Appendix 4. Mandatory Reporting

Work health and safety

Workplace health and safety matters are standing agenda items that are routinely discussed at a variety of organisational reporting meetings such as quarterly HR reporting to the Senior Executive Management group, the Operational Plan and the Staff Participation Forum.

In 2013-14 as part of the relocation to the new building at 243 Northbourne Avenue, Lyneham, the NBA underwent a Work Health Safety Management System Review to ascertain any workplace safety risks or areas of concern. Leading from the review were 10 recommendations which were relatively minor and were easily achieved with little change and at limited cost. In summary the NBA was noted as having taken a strong commitment to the provision of a high standard of Work Health and Safety (WHS) in establishing arrangements in the new office and is to be highly commended for its current level of performance in relation to WHS performance.

The NBA purchased an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the NBA to use in an emergency situation where one of our employees or visitors may need its use. There is no legislative requirement for the NBA to have a defibrillator on its premises; however, Comcare recognises that it is good practice for organisations to have an AED on site that is easily accessible and clearly signed.

There were no reportable incidents lodged with Comcare during the reporting year.

Initiatives that were undertaken by the NBA during the year to maintain its ongoing commitment to a safe and secure workplace included:

  • the continued availability of workstation assessments for all new starters as well as assessments for existing staff who felt it necessary for their wellbeing
  • access to the employee assistance programme.

Advertising and market research

Section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires particulars of all amounts greater than $12,400 paid during a financial year to advertising agencies, market research organisations, polling organisations, direct mail organisations and media advertising organisations. The NBA made no payments of this kind in 2013–14.

Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

The NBA continued to pursue activities that support the ecologically sustainable principles outlined in Section 3A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. During 2013-14, this included the following examples:

  • recycling into three streams of waste – co-mingled material, paper and printer cartridges
  • purchasing 100 per cent GreenPower for electricity use and offsetting air travel through the GreenFleet program
  • encouraging staff to recycle and re-use existing stationery before ordering new supplies
  • maintaining paper use reduction initiatives such as defaulting printer settings to print double sided and in black and white and using 100 per cent recycled paper
  • running the air conditioning systems on timers and occupancy sensors to ensure operation only during business hours when the immediate area is occupied
  • participating in Earth Hour – the office was fully compliant and all staff were encouraged to participate
  • ensuring that through purchasing activities further improvements were made within blood product supply contracts
  • implemented an electronic document and records management system
  • as a result of moving into a new tenancy in February 2013 and introducing new measures, the average monthly power consumption has reduced from approximately 15,380 kWh to 11,323 kWh.

In summary, Table 5.3 provides information on the impact the NBA’s activities have on the natural environment. The NBA continues to look at ways to further reduce the impact on the environment.

TABLE 5.3 NBA Environmental performance indicators

Theme Performance measure Indicator(s) 2011-121 2012-132 2013-143
Energy efficiency Total consumption of energy Amount of electricity consumed (kWh) 154,160 kWh 184,564 kWh 135,882 kWh
Amount of gas consumed (MJ) 0 MJ 0 MJ 0 MJ
Amount of other fuels consumed ($/kWh/MJ/L) 0 0 0
Air travel distances (km) 743,949 kms 703,227 kms 878,974 kms
Total consumption of green energy Amount of green energy purchased/consumed ($/kWh) 154,16 kWh 184,564 kWh 135,882 kWh
Greenhouse gas emissions Amount of greenhouse gases produced (tonnes) 0 tonnes4 0 tonnes5 0 tonnes6
Relative energy uses Amount of green energy purchased divided by the amount of electricity consumed 100% 100% 100%
Amount of total energy consumed (kWh) per employee 2,964 kWh 3,025 kWh 2,123 kWh8
Waste Total waste production Amount of waste produced (tonnes) 7.09 tonnes 9.93 tonnes 9.88 tonnes
Un-recyclable waste production Amount of waste going to landfills (tonnes) 3.69 tonnes 2.95 tonnes 2.95 tonnes
Recyclable waste production (excluding office paper) Amount of waste going to recycling facilities (tonnes) 0.486 tonnes 1.071 tonnes 1.162 tonnes
Paper waste production Amount of waste paper going to recycling facilities (tonnes) 2.918 tonnes 5.909 tonnes7 5.77 tonnes
Amount of paper sourced from recyclable sources (tonnes) 2.075 tonnes 0.925 tonnes 1.474 tonnes
Percentage of paper sourced from recyclable sources (per cent) 96% 43%8 96%9
Use of renewable/recyclable products Amount of products sourced from renewable/recyclable sources (tonnes) 96% 43% 1.533 tonnes10
Relative waste production Amount of total waste (tonnes) per employee 0.136 tonnes 0.16 tonnes 0.15 tonnes
Water Total consumption of water Amount of water consumed (L) 369,999 L 393,846 L 400,000 L
Grey water/rainwater capture and use Not applicable to NBA tenancies na na na
Relative consumption/use of water Amount of total water use (L) per employee 7,115 L 6,456 L 6,250 L

1Calculations for per employee figures have been based on 52 FTE.

2The NBA moved to a new tenancy in February 2013; however, the lease for the old tenancy was still effective as at 30 June 2013. Calculations for per employee figures have been based on 53 FTE and 8 contractors.

3 Calculations for per employee figures have been based on 64 people (49 FTE and 15 contractors).

4Electricity fully off-set through 100% green energy purchased and the NBA off-set 743,949 kms in air travel through the GreenFleet programme.

5Electricity fully off-set through 100% green energy purchased and the NBA off-set 703,227 kms in air travel through the GreenFleet programme.

6Electricity fully off-set through 100% green energy purchased and the NBA off-set 878,974 kms in air travel through the GreenFleet programme.

7Increase due to office relocation in February 2013 and consolidation of material.

8The significant decrease is due to the majority of paper purchased being certified carbon neutral under the National Carbon Offset Standard Carbon Neutral Programme - http://www.climatechange.gov.au/climate-change/carbon-neutral/national-carbon-offset- standard-ncos

9Majority of paper sourced was 100% recycled

10Previous years data provided as a percentage when it should have been provided in tonnes

Grant programmes

Information on grants awarded by the NBA during the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014 is available at www.blood.gov.au/governmental-compliance.

The NBA did not administer any discretionary grants during 2013–14.

Disability reporting

Since 1994, Commonwealth departments and agencies have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007–08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service Report and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010–11, departments and agencies were no longer required to report on these functions.

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been overtaken by the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020, which sets out a ten year national policy framework to improve the lives of people with disability, promote participation and create a more inclusive society. A high level two-yearly report will track progress against each of the six outcome areas of the Strategy and present a picture of how people with disability are faring. The first of these reports will be available in late 2014, and can be found at www.dss.gov.au.

Information Publication Scheme statement

Agencies subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) are required to publish information to the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). This requirement is in Part II of the FOI Act and has replaced the former requirement to publish a section 8 statement in an annual report. Each agency must display on its website a plan showing what information it publishes in accordance with the IPS requirements.

A copy of the NBA IPS Plan and associated published documents can be located at http://www.blood.gov.au/ips .

Errata

2012-13 NBA Annual Report

p21.

Table 2.1 Blood and blood products purchased, by suppliers, 2008-09 to 2012-13
The 2011-12 figure for Bayer Australia Limited Imported Plasma and Recombinant Products of 18.67 is incorrect and should be 11.30.

p23.

Table 2.2 Fresh blood expenditure: increases on 2003-04 base year
The total average growth (%) value of 8.4 is incorrect and should be 9.3.

Agency resource statements

The agency resource statement provides details of the funding sources that the NBA drew upon in 2013-14. In addition, it provides information about special accounts balances to be carried over to 2014-15.

Actual available appropriation for 2013-14
$’000
Payments
made
2013-14
$’000
Balance
remaining
2013-14
$’000
(a) (b) (a)-(b)
Ordinary Annual Services1
Departmental appropriation2 6,228 6,087 141
Total 6,228 6,087 141
Administered expenses
Outcome 13 7,544 7,544
Total 7,544 7,544
Total ordinary annual services 13,772 13,631
Special Accounts4
Opening balance 247,550
Appropriation receipts5 13,749
Non-appropriation receipts to
Special Accounts 1,153,385
Payments made 1,114,625
Total Special Account 1,414,684 1,114,625 300,059
Total resourcing and payments 1,428,456 1,128,256

1 Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2013-14 and Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2013-14. This may also include Prior Year departmental appropriation and section 31 relevant agency receipts.

2 Includes an amount of $0.115 million in 2013-14 for the Departmental Capital Budget. For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’.

3 Includes an amount of $nil in 2013-14 for the Administered Capital Budget.

4 Does not include ‘Special Public Money’ held in accounts like Other Trust Monies account (OTM). Services for other Government and Non-agency Bodies accounts (SOG), or Services for Other Entities and Trust Moneys Special accounts (SOETM).

5 Appropriation receipts from National Blood Authority annual appropriations for 2013-14 included above.

Resource for outcomes

This table provides details of the total funding for each outcome. In 2013-14 the NBA operated under a single outcome.

Outcome 1: Australia’s blood supply is secure and well managed Budget* 2013-14
$’000
Actual Expenses 2013-14
$’000
Variation 2013-14
$’000
(a) (b) (a)-(b)
Program 1.1: National blood agreement management
Administered expenses
Ordinary Annual Services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) 7,544 7,544 -
Special Accounts 1,127,414 1,052,096 75,318
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation1 6,205 6,087 118
Special Accounts 9,589 9,398 191
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the Budget year 761 1,289 (528)
Total for Programme 1.1 1,151,513 1,076,141 75,099
Total expenses for Outcome 1 1,151,513 1,076,141 75,099
 
2012-13 2013-14
Average Staffing Level (number) 51.5 53.5

* Full year budget, including any subsequent adjustment made to the 2013-14 Budget.

1 Departmental Appropriation combines “Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)” and “Revenue from independent sources (s31)”.