Performance Indicators for 2005–06

Formulating the Authority's Performance Indicators

Broad, high-level Government strategic goals are supported at agency level by more specific desired outcomes. Agencies deliver services/programs to achieve these desired outcomes, which ultimately contribute to meeting the higher level government strategic goals.

These services/programs are the basis for performance indicators.

The strategic high-level Government goal relevant to the Authority is:

To develop a strong economy that delivers more jobs, more opportunities and greater wealth to Western Australians by creating the conditions required for investment and growth.

The desired outcome of the activities of the Authority in support of this high-level strategic goal is:

The efficient, safe and equitable provision of utility services in Western Australia.

The Authority cannot achieve this high-level outcome directly, but instead seeks to play its part towards the achievement of this goal.

More directly, the Authority seeks:

To encourage economic development of the State of Western Australia by regulating vital infrastructure in a fair, independent and transparent manner, including independent reviews as referred by Government.

It is recognised that decisions of the Authority in support of this outcome are very difficult to measure objectively, as the Authority must balance the interests of the various parties that are impacted upon.

The requirement on the Authority to prepare performance indicators has, therefore, been modified by legislation to limit them to management functions. Section 23 of the Economic Regulation Authority Act 2003 states that:

"any requirement under the Treasurer's Instructions (issued under section 58 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1985) that the Authority prepare performance indicators is to be limited to the Authority's management functions (including financial management), and is not to apply to the performance of any other function of the Authority."

A more objective and administrative measure of performance is the quality, quantity and cost of the submissions that are considered by the Authority's Governing Body to facilitate its decision-making.

Therefore, the essential measurable outcome for the Authority in support of this revised outcome is:

Submissions by the Secretariat to the Authority's Governing Body.