Order to cut cost of annual reports
http://nsw.psnews.com.au/Page_NSWpsn3341.html
This article in the Public Service News [PS News] (4 September 2013) raises a few questions:
a) Will the two printed copies submitted to the relevant minister definitely end up with SRNSW in Kingswood as archival copies?
b) Does the NSW government guarantee to fund the digital state archive in order that all annual reports will have a digital archival copy?
c) How far back will the annual reports be available on any given agency's website as digital items?
Text of the article as follows:
The Department of Premier and Cabinet has stated in a circular that annual reports should be prepared with the least possible cost and not be designed for use as marketing or publicity documents.
Hard copies should be printed only in black and white and compiled using existing desktop equipment in house.
“There is now only a requirement for two printed hard copies of annual reports—for submission by the relevant Minister to Parliament,” the Department said
Unnecessary use of photographs or illustrations should be eliminated as well as all external production costs such as copy writing, design and printing.
“In the unlikely event that a member of the public cannot access an Agency’s annual report electronically, the Agency can print a copy of its annual report for that member of the public,” the Department said.
“There is no longer a requirement for printed copies to be made available under library deposit obligations.”
It said Departments covered by the Annual Reports (Departments) Regulation 2010 may only externally print hard copies where express permission is granted by the relevant Minister following clear justification on need and demand. The same ruling applies to statutory bodies.
Comments
It's looking more like a case of freedom from information, on the grounds of cost.