Sugar Research Australia Independent Performance Review 2023
In November 2023, Sugar Research Australia (SRA) contracted GHD Pty Ltd to undertake an independent review of its performance over the period 2020-2023 and prepare a report on the findings and recommendations of the review.
The Independent Performance Review is being conducted in accordance with the requirements of SRA’s Statutory Funding Agreement 2020-2030 (the SFA) with the Commonwealth Government.
The Terms of Reference (ToR) for the independent review have been agreed between SRA and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and are to:
- Evaluate SRA’s performance in meeting its obligations under:
- SRA’s Statutory Funding Agreement 2021-2031
- SRA’s Constitution
- The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
- The Sugar Research and Development Services Act 2013 (Cth)
- Evaluate SRA’s performance against the Statutory Funding Agreement Guidelines and Australian Government priorities, including: Biosecurity, Sustainability and Climate Change, Trade, Indigenous Engagement, Workforce
- Evaluate the performance of SRA in achievement of the Key Performance Indicators outlined in the Performance Principles including:
- Engaging stakeholders to identify RD&A priorities and activities that provide benefits to the sugarcane industry
- Ensuring RD&A priorities and activities are strategic, collaborative and targeted to improve profitability, productivity, competitiveness and preparedness for future opportunities and challenges through a balanced portfolio
- Undertaking strategic and sustained cross-industry and cross-sectoral collaboration that addresses shared challenges and draws on experience from other sectors
- Ensuring governance arrangements and practices fulfil legislative requirements and align with contemporary Australian best practice for open, transparent, and proper use and management of Funds
- Demonstrating positive outcomes and delivery of RD&A benefits to Levy Payers and the Australian community in general, and show continuous improvement in governance and administrative efficiency
- Evaluate the implementation of actions to address feedback from the Commonwealth arising from annual reviews of performance
- Evaluate actions to implement recommendations from the last independent performance review conducted in 2020; identify any issues arising from the review to allow the Commonwealth and SRA to, where possible or necessary, in conjunction with each other, or solely by SRA, address any identified issues, with an agreed timeframe
- Consult with levy payers and key stakeholders as part of the review
- A draft copy of the Performance Review Report will be provided simultaneously to SRA and the Commonwealth within 20 business days of concluding the independent review.
The outcome of this engagement will be an independent review of SRA’s performance against the requirements of the SFA with the Commonwealth Government.
GHD invites any SRA stakeholder to make a submission to the Review Team against one or more of the Terms of Reference. Submissions can be made via the form on this page or by emailing Susan Madden, Project Director, or Seamus Hoban, Project Manager, using the contact details below.
Submissions will be received up to Friday, 2 February 2024.
The final Independent Performance Review Report will be released on the SRA website along with the company’s response to recommendations following the conclusion of the review.
Contacts
