Annual Report 2005-06 - NSW Food Authority - NSW Government

A key focus of the Authority in relation to its financial management“and sustainability into the future is the establishment of a secure,appropriate and sustainable funding base for the Authority. ”for government funding, statutory, management andindustry reporting, management and reporting of taxationissues as well as undertaking accounts payable andreceivable functions.A key focus of the Authority in relation to its financialmanagement and sustainability into the future is theestablishment of a secure, appropriate and sustainablefunding base. Other areas of focus include improvingefficiency and effectiveness of its financial processesthrough continuous process review and improvement, andincreased implementation of electronic service delivery andrelated technology with a view to catering for significantincreases in the Authority’s licensee stakeholder numbers.Asset managementAt 30 June 2006, the Authority’s capital asset base totalled$8.8 million, including its head office building atNewington in Sydney and a regional office on the midnorth coast of NSW at Taree as well as various otherassets. The Finance and Licensing Branch undertakescertain asset management functions in relation to theAuthority’s assets, including management of its motorvehicle fleet, maintenance of the Authority’s assetregister, development of its assets management plan andcoordination of its annual stocktake of fixed assets.Policy and Science ServicesThe Policy and Science Branch provides support in:1. strategic issues management2. ministerial liaison3. laboratory management.Strategic issues managementThe Authority’s communication activities are aligned withits strategic issues management. The public, governmentand industry are kept informed of new developments inthe area of food safety.A strategic issues management group (SIM), consisting ofa cross-section of key Authority staff meets at the start ofeach week to review national and internationaldevelopments and to recommend suitable follow-upaction. The SIM chair reports to the Executive teamimmediately after the meeting to allow for promptExecutive decision making as appropriate.Key issues under consideration during 2005/06 included:• the Authority’s response to the detection of dioxin in fishfrom Sydney Harbour; and• the Authority’s contribution to Exercise Eleusis, anational exercise that tested the nation’s ability to copewith an emergency related to avian influenza or bird flu.The Authority also has an internal network of scientists toassist the Chief Scientist in assessing new scientificfindings and its impacts on the Authority’s activities. Inaddition, the Chief Scientist can appoint external expertisewhen necessary (eg. an Expert Panel on dioxins). Otherissues the network discussed include:• chemical contaminants in animal products;• identifying foods that pose a significant risk of causingillness (salmonellosis, listeriosis) in vulnerable persons;• relative risks of storing potentially hazardous foodoutside of temperature control for short defined periods;and• the risk of milk becoming contaminated with Botulinumneurotoxin from dairy cattle clinically diagnosed withbotulism.NSW Food Authority Annual Report 2005/2006 I Service Group 741