27.10.2015
The Government’s reform agenda and timelines are crucial to the ALRC meeting its performance expectations and this both determines the number and scope of inquiries that are referred to the ALRC. The ALRC would normally work on two inquiries at any one time. In 2014–15, the ALRC worked on three inquiries, but as at June 2015, the ALRC is working on only one inquiry. These external factors impact on the ALRC’s ability to achieve its outcome and to meet its performance targets. In addition, the Government’s own program and priorities determine when and how it considers completed ALRC inquiries and both the timing for and the rate at which ALRC recommendations are implemented.
The ALRC must negotiate a new Enterprise Agreement and find further productivity savings as part of this process—a challenge in a small single-outcome focused agency.