conduct of elections | Public Sector Act 2009 Principle 4 Excellence 14. A Modern Public Service / Innovation |
| Improve support provided to stakeholders to enable them to participate more effectively | Target 23: Social participation: Increase the proportion of South Australians participating in social, community and economic activities by 2020. |
| Achieve business continuity and efficiencies through responsive and flexible work practices | Public Sector Act 2009 Principle 5 Employer of Choice and Target 13 Work-life balance (detail below) |
| Invest in our people and promote our values | Target 13: Work-Life Balance: Improve the quality of life of all South Australians through maintenance of a healthy work-life balance. |
| Promote a healthy and safe work environment | Target 21: Greater Safety at work: Achieve a 40% reduction in injury by 2012 and a further 50% reduction by 2022. |
Agency programs and initiatives and their effectiveness and efficiency
Program: Parliamentary Electoral Services
Ensures the delivery of parliamentary electoral services for the South Australian community.
Indicators of performance/effectiveness/efficiency
| 2017–18 Target | 2016–17 Estimated Result | 2016–17 Target | 2015–16 Actual | |
| No. of elections challenged and upheld due to administrative error | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| % of monthly member of parliament electoral roll extracts provided within seven days of end of month processing | 90% | 100% | 90% | 100% |
| % of people eligible to vote enrolled on the roll | >90% | >90% | >90% | 96.1% |
| Size of the variance between initial results and any required recount | 0.002 | n.a. | 0.002 | n.a. |
| % of parliamentary elections declared within 18 days of poll close | 98% | n.a. | 98% | n.a. |
| No. of education activities delivered | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| No. of research projects completed | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Comments
Enabled eligible South Australians to be enrolled on the electoral roll and to understand their democratic rights and obligations.
Program: Non-Parliamentary Electoral Services
The delivery of non-parliamentary electoral services for South Australian organisations and the community at large.
Indicators of performance/effectiveness/efficiency
| 2017–18 Target | 2016–17 Estimated Result | 2016–17 Target | 2015–16 Actual | |
| No. of elections challenged and upheld due to administrative error | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| % of rolls provided to councils within five days of roll closure | 95% | 100% | 95% | 100% |
| No. of information and research programs | 3 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Size of the variance between initial results and any required recount | 0.002 | n.a. | 0.002 | n.a. |
| % of non-parliamentary elections and polls provisionally declared within 12 working hours from poll close | 95% | 100% | 95% | 100% |
Comments
Provided election and information services to the community at the local level.
Legislation administered by the agency
The Electoral Commissioner is responsible for the administration of the Electoral Act and, as at 30 June 2017, was the mandated electoral authority for the following:
| Enabling legislation | Recipient | Members Elected | Term | Due |
| Electoral Act 1985 | State of South Australia | 47 HA 11 LC |
4 years | Mar 2018 |
| City of Adelaide Act 1998 Schedule 1 |
City of Adelaide | Lord Mayor 11 Councillors |
4 years | Nov 2018 |
| Local Government (Elections) Act 1999 |
All other councils (excl Roxby Downs) |
50 Mayor 645 Councillors |
4 years | Nov 2018 |
| Superannuation Funds Management Corporation of South Australia Act 1995 Superannuation Funds Management Corporation of South Australia Regulations 1995 |
South Australian Superannuation Funds Management Corporation |
1 | 3 years | Sept 2018 |
| Superannuation Act 1988 Superannuation Regulations 2001 |
Superannuation Board | 2 | 3 years | Sept 2018 |
| South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Act 1992 |
South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board |
3 | 3 years | Sept 2019 |
| Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 |
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands Council |
10 | 3 years | Aug 2018 |
Other administered items the Commissioner is responsible for include:
- serving as a member of the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission that convenes following each State election to review House of Assembly electoral district boundaries
- ensuring that boundary changes are effected onto the roll management database
- certifying local government elector representation reviews under the Local Government Act
Organisation of the agency
The Electoral Commission SA is composed of five branches that provide professional and impartial electoral services for South Australians.
Other agencies related to this agency (within the Minister’s area/s of responsibility)
Nil to report
Employment opportunity programs
The Commission did not have any employment opportunity programs in 2016-17.
Agency performance management and development systems
| Performance management and development system | Assessment of effectiveness and efficiency |
| The Commission’s Performance Management and Development Program has been an ongoing process of formal and informal discussions with each permanent employee. |
All permanent employees have received a documented review and discussion regarding the individual’s performance management in relation to the year ended 30 June 2017. |
Occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs of the agency and their effectiveness
| Occupational health, safety and rehabilitation programs | Effectiveness |
| Safety and wellbeing is part of the induction process. | All new employees have been given a detailed, structured briefing from a Health and Safety Representative covering work health and safety (WHS) processes and procedures during their induction. |
| WHS Committee established under section 75 of the Work Health and Safety Act | All new employees have been given a detailed, structured briefing from a Health and Safety Representative covering work health and safety (WHS) processes and procedures during their induction. |
| Accountability for safety and wellbeing. | Staff have been encouraged to utilise leave and flexible working arrangements to maintain a healthy work-life balance. WHS matters are discussed at each staff meeting, with regular updates provided to staff via the Health and Safety Representatives, email, the WHS noticeboard and work place safety reference materials and initiatives. In 2016-17, WHS issues were addressed immediately where possible, or referred to building management for action and follow up. |
| Employee assistance program (EAP) | The EAP provides confidential counselling and support from professionally qualified psychologists and counsellors to all employees and immediate family members for issues that are impacting on their wellbeing. A new provider, Corporate Health Group, was engaged in 2016-17 to provide a secure, confidential service to employees. |
Fraud detected in the agency
There were no instances of fraud detected by the Commission during 2016-17.
Strategies implemented to control and prevent fraud
The following strategies are employed to prevent and control fraud:
- The Commission has adopted the all-purpose policy with respect to the prevention, detection and control of fraud, corruption and other criminal conduct, maladministration and misconduct in connection with the activities of the agency issued by the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment during the year.
- All employees are required in the course of the performance of their duties to take action to prevent, detect and report suspected fraud or corruption by an employee, contractor or third party in accordance with the Commission’s Fraud and Corruption Control Policy.
- The Auditor-General’s department reviews financial and internal control procedures to reduce the risk of fraud.
Data for the past five years is available from previous Annual Reports.
Whistle-blowers’ disclosure
There have been no occasions on which public interest information has been disclosed to a responsible officer of the agency under the Whistle-blowers’ Protection Act 1993.
Data for the past five years is available from previous Annual Reports.
Executive employment in the agency
| Executive classification | Number of executives |
| Electoral Commissioner (ELECCM) | 1 |
| Deputy Electoral Commissioner (ELEDCM) | 1 |
Data for the past five years is available at previous Annual Reports.
For further information, the Office for the Public Sector has a data dashboard for further
information on the breakdown of executive gender, salary and tenure by agency.
Consultants
No external consultants were engaged by the Commission in 2016-17.
Data for the past five years is available from previous Annual Reports.
See also Tenders SA for a list of all external consultancies, including nature of work and value. See also the Consolidated Financial
Report of the Department of Treasury and Finance for total value of consultancy contracts across the SA Public Sector.
Financial performance of the agency
The following is a brief summary of the overall financial position of the agency compared with the previous financial year. The information is unaudited. Full audited financial statements for 2016-17 are attached to this report. A comparison of the results with the State Budget is contained in the financial statements.
Overview – Controlled activities
The Commission’s net cost of providing services was $4.309 million in 2016-17 compared with $3.975 million in 2015-16, an increase of $334,000, mainly due to the derecognition of capitalised costs amounting to $467,000 in relation to internally developed computer software. Allowing for this expense, the net cost of providing services was slightly less than the previous year.
Summary income statement
| $’000 | Actual result 2016-17 |
Actual result 2015-16 |
Variance |
| Expenses | 5034 | 4798 | 236 |
| Income (excluding revenue from government) | 725 | 823 | (98) |
| Net cost of providing services | 4309 | 3 975 | 334 |
Expenses by category 2016-17
Income from operating activities was $725,000 in 2016-17, compared with $823,000 in 2015-16, a decrease of $98,000, mainly due to the conduct of the Super SA board election in 2015-16.
Summary statement of financial position
| $’000 | Actual 2016-17 |
Actual 2015-16 |
Variance |
| Current assets | 4682 | 4206 | 476 |
| Non-current assets | 412 | 656 | (244) |
| Total assets | 5094 | 4862 | 232 |
| Current liabilities | 441 | 369 | 72 |
| Non-current liabilities | 547 | 520 | 27 |
| Total liabilities | 988 | 889 | 99 |
| Net assets | 4106 | 3973 | 133 |
Overview – Administered activities
The net result of activities administered by the Electoral Commission SA in 2016-17 was a surplus of $21,000, compared with a surplus of $80,000 in 2015-16.
Summary income statement
| $’000 | Actual 2016-17 |
Actual 2015-16 |
Variance |
| Expenses | 512 | 720 | (208) |
| Revenues (including revenue from government) | 533 | 800 | (267) |
| Net result | 21 | 80 | (59) |
Expenses in 2016-17 were $512,000, compared with $720,000 in 2015-16, a decrease of $208,000 mainly due to lower salary costs following the retirement of the previous Electoral Commissioner in March 2016 and the appointment of the current Electoral Commissioner in February 2017.
Revenues in 2016-17 were commensurately lower, combined with lower appropriation required in relation to the conclusion of the Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission activities in the current year.
Other financial information
Nil to report
Other information requested by the Minister(s) or other significant issues affecting the agency or reporting pertaining to independent functions
Nil to report
Section B
Section B: Reporting required under any other act or regulation
| Name and date of act or regulation Nil to report |
Section C
Summary of complaints by subject
| Public complaints received by Electoral Commission of SA | |
| Category of complaints by subject | Number of instances |
| Service quality/delivery | 0 |
| Behaviour of staff | 0 |
| Service access/processes/procedures | 0 |
| Other complaints | 0 |
At the time of reporting, ECSA is in the process of drafting a Feedback and Complaints Policy and associated procedures. It is anticipated that this will be issued in the next reporting period.
Appendix: Audited financial statements 2016-17
Appendix: Audited financial statements 2016-17
For this section please refer to the PDFAnnual Report 2016-2017 (PDF 839 KB)