Committees

Two committees, the AFMA Research Committee and the Environment Committee, report to the commission.

The Audit and Risk Committee reports to the CEO, and incorporates the responsibilities of an Audit Committee required by the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 .

Audit and Risk Committee

Membership

• Ms Denise North (Chair)
• Ms Elizabeth Montano
  

Functions

The Audit and Risk Committee reports to the CEO on the following matters:

• review the draft annual financial statements prior to presentation to the Commission focusing on any significant changes in accounting policies and practices
• monitor compliance with statutory requirements and financial reporting
• discuss the scope of the Audit Strategy with the Australian National Audit Office
• discuss issues arising from the annual audit and review the report and recommendations of the Australian National Audit Office
• review the effectiveness of internal controls and adequacy of systems – through an internal audit program and otherwise
• ensure the CEO receives reliable and timely management information
• oversee the preparation of the Financial Year Budget and the drafting of the Annual Report to ensure both the budget and the annual report cover all aspects of the Authority’s operations
• monitor the ethical behaviour of the Authority and senior management including overseeing the implementation and operation of a fraud control plan
• monitor and report on as necessary the Authority’s corporate governance arrangements; and
• review and report on the Authority’s risk management processes

Research Committee

Membership

• Mr Ian Cartwright (Chair)
• Mr Glenn Hurry
• Dr Keith Sainsbury
• Dr John Glaister

Functions

The AFMA Research Committee advises the commission and CEO on research, monitoring and assessment requirements for Commonwealth fisheries. In doing so it will:

1. Review and advise on research, monitoring and assessment priorities for Commonwealth fisheries, developed by management in conjunction with the management advisory committees and addressing AFMA’s management needs and objectives as outlined in the Fisheries Management Act 1991 and AFMA’s Strategic Research Plans
2. Review  strategic five (5) year research plans for Commonwealth fisheries managed by AFMA
3. Provide advice to the commission and CEO on allocation of AFMA research funds
4. Account and report against AFMA’s use of research funds, including policy advice on variations to cost recovery arrangements applying to research
5. Assess research, monitoring and assessment investments for Commonwealth fisheries for fit with management needs; AFMA’s performance against its objectives and outcomes; and residual gaps
6. Monitor liaison by AFMA management with research providers and funding agencies in pursuit of AFMA’s priority research, monitoring and assessment needs
7. Provide advice to the commission and CEO in a risk management context
8. Report recommendations to the commission on the outcomes from ARC meetings and inform on the business and outcomes from ComFRAB meetings

Environment Committee

Membership

• Prof. Keith Sainsbury (Chair)
• Mr Ian Cartwright
• Mr Glenn Hurry
• Ms Jenny Goddard
• Mr Nigel Routh (Australian Government Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts)
• Mr Glenn Sant (non-government member)
• Mr Allan Crosthwaite (Commonwealth Fisheries Association)
• Mr Roland Pittar (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)

Functions

The Environment Committee provides advice to the commission and AFMA Management on strategies to address environmental or conservation issues which best pursue AFMA’s legislative objectives, focusing on ecologically sustainable development (ESD), the precautionary principle and on minimising the impact of fishing on non-target species, in particular:

1. provide broad policy advice for pursuing an ecosystem based approach to fisheries management
2. coordinate AFMA input into the development of regional marine plans and other regional and international environmental initiatives with implications for fisheries
3. provide broad policy advice for fisheries management in light of revisions to domestic environmental legislation and changing international obligations
4. review AFMA Bycatch Action Plans, Exploratory Management Reports (under FMP5), strategic assessments under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and other documents related to AFMA’s environmental responsibilities as appropriate
5. monitor any conditions imposed by the Minister responsible for administering the EPBC Act
6. review and report to the Commission on risk management processes for the area of the Committee’s responsibility
7. identify gaps in research related to conservation, protection and use of the marine environment and provide advice to the Research Committee on research required to fill these gaps.

Page last updated 3 May, 2010