Annual Reports

Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport
2007/2008 Annual Report

Download Full Version (pdf 3Mb)

Cover and Contents (pdf 667Kb)

Introduction and Overview (pdf 1Mb)

Chief Executive’s Foreword
Purpose of the Report
About the Agency
2007-08 at a Glance

Governance (pdf 335Kb)

Goverance
Management Environment
Organisational Structure
Corporate Goverance
Corporate Communications
Secretariat
Information and Communication Technology
Information Act
Personal Information

Performance (pdf 600Kb)

Effective, Legitimate and Sustainable Local Government
Opportunities for Territorians to Participate in Sport and Recreation
Equitable and Appropriate Library, Interpreting and Translating Services for Territorians
Access to Affordable Housing and Essential Services for all Territorians
Access to Safe, Secure and Affordable Housing for all Territorians
Adequate and Consistent Standards of Housing and Direct Tenancy Services to Eligible Employees
Access to Safe, Secure and Affordable Housing for Special Needs Groups and Remote Territorians
Access to Affordable Housing Through Home Ownership

Our People (pdf 623Kb)

Overview
Challenges
Staff Snapshot
Organisational Restructures and Changes
Strategic Human Resource Framework
Workforce Development Initiatives
Remote Workforce Development
The Northern Territory Government's Closing the Gap Indigenous Employment and Career Development Strategy (IECDS)
Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)
Work-life Balance
Learning and Professional Development
Staff Induction
Study Assistance
Public Sector Management Program (PSMP)
Graduate Development Program (NICP)
Apprenticeship Program
Performance Management
Code of Conduct Training
Occupational Health and Safety
Reporting Against Employment Instructions

Financial Statements (pdf 1.4Mb)

Financial Statement Overview
Operating Statement
Balance Sheet
Cash Flow Statement
Certification of the Financial Statements
Operating Statement
Balance Sheet
Statement of Changes in Equity
Cash Flow Statement
Index of Notes to Financial Statements
Territory Housing Financial Statements

Appendices (pdf 1Mb)

Appendix 1: Legislation Administered
Appendix 2: Statutory Authorities and Bodies Administered
Appendix 3: Agreements
Appendix 4: External Committees and Boards
Appendix 5: Community Consultations
Appendix 6: Building Safer Communities
Appendix 7: Staff and Research Associates Publications
Appendix 8: 2007-08 Capital Works Program
Appendix 9: Grant Funding

2007-08 saw the implementation of the most ambitious local government reform process in the Territory‘s history with eight large, new shire councils and three small shire councils established and operating on 1 July 2008. The new shires are now delivering and improving local government services.

Creating real jobs in communities is essential for their future, and there are realistic opportunities to engage local people in delivering many services currently provided in their communities. The Department continued to work with the Australian Government to support more effective delivery of local government services in remote and regional communities and create real jobs in the new shires.

In partnership with the Australian Government, the Department is delivering the biggest housing program since self-government. The $647 million program known as the Strategic Indigenous Housing Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) has a two broad objectives to reduce overcrowding by building new and fixing existing houses, and equally important, to employ local Indigenous people in this work.

Housing reform is more than building new homes. The Remote Public Housing Management Framework aims to improve tenancy management and support in the bush to allow community residents to have access to housing services equivalent to that of urban public housing tenants.

The Department also increased government employee housing. Under the Closing the Gap program, and additional $42 million has been allocated to build more houses for government workers in remote communities.

The Department continued to attract and support major sporting events to the Territory. During the year, the Northern Territory Institute of Sport offered services and facilities to Australian and International Olympic teams preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The Aboriginal Interpreter Service (AIS) continued to provide rostered interpreters at the majority of hospitals and bush courts in the Northern Territory. A consequence of the Australian Government Intervention has been a huge increased requirement for interpreter services in remote communities.

On 1 July 2007 the Interpreting and Translating Service NT (ITSNT) was transferred from the Department of the Chief Minister to the Department of Local Government, Housing and Sport in order to be co-located with AIS. Across the Northern Territory, ITSNT provides onsite interpreting and translating services in migrant and refugee languages.

Our objective is to transform physical and social infrastructure across the Territory. We work towards this goal by building partnerships with both urban and remote communities and work together to realise the Government's social and economic goals. I would like to acknowledge the dedication, professionalism and commitment of this Department’s staff over the past year. Their work will result in lasting benefits for all Territorians in the future.

David Ritchie
Chief Executive

30 October 2008