Transport Canberra has developed a governance framework that consists of a suite of policies and procedures or work instructions about how, where and to whom the business delivers its services.
What is governance?
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO, 2003) defines governance as the process by which organisations are directed, controlled and held to account. Transport Canberra delivers public transport to the ACT community. It is a wholly Government owned and operated business and therefore subscribes to public sector governance.
What is public sector governance?
The ANAO describes public sector governance as the manner in which public sector organisations acquit their responsibilities of stewardship by being open, accountable and prudent in decision making, in providing policy advice, in managing and delivering programs and in demonstrating leadership.
The ANAO goes on to say that good governance is about both:
- performance - how an agency uses its governance arrangements to contribute to overall performance and the delivery of goods, services or programmes, and
- conformance - how an agency uses governance arrangements to ensure it meets the requirements of the law, regulations, published standards and community expectations of probity, accountability and openness.
Why is a governance framework necessary?
A governance framework serves as the primary guide to the development and implementation of governance arrangements. Transport Canberra's governance arrangements consist of a decision making structure, decision making mechanisms as well as a suite of policies and procedures or work instructions about how, where and to whom the business delivers its services. These are developed in the context of legislation and Government policy on public transport.
What are Transport Canberra’s governance arrangements?
Transport Canberra’s governance arrangements fall into a range of areas which may be described as the principles of governance:
Accountability – Transport Canberra ensures accountability by:
- documenting the roles and responsibilities of the Director, Transport Canberra Operations and the Senior Management Team documenting the objectives, roles and powers of committees and forums where decisions are made in relation to the business
- developing clear business and operational plans and monitoring the business' performance against them
- contributing to the Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS) Annual Report (including audited finance and performance reports)
- participating in the TCCS internal audit program.
Transparency/Openness – Transport Canberra ensures transparency/openness through:
- welcoming stakeholder participation in, and comment on, policy development and review to encourage robust and interested public involvement in the way the business is run
- ensuring staff are aware of and adopt TCCS values, which include effectiveness and efficiency
- welcoming feedback on all aspects of its operations, which it responds to in accordance with its Feedback and Complaints Handling Policy.
Integrity – Transport Canberra endorses the Government's emphasis on the highest standards of ethical conduct in the public service by:
- ensuring staff are aware of their obligations as public servants as detailed in the Public Sector Management Act 1994 (PSM)and other legislation by promulgating the TCCS Code of Conduct widely. The Code of Conduct highlights the expectation that staff will:
- act with integrity
- be accountable
- show respect
- be professional.
- ensuring staff are aware of and adopt TCCS values, which include:
- effectiveness and efficiency
- ability to anticipate and empathise
- integrity and accountability
- leadership and teamwork.
Stewardship – public officials are entrusted with resources belonging to the community and must exercise their powers responsibly. Transport Canberra utilises a number of mechanisms to ensure that it maintains appropriate stewardship of the community's resources including:
- Human resource delegations which flow from the PSM and confer powers or functions to enable officers to conduct of their duties in relation to the management and deployment of human resources.
- TCCS Director-General Financial Instructions (DGFIs), which flow from the Financial Management ACT 1996 (FMA). The CEFIs ensure compliance with the Act for the efficient and effective financial management of the business.
- The financial delegations which flow from the DGFIs and confer powers or functions to enable officers to conduct their duties in relation to the management and use of financial resources.
Efficiency – Transport Canberra ensures efficiency by:
- applying the merit principle to ensure the best person is chosen for a position without discrimination, patronage or favouritism and in accordance with workplace diversity principles
- adhering to Government procurement guidelines to ensure that the principle of value for money is pursued when undertaking procurement activities as well as probity, risk management and open competition.
Leadership – Transport Canberra ensures effective leadership by clearly identifying its leadership team, their roles and responsibilities. Transport Canberra’s leaders are identified in the organisation structure and are committed to delivering good governance through:
- ensuring implementation, evaluation and improvement of good governance structures and processes
- enacting good governance through their own performance and behaviours.
- Transport Canberra’s leaders facilitate this by endorsing and adopting the TCCS:
- business planning and reporting framework
- risk management framework
- performance management framework.
Where do I find out more information about policy, governance or compliance?
Transport Canberra has a Policy, Governance and Compliance Officer who maintains the Corporate Governance Framework and Policy Development Process. The Policy, Governance and Compliance Officer is available to answer any questions or concerns you may have relating to Transport Canberra’s governance arrangements by contacting us.
