14 November, 2012

A reminder for Ros Bates





Prompted by comments by Henry Palaszczuk on twitter, I thought it might be prudent to remind Ros Bates of the Charter of Ministerial Responsibilities that was kindly provided by Premier Newman.....











10 April 2012


The Honourable Ros Bates MP
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Level 5, Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000


Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Congratulations on your success in the electorate of Mudgeeraba and thank you for accepting my invitation to serve Queensland as the Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts.                       

Our electoral success was achieved with a strong cohesive CanDo team committed to real change, and your contribution to the team played a significant part.  Queenslanders have voted for change, and it is critical that we respect the trust bestowed on us by delivering on our commitments to grow a four pillar economy, lower the cost of living by cutting waste, deliver better infrastructure and better planning, revitalise front line services for families, restore accountability in Government and work towards our goal of achieving 4% unemployment in six years.

For this reason, I am writing to each Minister outlining my expectations of the priority tasks to be achieved to deliver on our election commitments.   You and your Department have a vital role to play in the reform program, as reflected in the following tasks for which I am requesting you to take responsibility. 

I expect that at all times Ministers will demonstrate to the public the capabilities and behaviours that will define us as the Government we undertook to be – united, energetic, disciplined and ethical. I refer you to the Queensland Cabinet Handbook, the Queensland Ministerial Handbook, the Queensland Executive Council Handbook, the Queensland Parliamentary Procedures Handbook and the Queensland Legislation Handbook.

First Term Tasks
·         Implement all LNP election policy commitments relevant to your portfolio.
·         Identify wasteful expenditure that could be redirected to front line services.
·         Ensure a consistent approach to IT systems and applications across Government to enable effective and efficient delivery of front line services.
·         Audit current IT systems, applications and support services being used by all State Government agencies including how they enable effective and efficient delivery of front line services, limitations, faults and risks; and implement a strategy to ensure continued use of endorsed systems and applications for the next three years without failure; and specifically: 
-          Ensure that further operating losses are not incurred relating to the Centre for Information Technology and Communication (CITEC);
-          Support the Minister for Health in resolving the Health payroll debacle.
-          Decide if migrating to managed services would be the best solution for 13 Queensland Government agencies currently receiving assistance through CITEC;
-          Review the benefits management plan for both Identity, Directory and Email Services (IDES) and ICTC outlining performance measures, agency migration plans, estimated migration costs, savings and benefits.
-          Define timelines for (IDES) to ensure there are no further delays in this program.
-          Liaise with the Health Minister in relation to the IeMR server contract signed before the 2012 caretaker period.
·         Deliver the LNP’s election policy Science and Innovation for Economic Success, in consultation with Ministerial colleagues.
·         Oversee policy development for the Digital Economy.
·         Provide direction and policy development regarding the Queensland Government Chief Information Officer (CIO). Your priority will be to bring to Cabinet your recommendations for future roles of the CIO, including consideration of the CIO’s role and activities across the whole of government.
·         Establish mechanisms for research and development coordination and planning and innovation across sectors involving government agencies, universities and industry, including international collaborations, to improve Queensland’s economic performance with more effective and efficient services.
·         Deliver the LNP’s election policy Arts for all Queenslanders.
·         Establish a Super Star Fund to promote our growing performing arts industry which organisations can apply for, to develop a major local production featuring an internationally known artist or artists.
·         Establish a Regional Arts Fund to extend the reach of current touring programs and to ensure that major State companies such as the Queensland Theatre Company, the Queensland Ballet, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Opera Queensland are supported in their goal of touring high quality arts experiences annually to regional Queensland.
·         Develop and implement a strategy for the growth of the arts sector in Queensland including a commercially oriented approach to artistic events and performances and facilities to have wide impact for Queensland communities.
·         Foster a ‘community of arts’ across Queensland involving artists and performers, for profit and not for profit organisations and community organisations and teaching institutions to contribute to the growth of the arts sector.
·         Implement the LNP’s election commitment for sustainable public sector growth.
·         Implement the LNP’s election commitment to reduce red tape.
·         Continue to establish effective working relationships with stakeholders and other interest groups relevant to your portfolio areas.

Existing government strategies and programs
In addition, there are existing strategies and programs implemented by previous governments which need to be examined.  Such strategies and programs need to be assessed to decide if and how they might be retained, either in their existing or an altered form.  You are to assess and make recommendations on the Smart State Strategy.    

Could you please consult with your Director-General to ensure these goals are understood by the Department and that systems are in place to monitor and report on progress towards their achievement, so that you are able to update Cabinet regularly. In this regard, the Department of Premier and Cabinet will be responsible for coordinating reports to Cabinet on progress, and will assist your Department with proposed reporting formats. 

I intend to review this charter and your efforts to implement it regularly.

Finally, I congratulate you again on your appointment and I look forward to working closely with you as a Ministerial colleague as we implement our policies and achieve the goal of providing a CanDo Government to get Queensland back on track.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND


and then a Supplementary letter......

16 April 2012


The Honourable Ros Bates MP
Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts
Level 5, Executive Building
100 George Street
BRISBANE QLD 4000


Dear Minister

Ministerial Deliverables

Further to my letter of 10 April 2012, I write to clarify certain issues regarding your role and responsibilities as a Minister in my LNP Government.

As you are aware, the dissolution of the former Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) in particular, and MoG changes in other Departments have presented some issues regarding the placement and role of government scientific officers.

It is my intention that scientists from DERM and certain other Departments, and their functions, should be transferred to your Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, and that the expertise and services of these scientists should be made available to other Ministers and Departments to perform specific research, projects and tasks.

Therefore, I am tasking you with establishing and maintaining a new system to provide other Ministers and Departments with appropriate access via your Department to scientific assistance to meet their various requirements.

It is my further intention that you take over responsibility for the management and administration of CorpTech, Queensland Shared Services (QSS), and Smart Services Queensland (SSQ) from the Department of Housing and Public Works as part of your Department and portfolio responsibilities.

Yours sincerely





CAMPBELL NEWMAN
PREMIER OF QUEENSLAND

cc: Hon Andrew Powell MP, Hon Andrew Cripps MP, Hon Bruce Flegg MP

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