2008-09 ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT

Major external reviews
No major external reviews were carried out
on Zoos Victoria in 2008/09.
Subsequent events
There were no matters subsequent to
the financial report being finalised that
significantly affect finances.
Disclosure of major contracts
The Board has disclosed, in accordance
with the requirements of Government
policy and accompanying guidelines, all
contracts greater than $10 million dollars
in value which it entered into during the
year ended 30 June 2009.
Consultancies
The following lists the consultants
engaged in 2008/09 where the cost of the
engagement was $100,000 or above.
Consultant
Wheeler Strobel Consulting Group
Project
Undertake Organisational Structural Review
$’000
Total approved project fee $124
Expenditure 2008/09 $124
Future Expenditure
Nil
In addition, the total for the eight
consultancies engaged during the year,
where the total fees payable to the
consultants was less than $100,000, was
$207,693. Total approved project fees and
expenditure for 2008/09 excludes GST.
National Competition Policy
In 1995, all Australian Governments
(Federal, State and Territory) agreed to
review and, where appropriate, reform
all existing legislative restrictions on
competition. Under National Competition
Policy, the guiding legislative principle is
that legislation, including future legislative
proposals, should not restrict competition
unless it can be demonstrated that:
+ the benefits of the restriction to the
community as a whole outweigh the
costs; and
+ the objectives of the legislation can only
be achieved by restricting competition.
The Board continues to comply with the
requirements of the National Competition
Policy.
Whistleblower Protection Act 2001
The Whistleblowers Protection Act 2001
encourages and assists people in making
disclosures of improper conduct by public
officers and public bodies. The Act provides
protection to people who make disclosures
in accordance with the Act and establishes
a system for the matters disclosed to be
investigated and rectifying action to be taken.
The Board does not tolerate improper
conduct by employees, nor the taking
of reprisals against those who come
forward to disclose such conduct. It is
committed to ensuring transparency and
accountability in its administrative and
management practices and supports the
making of disclosures that reveal corrupt
conduct, conduct involving a substantial
mismanagement of public resources, or
conduct involving a substantial risk to
public health and safety or the environment.
The Board will take all reasonable steps to
protect people who make such disclosures
from any detrimental action in reprisal for
making the disclosure. It will also afford
natural justice to the person who is the
subject of the disclosure.
Reporting procedures
Disclosures of improper conduct or
detrimental action by the Board or its
employees may be made to the following
officers:
Stopline
Zoological Parks & Gardens Board
c/o The STOPline
Locked Bag 8
Hawthorn Vic 3122
Facsimile: (03) 9882 4480
Attention: The Zoo
c/o The STOPline
www.stopline.com.au
“TheZoo”disclosure@stopline.com.au
Protected Disclosure Officer
Lawrence Tai
Protected Disclosure Coordinator
ZPGB Locked Bag 210
PO Parkville Vic 3052
Telephone: (03) 9285 9488
Facsimile: (03) 9285 9330
ltai@zoo.org.au
The Ombudsman Victoria
The Ombudsman Victoria
Level 9, 459 Collins St
(North Tower)
Melbourne Vic 3000
Telephone: (03) 9613 6222
Toll Free: 1800 806 314
www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au
ombudsman@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Disclosures under the
Whistleblower Protection Act
2009 2008
Details Number Number
The number and types
of disclosures made to
public bodies during
the year: Nil Nil
Any recommendations
made by the Ombudsman
that relate to the
public body: Nil Nil
Compliance statement for the
financial management
The Zoological Parks and Gardens
Board of Victoria has complied with the
Financial Compliance Framework Direction
requirements.
Attestation on Compliance with
the Australian/New Zealand Risk
Management Standard
I, Chair of the Audit and Risk and
Compliance Committee of the Board
certify that the Zoological Parks and
Gardens Board has risk management
processes in place consistent with the
Australian/New Zealand Risk Management
Standard and an internal control system
is in place that enables the executive to
understand, manage and satisfactorily
control risk exposures. The Zoological
Parks and Gardens Board verifies this
assurance and that the risk profile of the
Zoological Parks and Gardens Board has
been critically reviewed within the last
12 months.
Kimberley Dripps
Chair
Audit and Risk Management Committee
Zoological Parks and Gardens Board
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ZOOS VICTORIA ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09