[Australia]: Department of Finance

[Owen]

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Headquarters​

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1 Canberra Avenue, Forrest, Australian Capital Territory​

Ministers​

Office:	Officeholder:	Image:
Minister for Finance	The Honourable Chris Bowen, MP
Special Minister of State	The Honourable Robert McClelland, MP
Secretary of the Department of Finance	David Tune, AO, PSM

Ministerial and Parliamentary Services

Overview​

Ministerial and Parliamentary Services (M&PS) is a division within the Department of Finance. M&PS administers the provision of non-travel related work expenses and services to parliamentarians and their respective employees, as well as providing car-with-driver services via COMCAR to eligible clients. Some services extend to former Prime Ministers and their staff. M&PS administers conditions of employment including processing payment of salary and related allowances to staff, such as: Processing of leave and final entitlements Maintenance of relevant systems, databases and reporting including office establishments Advice on conditions of employment, including leave, remuneration, superannuation and final entitlements Parliamentary Expense Management System (PEMS) HR support and advice The following office management services are also provided to parliamentarians and their staff: Providing electorate-based facilities and services to parliamentarians, including office accommodation and equipment Managing the provision of services in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House and the Commonwealth Parliament Offices in state/territory capital cities Managing the provision of property services across the country Conducting pre-claim assessments on printing and communications material Processing office expenses claims

COMCAR

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Overview​

COMCAR provides car-with-driver transport services for the Prime Minister, Federal Parliamentarians, the Governor-General, the Federal Judiciary, heads of Commonwealth departments/agencies and international guests of government. COMCAR services are: safe and secure efficient professional and reliable client focused COMCAR maintains a fleet of cars in all capital cities which is supplemented with hire cars and taxis during peak times and in regional and country areas. COMCAR operates 24 hours, 7 days a week. Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and Good Friday.

Type:	Amount:	Image:
Holden Caprice (WM)	142
BMW 7 Series (F01) (Prime Ministerial Limousine variant)	8
BMW 7 Series (F01) (Governor-General Limousine variant)	3
Rolls-Royce Phantom VI	2
Jaguar XJ (X351) (Ambassador Limousine variant)	30

Depots​

Depot:	Size:	Location:
Australian Capital Territory Depot	30x Holden Caprice WMs, 2x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine), 2x BMW 7 Series (Governor-General Limousine), 2x Rolls-Royce Phantom VIs	Fyshwick
New South Wales Depot	30x Holden Caprice WMs, 2x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine), 1x BMW 7 Series (Governor-General Limousine)	Alexandria
Victoria Depot	25x Holden Caprice WMs, 1x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine)	Tullamarine
Queensland Depot	20x Holden Caprice WMs, 1x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine)	Eagle Farm
Western Australia Depot	15x Holden Caprice WMs, 1x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine)	Ascot
South Australia Depot	10x Holden Caprice WMs, 1x BMW 7 Series (Prime Ministerial Limousine)	Keswick
Tasmania Depot	6x Holden Caprice WMs	Cambridge
Northern Territory Depot	6x Holden Caprice WMs	Darwin City

Commonwealth Parliament Offices

Overview​

Commonwealth Parliament Offices (CPOs) are located in the capital city of each state and the Northern Territory. They provide a range of services, support and advice for federal parliamentarians and their staff in all the electorate and ministerial offices across their state or territory. Most CPOs provide permanent office accommodation to federal ministers or other office holders. There are various suites, meeting rooms and conference facilities at every CPO. These are available on a short-term basis to all federal senators, members and their accompanying staff for parliamentary business. CPOs also provide for a range of communication facilities. The National Telepresence System (NTS) is a secure, high-definition, digital videoconferencing system managed by the Department of Finance. The NTS operates on the Ministerial Communications Network, and connects federal, state, and territory governments, DFAT and Defence, and all commonwealth ministers and departmental secretaries. The System enables Telepresence (TP) meetings between government entities up to, and including the security classification of SECRET, and can be utilised by government staff of all levels. There are TP rooms at Australian parliament house and at every CPO. CPOs have strict security protocols. You are asked to ensure that: Visiting suite and building keys (or swipe cards) are returned to M&PS immediately on departure Visitors, including media, are accompanied at all times within the CPO. M&PS staff and security staff based at CPOs are not responsible for escorting visitors to and from visiting facilities booked by parliamentarians Where parliamentarians who have a permanent office in the CPO, or their staff, enter the building after hours, care should be taken to ensure building security is maintained and other persons do not ‘tailgate’. Any suspicious circumstances should be reported as soon as possible to M&PS, or in the case of Melbourne and Sydney, to on-site security officers. Names of visitors to the CPO are required to be submitted to MaPS prior to the day of attendance. Upon presentation at reception, the visitor may be required to sign in with their name and time of arrival in an attendance book. CPOs require attendees to wear a visitor pass. Upon departure the visitor must return the pass to reception.

Building:	Location:	Image:
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Sydney	1 Bligh Street, Sydney, New South Wales
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Melbourne	Treasury Place, Melbourne, Victoria
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Brisbane	Waterfront Place, Brisbane, Queensland
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Perth	Exchange Tower, Perth, Western Australia
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Adelaide	100 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Hobart	188 Collins Street, Hobart, Tasmania
Commonwealth Parliament Office, Darwin	22 Mitchell Street, Darwin, Northern Territory

Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority

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Overview​

The Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority (IPEA) was established by the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority Act. As an organisation, IPEA strives to deliver its primary functions as established by the IPEA Act, which relate to advice, reporting and audit. These functions include: Providing personal advice to members of parliament (parliamentarians) and persons employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MOP(S) staff) on travel expenses, allowances, and related expenses Monitoring parliamentarians and MOP(S) staff regarding travel expenses, allowances, and related expenses Administering travel expenses, allowances, and related expenses, including processing of these claims Publicly reporting on work expenses under the applicable framework Auditing work expense claims Consistent with its primary functions, IPEA’s activities seek to provide: Clear advice to parliamentarians and MOP(S) staff on travel and work related expenses to help support them in their respective roles Independent oversight of the work expenses accessed by current and former parliamentarians and MOP(S) staff through IPEA’s reporting and auditing activities

Parliamentary Workplace Support Service

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Overview​

The Parliamentary Workplace Support Service (PWSS) is an independent and confidential service available to support everyone who works or volunteers in a Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplace (CPW). If you work or volunteer in a CPW you can contact the PWSS for assistance with a serious incident or misconduct, or workplace conflict that relates to a work health and safety risk. We provide a broad range of human resource advice and assistance to parliamentarians and their staff including: Employment life-cycle matters such as job design, recruitment, probation, performance management, office structure and termination Education, training and professional development Work health and safety policy, compliance and incident management We also provide a range of trauma-informed support services and complaint resolution for all Commonwealth parliamentary workplace participants, including: Counselling, early intervention, local resolution and mediation Referral to specialised services Support to make a police report The PWSS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide confidential advice and support. The PWSS is located at the Australian Parliament House and is staffed from 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday during non-sitting days, and 8:30am to 8pm on sitting days.

Future Fund

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Overview​

The Future Fund is an independently managed sovereign wealth fund for Australia. The legislation establishing the Future Fund describes its main object as being 'to strengthen the Commonwealth's long-term financial position'. The Investment Mandate for the Future Fund is to target a benchmark return of at least the Consumer Price Index + 4 to 5 per cent per annum over the long term, while taking an acceptable but not excessive level of risk. The Future Fund Board is currently also responsible for six other Australian sovereign wealth funds: DisabilityCare Australia Fund - A fund to contribute to the cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Medical Research Future Fund - A fund to disperse interest generated to medical research. Future Drought Fund - A fund to provide secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land and Sea Future Fund (ATSILS Fund) - A fund to enhance the Commonwealth's ability to make payments to the Indigenous Land Corporation. Disaster Ready Fund - A fund to provide natural disaster resilience and risk reduction across Australia. Housing Australia Future Fund - A fund to create a secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable rental housing. Education Investment Fund - A fund to provide capital investment in higher education and vocational education and training Investment of the Future Fund is the responsibility of the Future Fund Board of Guardians with the support of the Future Fund Management Agency. The Future Fund is overseen by an independent Board of Guardians selected on the basis of their expertise in investment management and corporate governance.

Australian Electoral Commission

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Overview​

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is the independent statutory authority and agency of the Australian Government responsible for the management of federal Australian elections, by-elections and referendums. The AEC's main role is to conduct federal elections, by-elections and referendums, maintain up-to-date electoral rolls, and determine electorate boundaries, apportionments and redistributions. Under a Joint Roll Arrangement with the states and territories, the AEC maintains enrolment for the whole of Australia, for rolls used in state and local government elections. The AEC is answerable to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters of the Parliament of Australia, and must report on how elections were carried out and the success of elections in general. As specified under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the AEC consists of a chairperson (a judge or a retired judge of the Federal Court of Australia), the Electoral Commissioner, and a non-judicial member (usually the Australian Statistician). The Electoral Commissioner has the powers of a secretary of a department under the Public Service Act 1999 and Financial Management and Accountability Act 1998. The chairperson and the third, non-judicial member both hold their offices on a part-time basis. Each House of Representatives electorate has a Divisional Returning Officer responsible for administration of elections within the division. Each state also has an Australian Electoral Officer responsible for administration of Senate elections. The AEC has a National Office in Canberra and an office in each state and territory: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.

Location​

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West Block, Parkes, Australian Capital Territory​

Federal Election Timetable​

Election:	Earliest Date:	Determination:	Latest Date:	Determination:
House of Representatives Election	No Limit	No Constitutional Limit	2 August 2008	3 years after the opening of Parliament + 10 days + 10-27 days + 23-31 days + latest Saturday
Half-Senate Election	28 July 2007	Within 12 months of the expiration of the Senate + 33 days + latest Saturday	24 May 2008	Before the expiration of the Senate - 34 days + latest Saturday
Combined House of Representatives and Half-Senate Election	28 July 2007	Combination of the above two	24 May 2008	Combination of the above two
Double Dissolution (House of Representatives and Full Senate Election)	No Limit	No Constitutional Limit	24 November 2007	No later than 6 months before the expiration of the House of Representatives + latest Saturday

State and Territory Election Timetable​

Logo:	Election:	Date:	Determination:
	New South Wales state election	26 March 2011	Every 4 years, fourth Saturday in March
	Victorian state election	27 November 2010	Every 4 years, last Saturday in November
	Queensland state election	25 October 2008	Every 4 years, last Saturday in October
	Western Australian state election	14 March 2009	Every 4 years, second Saturday in March
	South Australian state election	20 March 2010	Every 4 years, third Saturday in March
	Tasmanian state election	20 March 2010	Every 4 years, third Saturday in March
	Australian Capital Territory general election	18 October 2008	Every 4 years, third Saturday in October
	Northern Territory general election	23 August 2008	Every 4 years, fourth Saturday in August
	Norfolk Island general election	11 March 2010	Every 3 years, second Wednesday in March
	Brisbane City Council election	15 March 2008	Every 4 years, third Saturday in March

Digital Transformation Agency

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Overview​

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) is an executive agency within the Australian Government’s finance portfolio which supports the digital transformation of government services. This is done by: Providing strategic leadership on whole-of-government and shared digital services (including sourcing and capability development) Delivering policies, standards and platforms for whole-of-government and shared digital service delivery Providing advice to agencies and the government on digital investment proposals Overseeing significant digital investments, assurance policy and framework, and the whole-of-government digital portfolio. In overseeing the Australian Government’s large digital investment portfolio, the DTA operates under the Commonwealth Digital and ICT Investment Oversight Framework. The six states of this Investment Oversight Framework enable the effective management of the Commonwealth’s digital investments across the project lifecycle: Strategic planning – advising, implementing and evaluating the government’s digital strategic direction to ensure the best possible digital services and outcomes. Prioritisation – prioritising, planning and advising on the short, medium and longer-term pipeline of government agency digital investments proposals. Contestability – making sure investment proposals considered by Cabinet are robust, meet required standards and align with relevant government digital policies. Assurance – providing assurance to government that funded digital projects are on track to deliver expected benefits. Digital sourcing – delivering value-for-money arrangements to simplify government procurement of digital products (including single-seller arrangements, panels/marketplaces and BuyICT.gov.au). Operation – regularly collecting data on digital projects, as well as digital business-as-usual arrangements to garner information on the size, health and maturity of the government’s investment portfolio (including emerging technology, reuse and shared capabilities, and workforce considerations). The Australian Government Architecture – a key part of the Investment Oversight Framework – consists of strategies, policies, standards and designs that encourage standardisation, reuse of technologies and platforms, and effective design of, and investment, in modern digital capabilities across government.

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myGov is a single sign-on service provided by the Australian Government that allows users to link together accounts with other government departments under the one account. It is primarily used for federal government services, however some state government services have joined the service. In order for a myGov account to be used with participating services the user must verify their identity using myID. Some services supported by myGov include: Centrelink Medicare Australian Taxation Office Child Support Victorian Housing Register My Health Record National Disability Insurance Scheme My Aged Care Department of Veterans Affairs Workforce Australia

australia.gov.au is the central website for the Australian Government, providing onwards links to department and agency websites. The platform is owned and managed by the Digital Transformation Agency on behalf of the federal government, and can also be used by federal and state and territory agencies as a link shortener.

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myID is a whole-of-government digital identity solution which can be used by Australians to prove who they are online, and provide an identity that can be re-used to access participating government online services. myID is the Australian Government's Digital ID app available through the Australian Government's Digital ID System. The setup process requires users to: Be at least 15 years old Have a personal email address or mobile phone number Have a smartphone or smart device Download the myID app Prepare documents that help prove identity, such as passport, driver’s licence, birth certificate or Medicare card Choose which identity strength is required (basic, standard, or strong - depending on the service that is required)

Centres for National Resilience

Overview​

The Australian Government has partnered with state governments to deliver Centres for National Resilience in Darwin, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth: purpose-built quarantine facilities that will support overseas travel and ensure the safety of the Australian community. The Commonwealth owns and funds the Centres through the Department of Finance and the state governments are responsible for the operation and management of the facilities. Key criteria for selection of preferred locations included: Proximity of a site to an international airport taking regularly scheduled international commercial passenger flights and Whether a site is sufficiently close (within approximately one hour vehicle transport) to a tertiary hospital, otherwise known as a principal referral hospital Where there is no need for dedicated quarantine accommodation, the Centres will be able to be used for other purposes. The designs open up possibilities for use in future public health emergencies, humanitarian efforts, or as crisis accommodation for bushfire-affected communities or other vulnerable Australians. The future use of the facilities will be determined by the Australian Government as the owner of each Centre.

Facility:	Location:	Capacity:	Nearest International Airport:	Nearest Tertiary Hospital(s):	Image:
Centre for National Resilience - Melbourne	Mickleham, Victoria	1,000	Melbourne-Tullamarine International Airport	St Vincent's Hospital Royal Melbourne Hospital Austin Hospital
Centre for National Resilience - Darwin	Howard Springs, Northern Territory	850	Darwin International Airport	Royal Darwin Hospital
Centre for National Resilience - Perth	Bullsbrook, Western Australia	500	Perth International Airport	Royal Perth Hospital
Centre for National Resilience - Brisbane	Damascus Barracks, Queensland	500	Brisbane International Airport	Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital The Prince Charles Hospital Princess Alexandra Hospital

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Comcover

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Overview​

Comcover is the Commonwealth's self-managed insurance fund responsible for protecting Commonwealth entities against insurable losses and promoting better practice risk management to improve policy formulation and the delivery of government activities and services. All Commonwealth entities within the general government sector as well as the High Court of Australia are insured through Comcover. Entities nominally purchase cover for all normally insurable risks, with the exception of workers' compensation, which remains the responsibility of Comcare. Comcover came into being on 1 July 1998 and replaced the policy of non-insurance that had been in place since the early years of Federation and offered public sector organisations little incentive to manage their risks effectively. Comcover is modelled on the best managed insurance funds in Australia and overseas and its creation signalled the start of a more modern and cost-effective approach to managing insurable risks within the Australian Government. A managed fund is a form of self-insurance that operates by collecting premiums from participating Fund Members (Australian Government entities that are classified to the General Government Sector or the High Court of Australia), accumulating reserves, and meeting future losses from those reserves. Comcover aims to ensure that Fund Members have a comprehensive program of cover for insurable risks. Comcover facilitates the integration of risk management into government functions and operations by providing comprehensive and responsive risk management and insurance services to its Fund Members. Comcover works in partnership with its Fund Members to promote a risk management culture and deliver an effective insurance program across the Australian Government. The key business objectives for Comcover are: Promoting best practice risk management to its Fund Members to improve policy formulation and delivery of Australian Government programs and services, so as to deliver a net benefit to the Budget over the longer term; and Providing a comprehensive insurance fund to protect Fund Members against the impact of insurable losses.

Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation

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Overview​

Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC) manages and invests the monies of the Commonwealth's superannuation schemes (five regulated schemes and six unfunded schemes). CSC provides superannuation services and products to Australian Government employees, employers and Australian Defence Force members and their families. CSC’s primary function is to administer the schemes and to manage and invest the funds in the best interests of all our customers in accordance with the provisions of the various legislation and Trust Deeds that govern the schemes. CSC seeks to deliver consistently competitive investment performance, efficient administration of the schemes’ legislation in the best interest of contributors and beneficiaries, and effective interaction with stakeholders, to enable members to make the most of their financial future. CSC will seek to achieve its outcome agreed with the government through implementation of these key deliverables: Risk managed investment governance and portfolio management Effective relationships with scheme beneficiaries and business stakeholders Cost effectiveness CSC is supported by an administrator for its accumulation plans, a custodian and other specialist service providers, including leading Australian and international investment managers.

Regulated Superannuation Schemes​

Scheme:	Opened:	Closed:	Description:
Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme	1 July 1976	30 June 1990	A hybrid fund, providing both Accumulation and Defined Benefits. This means part of your benefit is based on contributions into the fund, plus investment earnings, and the other part is determined by a formula.
Public Sector Superannuation Scheme	1 July 1990	30 June 2005	A Defined Benefit super fund, which means the final benefit is determined by a formula, and in some circumstances may include an additional accumulation component made up of any transfer amounts, government contributions and investment earnings.
Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan	1 July 2005	Open	PSSap is a scheme in which customers and employers contribute to the fund, and investment returns are calculated as a compound average rate of return, after fees and taxes have been deducted.
Australian Defence Force Superannuation Scheme (ADF Super)	1 July 2007	Open	An accumulation scheme where customers and the Department of Defence (as the employer) contribute to the scheme, with investment returns calculated as a compound average rate of return after fees and taxes are deducted. ADF Super is open to new ADF entrants, including reservists who are in full-time continuous service. ADF Super is also open to other eligible ADF members.
Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MilitarySuper)	1 October 1991	30 June 2007	A hybrid fund, providing both Accumulation and Defined Benefits. This means your Member Benefit and Ancillary Benefit (if applicable) is based on contributions into the fund, plus investment earnings, and your Employer Benefit is determined by a formula.

Unfunded Superannuation Schemes (exempt from the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993)​

Scheme:	Opened:	Closed:	Description:
Australian Defence Force Cover Scheme (ADF Cover)	1 July 2007	Open	The Australian Defence Force Cover Scheme, ADF Cover has been established to meet the requirement for death and invalidity cover for new members of the ADF. ADF Super members will be covered under this statutory scheme, as will members who could have been ADF Super members but for choosing another fund into which the Department's employer contributions are to be paid.
Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme	1 October 1972	30 September 1991	DFRDB is a Defined Benefit scheme. This means your benefit is calculated based on a formula. Your benefit depends on your completed years of service and super salary at retirement. If you’ve completed more than 20 years of effective service, you’ll be entitled to a lifetime fortnightly pension, also referred to as ‘retirement pay’.
1922 Scheme	1 July 1922	30 June 1976	The 1922 scheme, which was established under the 1922 Act, is a closed public sector scheme with a membership primarily of pensioners. Contributing members of the 1922 scheme transferred to CSS when CSS opened on 1 July 1976. The 1922 Act continues to provide for pension payments, deferred benefit entitlements and any reversionary pensions that become payable.
Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Scheme	1 July 1948	30 September 1972	A closed military scheme with no contributing members. The scheme continues to provide the benefit entitlements for customers who ceased to be contributors before 1 October 1972, and for reversionary benefits to eligible spouses and children.
Papua New Guinea Scheme	1 July 1951	30 June 1976	A closed public sector scheme with no contributing members. The scheme provided retirement benefits for employees of the administration of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea.
Defence Force (Superannuation) (Productivity Benefit) Determination	1 January 1988	30 November 1991	DFRDB customers are also entitled to a productivity benefit under the Defence Force (Superannuation) (Productivity Benefit) Determination (DFSPB), issued under the Defence Act 1903. It is paid by the Department of Defence when a customer’s DFRDB benefits are paid.

Office of the National Data Commissioner

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Overview​

The National Data Commissioner is the regulator of the Data Availability and Transparency Act (DATA) Scheme and provides advice and guidance about its operation to the Minister, Scheme participants and others. The Commissioner's other functions are to deliver education and tools to support best practice data handling and sharing. The Office supports the National Data Commissioner who is responsible for overseeing the DATA Scheme to: Serve the public interest by promoting better availability of public sector data Enable the sharing of public sector data consistent with the Privacy Act 1988 and appropriate security safeguards Enhance integrity and transparency in sharing public sector data Build confidence in the use of public sector data, and Establish institutional arrangements for sharing public sector data

Government Business Enterprises

Overview​

A Government Business Enterprises (GBE) is a Commonwealth entity or Commonwealth company that is prescribed by Section 8 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act. The Australian Government's relationship to its GBEs is similar to the relationship between a holding company and its subsidiaries, features of which include: A strong interest in the performance and financial returns of the GBE Reporting and accountability arrangements that facilitate active oversight by the shareholder Action by the shareholder in relation to the strategic direction of its GBEs where it prefers a different direction from the one proposed Management autonomy balanced with regular reporting of performance to shareholders and Boards that are accountable to shareholders for GBE performance, and shareholders that are accountable to Parliament and the public To enable greater public accountability, GBEs are required to prepare a Statement of Corporate Intent (SCI) (or a public facing Corporate Plan) in consultation with Shareholder Ministers. An SCI focuses on the purpose and corporate outlook of a GBE, and expresses the expectations of its management in relation to future financial and non-financial performance. The Department of Finance provides advice to the Australian Government relating to its GBEs and other commercial entities. The primary tasks of the Department of Finance in relation to GBEs are to: Provide sound strategic and analytical advice to the Government, in particular by engaging with the GBEs, analysing their operations and their environment, and consulting with stakeholders Action the Minister's decisions including communicating objectives and Ensure that there is a robust and sound governance framework in place by initiating change and contributing to policy development

Australian Submarine Corporation Pty Ltd

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Overview​

Australian Submarine Corporation Pty Ltd (trading as ASC) is an Australian government business enterprise involved with Australian naval shipbuilding, headquartered in Osborne, South Australia. The Australian Submarine Corporation is Australia’s sovereign submarine company which, as part of the Australian Submarine Enterprise with the Royal Australian Navy and Department of Defence, ensures the sovereign sustainment, upgrade and life-of-type extension of the Collins Class submarine fleet.

Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd

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Overview​

Australian Naval Infrastructure (ANI) is a Commonwealth company and a Government Business Enterprise, classified as a Public Non-Financial Corporation. ANI’s primary object is to support the Commonwealth’s continuous naval shipbuilding program through: Acquiring, holding, managing and developing the infrastructure and related facilities used in connection with this program Efficiently and effectively managing the infrastructure (including providing access) in a manner that ensures an integrated and coordinated approach to delivery of all elements of this program All of the share capital in ANI is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia. ANI’s Shareholder Ministers were the Minister for Defence and the Minister for Finance.

CEA Technologies Pty Ltd

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Overview​

CEA Technologies is an Australian Government Business Enterprise that primarily supplies the Royal Australian Navy. The company was established in 1983 by two retired Royal Australian Navy personnel, Ian Croser and David Gaul. Employing over 600 employees, it is Australia's largest majority owned defence company. CEA specialises in the design, development and manufacture of radar and communications systems for civil and military applications. Its phased array radars, which are fitted to the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of warships, are regarded as some of the best in the world. The head office of CEA Technologies is located in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory. Approximately one third of the staff are engineers, covering all necessary disciplines needed to design and develop leading edge radar and military grade communications products. A skilled production group produce printed circuit board assemblies and mechanical assemblies in small to medium production runs. In addition to the administration and engineering offices and laboratories, the buildings house a small manufacturing and assembly facility, and an indoor antenna test facility. A mobile outdoor antenna test facility is used to support field testing and proving of radar and antenna systems. CEA has facilities in Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hanover, Maryland.

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Helping you find government information and services​

About Australia

Our Country

Australia is a unique and diverse country in every way - in culture, population, climate, geography, and history.​

Culture​

Australian culture is as broad and varied as the country's landscape. Australia is multicultural and multiracial and this is reflected in the country's food, lifestyle and cultural practices and experience. Australia has an important heritage from its indigenous people, which plays a defining role in the cultural landscape. This diversity of influences creates a cultural environment in Australia that is lively, energised, innovative and outward looking.

Population​

As of December 2006, Australia's population is roughly 28 million people. The most populous states are New South Wales and Victoria, with their respective capitals, Sydney and Melbourne, the largest cities in Australia. Australia's population is concentrated along the coastal region of Australia from Adelaide to Cairns, with a small concentration around Perth, Western Australia. The centre of Australia is sparsely populated.

Climate​

The majority of Australia experiences temperate weather for most of the year. The northern states of Australia are typically warm all the time, with the southern states experiencing cool winters but rarely sub-zero temperatures. Snow falls on the higher mountains during the winter months, enabling skiing in southern New South Wales and Victorian ski resorts, as well as the smaller resorts in Australia's island state, Tasmania.

Geography​

Australia is an island continent and the world's sixth largest country (7,682,300 sq km). Lying between the Indian and Pacific oceans, the country is approximately 4,000 km from east to west and 3,200 km from north to south, with a coastline 36,735 km long. Canberra is Australia's capital city. With a population of approximately 400,000 people and situated in the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra is roughly half way between the two largest cities Melbourne and Sydney. Australia is famous for its landmark buildings including the Sydney Harbour Bridge; its ancient geology, as well as for its high country.

History​

Australia's first inhabitants, the Aboriginal people, are believed to have migrated from some unknown point in Asia to Australia between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago. While Captain James Cook is credited with Australia's European discovery in 1770, a Portuguese possibly first sighted the country, while the Dutch are known to have explored the coastal regions in the 1640s. The first European settlement of Australia was in January 1788, when the First Fleet sailed into Botany Bay under the command of Captain Arthur Phillip. Originally established as a penal colony, by the 1830s the number of free settlers was increasing. Transportation of convicts to the eastern colonies was abolished in 1852 and to the western colonies in 1868.

Legal System​

Australia follows a Westminster system of government and law inherited from the British who originally colonised the country. There are two main political parties and a number of minor parties, which make up the Commonwealth Parliament. Each state and territory also has its own government.

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