Source: https://www.afma.gov.au/about/corporate-publications/afma-cost-recovery-impact-statement-2010
Timestamp: 2020-07-08 10:23:24
Document Index: 374492944

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 7', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3']

AFMA Cost Recovery Impact Statement 2010 | Australian Fisheries Management Authority
AFMA Cost Recovery Impact Statement 2010 (PDF, 177 KB)
The purpose of this Cost Recovery Impact Statement (CRIS) is to give effect to and transparently demonstrate compliance with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines July 2005. Agencies are required to review their cost recovery arrangements every five years. The last review was undertaken in 2004 and a full review of AFMA’s cost recovery arrangements is required.
AFMA’s management of Commonwealth fisheries covers a range of activities which are driven by AFMA’s legislated functions. The Fisheries Administration Act 1991 requires AFMA to achieve government targets in relation to the recovery of the costs of the Authority. These activities are grouped by characteristics and objectives defined by the purpose of the activity, its beneficiaries and who creates the need for the activity.
In December 2002 the Australian Government adopted a formal cost recovery policy to improve the consistency, transparency and accountability of its cost recovery arrangements and promote the efficient allocation of resources. Cost recovery policy is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation and outlined in the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines of July 2005. Finance Circular 2008/08 of 26 June 2008 issued by the Department of Finance and Deregulation confirmed the cost recovery policy and provided some further guidance on the policy.
The underlying principle of the cost recovery policy is that agencies should set charges to recover all the costs of products or services where it is efficient and effective to do so, where the beneficiaries are a narrow and identifiable group and where charging is consistent with Australian Government policy objectives.
The policy applies to all Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) agencies and to relevant Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act) bodies that have been notified, under sections 28 or 43 of the CAC Act, to apply the cost recovery policy. These entities are collectively referred to as ‘agencies’ for the purposes of the guidelines. In line with the policy, individual portfolio ministers are ultimately responsible for ensuring agencies’ implementation and compliance with the cost recovery guidelines.
2. Policy review – Analysis of AFMA’s activities
An analysis of the activities undertaken and services provided by AFMA was carried out to review which activities and services should be cost recovered. A summary of this analysis, including the main beneficiaries of each activity/service is shown below.
Since AFMA’s 2004 CRIS:
The Cost Recovery Guidelines were revised in 2005 to focus on activities
Government policy requirements, expressed in a direction to AFMA in December 2005, introduced new activities including fishery independent surveys
The clarification of the economic efficiency objective and definition of ecologically sustainable development in AFMA’s governing legislation in 2006
AFMA’s outcome was revised in 2008 in line with the Finance Minister’s Outcome Statement principles
Following a business efficiency review in 2007-08, AFMA revised its organisational structure and advisory and regulatory processes.
As a result, the definition and analysis of AFMA’s activities in the 2004 CRIS no longer accurately reflect AFMA’s activities.
The activity group structure for the purposes of this CRIS is as follows:
1 Management of Domestic Commercial Fisheries
2 Management of Traditional, Indigenous and Non-commercial Fisheries
3 Input into defining international treaty standards and developing regulation
4 Policy Support
5 Domestic Fisheries Compliance Enforcement
6 Foreign Fisheries Compliance Enforcement and Outreach
7 Data collection and Management
8 Research – Industry Funded
9 Research – Government funded
10 Licensing / Registration and Revenue Collection
The cost identified for each activity is the 2009-10 budget cost and aligns to Table 4 on page 25
Activity Group 1 – Management of Domestic Commercial Fisheries
Beneficiary: Commercial Industry Cost of Activity: $4.336m Charge: Levy
Australia’s fisheries resources are community-owned. AFMA is responsible for the day-to-day management of Commonwealth fisheries resources within the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ) and regulating the commercial exploitation of those resources. AFMA is also responsible for managing Australian commercial fisheries extending onto the high seas, and for managing Australian-flagged fishing vessels and Australian nationals on foreign fishing vessels operating in waters beyond national jurisdictions.
This activity group involves devising management arrangements, implementing management arrangements and monitoring the performance of domestic fisheries. Examples include determining fishery catch targets to maximise net economic returns to the community through the commercial industry, directions, determinations and conditions on fishing concessions controlling specific fishing activities and catch levels. It involves consultation and negotiation with industry and all community sectors, as well as State jurisdictions, with a legitimate interest in Commonwealth fisheries. The activity group includes:
Analysing ecological risk assessments for species and ecosystems
Defining Harvest strategies
Developing stock rebuilding strategies and plans
Setting ecological sustainability standards for fishing activities
Conducting public consultation on the development and amendment of fishery management plans.
Implementing management responses to ecological risk assessments
Implementing stock rebuilding strategies and plans
Implementing environmental standards for fishing activities.
Assessing the bio-economic performance of Commonwealth commercial fisheries
Assessing Commonwealth fisheries under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The primary means of consulting and analysing all sectors’ stakeholder advice is through AFMA’s Management Advisory Committees which are responsible for providing advice on matters regarding individual fisheries or groups of fisheries.
Within this activity group, community input is analysed by fisheries managers within AFMA and decisions setting standards, regulations, Fishery Management Plans and administrative policies are made by the AFMA Commission, often in conjunction with the broader government through the relevant portfolio departments and Ministers.
The need to manage domestic commercial fishing activities is created by those activities. There are no policy impediments to charging for these activities and the firms and groups involved are readily identifiable. The beneficiaries are all concession holders in each fishery, rather than individual firms, and the cost of the activity group should be recovered by fishery-based levy.
Activity Group 2 – Management of Traditional, Indigenous and Non-commercial Fisheries
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $2.390m Charge: Taxpayer funding
This activity group involves AFMA’s contribution to the management of traditional, indigenous or non-commercial fishing sectors. The aim of regulation, such as measures implemented under the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984 is to sustainably maximise the social, cultural or economic benefits to the groups involved. The measures include fishery catch targets, directions, determinations and, where relevant, conditions on fishing concessions controlling specific fishing activities and catch levels.
The traditional, indigenous or non-commercial beneficiaries who create the need for this activity group are not subject to cost recovery. Either Australian Government policy determines that costs will not be recovered, such as in the case of Torres Strait indigenous fisheries, or the participants do not hold Commonwealth fishing concessions against which fees and levies can be charged under existing Commonwealth law. The Norfolk Island inshore fishery is an example of the latter, where management of the fishery on a commercial basis is neither efficient nor practical, but continuation of the fishery has wider social, health and economic value for the island’s community. This activity group should therefore be taxpayer funded.
Activity Group 3 – Input into defining international treaty standards and developing regulation
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $0..815m Charge: Taxpayer funding
AFMA provides input to the Australian Government’s position in international fisheries forums, including regional fisheries management organisations, bi-lateral and other multi-lateral agreements and bodies. This input includes technical advice and research supporting government policy and statute leading to the sustainable management of straddling and highly migratory fish stocks. These activities directly benefit the Australian and international community.
AFMA provides input to the development of primary legislation, and develops subordinate legislation to implement international treaties and agreements, including standards set by regional fisheries management organisations.
This activity group includes reporting to regional fisheries management organisations on catch levels, fishing operations and compliance with international treaty obligations. Data collection costs associated with monitoring of international obligations.
(Note: The implementation of those regulations within Commonwealth commercial fisheries is included in Activity Group 1.)
This activity group is a service to the Australian Government, and through it the international community, and should therefore be taxpayer funded. The development of legislation and legislative instruments, and reporting fulfil the Australian Government’s international treaty obligations. Under the guidelines, these policy and parliamentary servicing activities, including compliance with international treaties, should be taxpayer funded and not cost-recovered through fees or levies.
Activity Group 4 – Policy Support
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $4.830m Charge: Taxpayer funding
The activity includes policy advice and support to the parliament and Ministers and to relevant government departments and agencies, including answering ministerial and parliamentary questions, researching, planning and advising on proposals for changes to legislation, regulations, whole of government programs, Commonwealth-State and international fisheries arrangements, and preparing budget and related documents and reports.
This activity involves AFMA senior management, and the public policy advising and budget and statutory reporting review activities of the AFMA Commission.
AFMA is also closely involved in providing broad policy support and information to a range of other government departments and agencies – such as the BRS, ABARE, DAFF, DEWHA and the agencies participating in the Border Protection Command, much of which is not of direct benefit to the fishing industry. These activities are also included under this activity group.
Generally the support of public policy and legislation benefits the community at large. Under the guidelines these policy and parliamentary servicing activities should be taxpayer funded and not recovered through fees or levies.
Activity Group 5 – Domestic Fisheries Compliance Enforcement
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $3.423m Charge: Taxpayer funding
Contemporary regulatory practice distinguishes activities that promote voluntary compliance, where individuals, firms and groups “buy in” to the arrangements on the basis of informed self-interest, and deterrence, involving enforcement activities directed at illegal activities of those who do not “buy-in” to the voluntary compliance regime.
In Australian fisheries, this model is incorporated into the Australian Fisheries National Compliance Strategy, 2005-2010, developed and published by Australia’s National Fisheries Compliance Committee (NFCC), comprising senior fisheries compliance managers from the Commonwealth and States/Territories, and endorsed by the Natural Resource Management Committee of Commonwealth and State/Territory Ministers. AFMA’s regulatory activities are modeled on this basis.
Most of AFMA’s activities contribute to voluntary compliance by regulating, collecting biological and economic data, monitoring fishing activities and assessing fisheries performance to ensure Commonwealth fisheries are sustainable, and in contributing to policies that balance competing sectoral interests in Australia’s marine living resources.
However, the scope for non-compliance in fisheries is broad. Fishing takes place at sea, in relatively isolated areas out of public gaze, where “policing” in a more conventional form, supported and informed by members of the public, is usually impossible and where weather, distance and other conditions intrinsic to fishing can hinder investigation and apprehension. In addition, the non-exclusive nature of commercial fishers’ access rights, inefficient jurisdictional arrangements, and competing access to the resource by other sectors and the effectiveness of the regulation of those sectors, can negatively affect some fishers’ sense of ownership of and commitment to the regulatory regime. There is also increasing evidence of organised criminal activity in fishing (eg: Australian Institute of Criminology, A national study into crime in the Australian fishing industry, rpp no.76, 2007).
This activity group comprises compliance risk assessment, investigation and enforcement. It also incorporates, with respect to fisheries compliance, cooperation, consultation and exchange of information with state, Northern Territory and overseas bodies having similar functions to AFMA.
Prior to 2009-10, AFMA’s domestic compliance has relied for around 50% of its budgeted activities on the contracted provision of compliance services (including staff, boats and other capital items) by State/NT fisheries and/or police agencies. It has also involved the allocation of activities and costs across all Commonwealth managed fisheries to avoid cross-subsidisation that could otherwise result from cost recovery of these activities. These arrangements are relatively inflexible once annual allocations of funding and service level agreements are made with the state agencies. This inflexibility has generally been at the expense of a more effective risk-minimisation approach to compliance.
Accordingly, from 2009-10, AFMA has implemented a centralised, strategic model of domestic fisheries compliance enforcement more consistent with contemporary regulatory best practice. This will allow AFMA to more efficiently identify and more flexibly and effectively address high risk areas of non-compliance.
In reviewing cost recovery for domestic compliance, where the over-riding priority is to achieve optimal levels of compliance and fishery sustainability, care must be taken to ensure that unintentionally perverse outcomes, inconsistent with compliance objectives, are avoided.
In order to maximise the effectiveness of AFMA’s domestic compliance enforcement activity group, a centralized, strategic model is the most appropriate policy. To avoid cross subsidization, this may result in relatively little expenditure particularly in fisheries that are assessed as low risk. However, this would be identifiable by industry during the budget process and in turn would create the incentive for non compliance in that fishery. This is clearly inconsistent with the objectives of this activity group.
Therefore in accordance with the cost recovery guidelines in order to avoid cross subsidization and to not undermine the effectiveness of fisheries regulations or the level of compliance, this activity group will be taxpayer funded.
In accordance with the guidelines, the policy goals of domestic compliance enforcement are not consistent with recovering costs from fisheries for several reasons:
Past cost-recovery has led to inflexible and inefficient compliance enforcement arrangements
There is an element of “paying twice” in cost recovering activities promoting voluntary compliance if enforcement activities are then also cost recovered
The benefits of enforcement are shared between the community, recreational, charter and non-commercial fishers – by protecting the community-owned resource – and the Commonwealth commercial fishing industry in protecting the potential value of their access rights
The need for enforcement activities is created by the people who contravene the law and are subject to legal penalties.
The beneficiaries of monitoring activities are the wider community, including the recreational, charter and state fishing sectors and the commercial fishing industry. Charging for enforcement activities will not be efficient or cost effective. The activities in this group contribute to compliance and the orderly management of the fishery as a whole. The charging of fees to individual firms may alter fishers’ behaviours or provide information on monitoring levels inconsistent with the objectives of these activities.
In addition, it is not feasible to define a boundary between the costs associated with specific cases that are proven and result in prosecution or administrative penalty and those that do not. If it were possible to charge individual firms, to do so would lead to partial cost recovery of the activity group. Cost recovery is not possible in cases where the people concerned do not hold Commonwealth fishing concessions against which fees or levies can be charged. The groups benefiting from or creating the need for the activity group cannot be consistently charge. This adds more weight to this activity group being taxpayer funded.
Note: Additional monitoring for non-fisheries purposes allowed by the Fisheries Management Act 1991, including Customs, border protection and Marine Protected Areas, are intra-government services and outside the scope of the cost recovery policy. The additional incremental costs of these monitoring services should be taxpayer funded or subject to inter-agency charging.
Activity Group 6 – Foreign Fisheries Compliance Enforcement and Outreach
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $19.990m Charge: Taxpayer funding
AFMA’s role in managing foreign fisheries compliance is an integral part of the Australian Government’s border protection effort. By its nature, AFMA’s foreign fisheries compliance function is directed to stopping illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activity in the Australian Fishing Zone on behalf of the Australian community. In some cases the Commonwealth commercial fishing industry is a major beneficiary of the activity, such as in Southern Ocean fisheries. In other cases state fisheries or the community, with respect to environment protection and biodiversity conservation or protection from invasive pest species are the primary beneficiaries. The northern regions of Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory are particularly vulnerable. In all aspects, the activities under this output are directed at protecting Australian sovereignty, protecting Australia’s marine and terrestrial ecosystems and fulfilling Australia’s obligations under international agreements and institutions such as the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Foreign fisheries compliance enforcement and outreach activities are undertaken by several Commonwealth, State/Territory and international agencies, including AFMA. The objective is to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign owned and/or flagged vessels anywhere in the Australian Fishing Zone (AFZ).[1] The provision by the Government of significant additional taxpayer funding for foreign fisheries compliance in recent years, to AFMA and other participating authorities, is indicative of the importance of this activity to the Australian community.
Agencies engaged in policy development and implementation relevant to this output include, in addition to AFMA, State/Territory fisheries and law enforcement authorities, and Commonwealth departments and authorities responsible for customs, border protection, defence, foreign affairs, quarantine, immigration and law enforcement.
AFMA’s activities within this activity group include close liaison and cooperation between relevant authorities in Australia and in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and East Timor. These activities extend to multi-lateral forums including regional fisheries management organisations and monitoring, control and surveillance networks, as well as bilaterally with the ‘nearby’ countries of France, New Zealand and South Africa and the flag states of the IUU fishing vessels apprehended in Australian waters.
Activities specific to AFMA in managing foreign fisheries compliance include the coordination and management of the deterrence and apprehension of illegal foreign fishers through surveillance and at-sea patrols. IUU fishing in the AFZ involves offences under the Fisheries Management Act 1991, for which AFMA has the primary legislative and administrative responsibility. AFMA officers also lead IUU fishing investigations, provide evidence, prosecution briefs and advice in all prosecutions and are responsible for the disposal of illegal foreign fishing vessels forfeited to the Commonwealth.
AFMA also commissions research and investigations aimed at improving knowledge about the ecological and economic impacts of IUU fishing, for example, the damage to shark stocks from illegal shark finning, and the operation of the criminal networks through which shark fins and other products are traded and exported to (mainly) Asian markets.
The beneficiaries of AFMA’s (and the wider whole-of-government) engagement in combating foreign IUU fishing and the related sovereignty protection issues are diverse, as outlined above. It would be inconsistent with the guidelines and with broader government policy in connection with protecting Australian sovereignty and meeting international treaty obligations for the costs of foreign fisheries compliance to be recovered from Commonwealth commercial fishers. The Commonwealth commercial fishing industry is not the primary beneficiary of the activity, nor does it create the need for the activity. Individuals, firms and groups outside the reach of AFMA’s cost recovery powers create the need for the activity group. These activities should therefore be taxpayer funded.
Activity Group 7 – Data collection and management
Beneficiary: Commercial Industry Cost of Activity: $4.524m Charge: Levy / Fees
This activity group is directed at monitoring fishing activity and commercial fishers’ compliance with fisheries regulations. It includes:
collecting and assessing data on compliance with quota limits
monitoring vessel’s locations and activities for the purposes of managing each Commonwealth fishery
the definition and collection of logbook data
observation of fishing activities
collection of fisheries data used to inform fisheries management decisions
fisheries independent surveys where there is no demonstrated public benefit
transmission of the data and entry of the data into AFMA’s databases
the provision and maintenance of the specific supporting technology.
The data collected through this activity group is essential to assessing the impact of Commonwealth commercial fishing on the resource, the efficiency of fishing operations for bio-economic assessment, reporting on fishing activities and interactions with listed species. The need is created by Commonwealth commercial fishing activities and commercial fishers as a group are the primary beneficiaries.
For designing and processing logbooks, and designing and maintaining the data entry and repository systems, charging a fee may discourage reporting and diminish commitment to voluntary compliance, and a levy is therefore the most efficient cost recovery method.
Sampling observations of fishing activities, undertaken to assess each fishery’s impact on particular species or the marine environment, are caused by and benefit the fishery as a whole and the costs should be recovered from all fishers in the fishery. This is most cost effectively done through levies.
Observations that allow specific fishing operations to be undertaken which would otherwise not be allowed should be cost recovered through fees.
Where possible and appropriate, requests for data extracts from other government agencies, external researchers, other industries and the recreational and charter sectors will be considered on a case by case basis and if provided, will be done so on a fee for service basis. The fee would be based on the marginal cost of providing the information.
Activity Group 8 – Research – industry funded
Beneficiary: Commercial Industry Cost of Activity: $3.403m Charge: Levy
AFMA has a specific responsibility under the Fisheries Administration Act 1991 to establish research priorities relating to fisheries managed by the Authority and arrange for the undertaking of such research.[2] The purpose of this activity group is to provide information to AFMA to help make management decisions (i.e. activity 1)[3]. This activity group includes services and products that primarily benefits the Commonwealth commercial fishing industry arising from the following:
fisheries independent surveys where a public benefit has been demonstrated
assessing fish stock status
formulation and application of bio-economic modeling or proxy measures of economic performance
research into new technologies that will assist AFMA to more efficiently collect data or acquire knowledge
data analysis and reporting to inform ecological risk management decisions
assessment of research by AFMA’s resource assessment groups
analysis of fishing activities for the purposes for informing resource allocation decisions
The research undertaken through this activity group is essential to assessing the impact of Commonwealth commercial fishing on the resource, the efficiency of fishing operations for bio-economic assessment, reporting on fishing activities and interactions with listed species. The need is created by Commonwealth commercial fishing activities and commercial fishers as a group are the primary beneficiaries.
Activity Group 9 – Research – government funded
Beneficiary: Community Cost of Activity: $1.850m Charge: Taxpayer funding
Some of the research commissioned by AFMA results in significant benefits to the Australian community and to sectors outside the domestic Commonwealth commercial fishing industry. The purpose of this activity group is to provide information to AFMA to help make management decisions (i.e. activity 1)5. This activity group includes services and products that primarily benefit the Australian community and these other sectors arising from the following:
AFMA has funding for this purpose in its base budget. The cost of these research activities are not cost recoverable and will be taxpayer funded.
Activity Group 10 – Licensing/Registration and Revenue Collection
Beneficiary: Commercial Industry Cost of Activity: $1.371m Charge: Levy $1.256mFee $0.115m
This activity group comprises the transactions of granting and registration of Commonwealth fishing concessions, transferring concessions between fishers and charging fees for transactional services and levies for levied services. The concessions include Statutory Fishing Rights, Fishing Permits, Scientific Permits, Fish Receiver Permits and Foreign Fishing and Treaty Licenses. The costs of the transactional activities are recovered by a fee for service and the other costs are recovered through the levy mechanism.
These activities individually benefit the firms and industry that create the need. Charging is consistent with the objectives of the Fisheries Administration Act 1991 and fee for service charging is efficient and cost-effective. Charging for this activity group should be through fees for service for transactional activities and by levy for the remainder of the activity group. This will change more towards fee for service with the take up of online transactions.
Basis of Charging – Fee or Levy
AFMA prepares its detailed annual budget by activity and, where appropriate, fishery. Fishery-related budget elements are provided to relevant MACs for comment before formal consideration by the Commission and approval by the CEO. The determination of the costs to be recovered will be governed by the 2010 CRIS. In line with the guidelines, a fee will be charged where the activity is attributable to an individual or firm and it is efficient to do so. Levies are more efficient and will apply where AFMA undertakes activities that are caused by or benefit whole fishery sectors or the whole Commonwealth commercial fishing industry.
Fees – Where it is practical and cost effective to do so, costs will be recovered as fees for service. The above analysis identifies licensing and applicable observer costs as recoverable through fees as there is a direct link between the costs of the activity and the amount recovered. This enhances transparency and efficiency in service delivery. The fee will be based on estimated efficient unit costs, such as the daily cost of placing an observer on a fishing boat including administration. The efficient cost is determined by identifying direct costs, overheads, capital costs and depreciation as detailed in the ‘Costs to be included in charges’ section below.
Where it is practicable and cost effective to do so (and not inconsistent with the guidelines), the costs of information or services provided by AFMA to third party groups and organisations, including related overheads, will be separately charged. In the main these will be inter-agency or inter-government charges and AFMA will apply the principles underlying appropriate cost recovery to these charges. Typically, however, the amounts so recovered are a small proportion of AFMA’s overall costs.
With the introduction of GoFish, AFMA’s on-line business facility, reduced fees have been introduced which recognise the lower cost of electronic transactions.
A schedule of AFMA’s current fees and charges is included in this CRIS.
The total amount of fee for service activity budgeted in AFMA for 2010-11 is $486,000 of which $371,000 is the recovery of observer costs and $115,000 for licensing activities. The observer fees are based on daily cost plus overheads and the licensing fee for service are based on estimated transaction costs. The revenue from licensing fee for service is only a minor part of AFMA’s revenue base at this stage at only an estimated $50,000 for 2009-10.
Levies – The majority of AFMA’s recovered revenue is by levy because of the sectoral nature of several of AFMA’s activities. The recovered revenue by levy is $13.147 million – 96% of total revenue. The levy mechanism is through annual fishery-based levies, established by Regulation under applicable legislation. Levies do, however, incorporate ‘fee for service’ principles in that within a given fishery the quantum of each fisher’s total levy is proportional to a measure of that fisher’s beneficial interest in the fishery, such as the fisher’s share of the total allowable catch, or the number of permits held, or the amount of fishing effort permitted, etc. The quantum and make-up of levied activities in each fishery are developed in consultation with the relevant MAC or industry sector on an annual basis and may change over time according to the fishery’s circumstances. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will formally approve levies in the form of annual Levy Regulations, which are made law by the Governor-General in council and subject to disallowance by Parliament.
In addition to the annual process for setting levies, after the end of a financial year, for each fishery, any net difference between total levies received and total recoverable costs actually incurred will be ascertained and an adjustment, up or down as required, made in the following year’s levies for that fishery.
In the case of industry-government partnership research funding, fishery industry representatives on the relevant MAC may agree to carry over unspent research funds from one year to the next, to accommodate anticipated research needs, rather than include those funds in the annual adjustment process.
The Summary of Charging Arrangements at Table 4 shows the costs that should be recovered by levy or fee for service, and the costs that should be funded by the taxpayer.
Legal Requirements for Cost Recovery
AFMA’s cost recovery arrangements are fully authorised by applicable Commonwealth law. Part 7 of the Fisheries Management Act 1991 provides for the administration and collection of both fishing levies and charges, with reference to associated legislation – the Fishing Levy Act 1991, the Foreign Fishing Licences Levy Act 1991, the Statutory Fishing Rights Charge Act 1991 and, for Torres Strait fisheries, the Fisheries Levy Act 1984. The fees for service are prescribed in the Fisheries Management Regulations 1992. The Fisheries Administration Act 1991 also requires AFMA to pursue the achievement of government targets in relation to the recovery of the costs of the Authority. There have been no successful legal challenges to the arrangements based on any alleged lack of authority.
Those AFMA activities subject to international treaties, or international agreement obligations are included in the Policy Review section of this draft CRIS. Activities directed towards developing regulations, or complying with international obligations, should be funded by the taxpayer in accordance with the guidelines. Activities directed at the sustainable management of the associated domestic fisheries are cost recovered on the same basis as if they were wholly domestically managed fisheries.
Costs to be included in charges
AFMA will base its cost recovery on the principles described in this section and the Policy Review Section. The numerical examples shown in this draft CRIS are based on the level of funding for AFMA for 2009-10 and estimates of costs against the activities. Cost recovery in subsequent years will reflect the final approved CRIS and the costs anticipated for those years, including the savings realised from implementing the Cost Reduction Working Group recommendations approved by AFMA.
The principles on which recovered costs will be based in implementing the CRIS are the estimation of efficient costs and transparency. Costs for activities are defined as direct costs, indirect costs (overheads) and capital costs. Each will be adjusted annually based on operations, the price of goods and services received and estimates of achievable cost savings.
Direct costs, of which staff costs are the most significant component, will be based on historical financial information and statutory requirements in relation to staff, analyses of staff utilisation and surveys of future operational requirements. AFMA managers will provide direct input to validate the costs and identify likely variations over time as part of AFMA’s budgeting processes. ICT services (such as VMS transmission costs for fishery monitoring) specific to an activity will be included as a component of direct costs for the activity.
Overheads include rent, utilities, corporate services employee costs, ICT infrastructure services and office supplies.[4] These overheads are allocated in this draft CRIS on the basis of the full time staff equivalents (FTEs) involved in each activity. This is considered to be an equitable and reasonable basis for allocation, as employee numbers are the most significant cost determinant for overheads in all activities. All overhead costs have been incorporated into individual activity costs on this basis and recovered (or not recovered) accordingly. Overheads have been categorised into 3 categories – Type A, B, and C. Type A overheads are allocated based on direct expenditure budgets, Type B overheads are allocated based on the number of full time staff and Type C overheads are allocated on the basis of Canberra based full time staff as these costs relate to the Canberra accommodation and facilities.
Capital costs will be allocated directly to the relevant activity where the cost is attributable specifically to the activity (such as licensing software) and on the basis of the FTEs involved in a particular group of activities where it is not. The capital charges used in these calculations will be based on the fair value of assets in accordance with Australian Accounting Standard AASB 1041 Revaluation of Non-Current Assets.
Depreciation of assets will be on a straight line basis over the life of the asset, and leasehold items will be amortised over the life of the lease.
According to the guidelines, the CRIS should consider efficient costs rather than actual costs when determining cost recovery charges in cases where products are not produced efficiently or apply higher standards than absolutely necessary. The program of IT renewal (Pisces, e-licensing and e-logs, e-monitoring) currently funded from AFMA’s cash reserves arguably has such characteristics. These and other projects funded from AFMA’s cash reserves and from the government’s $6 million allocation for improved science, data and compliance under the Securing our Fishing Future package are treated separately in this analysis. Future ongoing maintenance activities resulting from these projects, and future core business software developments should be allocated as direct costs for the activities or activity groups supported.
The charging structure proposed in this consultation draft is reflected in the Summary of Charging Arrangements. Licensing transaction fees, observer fees and fishery levies are reviewed and set annually.
This cost recovery analysis is based on fully distributing overhead costs. Non-cost recoverable activities form the largest part of AFMA’s activities in the current analysis under the July 2005 guidelines. The 2004 CRIS applied fully distributed costs on the basis of analysis solely as a regulatory agency under the December 2002 cost recovery guidelines.
AFMA Cost Allocations
Fees and Charges Trends
AFMA has given a commitment to industry to ensure that charges for 2009-10 would not exceed the levels payable in 2005-06 – $13.6 million. Also, industry charges beyond 2009‑10 would only increase by the consumer price index. AFMA’s annual budgeting process provides very detailed budgets for each fishery and the MAC has the opportunity to fully review the proposed budget for the ensuing year.
Furthermore, AFMA undertook a Business Efficiency Review in 2008 with the aim of identifying and recommending options for reducing the costs of Commonwealth fisheries management. The Review worked through a Cost Reduction Working Group which had representatives from the then AFMA Board, Commonwealth Fisheries Association and AFMA. The review identified $1.5 million savings in the short term and up to $3.5 million savings in the medium term. The Business Efficiency Review can be accessed from AFMA’s website. While the majority of the savings identified have been achieved, some further rationalisation and savings can still be achieved.
AFMA has committed to ensure that the cost recovered funds from industry for 2009-10 will be not more than those for 2005-06. The forward projections have been increased by a 3% inflator.
The budgeted expenses and revenues for AFMA are identified in the table below:
Table 3.2.1 Comprehensive Income Statement (Showing Net Cost of Services)
Employee benefits 21,817 21,034 20,378 20,872 21,974
Supplier expenses 18,033 16,473 16,417 16,356 16,951
Depreciation and amortisation 1,641 1,710 1,739 1,775 1,753
Total expenses 41,491 39,217 38,534 39,003 40,678
Sale of goods and rendering of services 2,350 1,405 1,155 1,155 1,155
Levies and license fees provided via crediting right to special account 11,184 13,071 13,168 13,563 13,970
Total own-source income 13,534 14,476 14,323 14,718 15,125
services 27,957 24,741 24,211 24,285 25,553
Appropriation Revenue 23,018 22,774 23,534 23,621 24,889
the Australian Government* (4,939) (1,967) (677) (664) (664)
Table 1 – Budgeted expenses and revenue
Source – Portfolio Budget Statements 2010-11
AFMA undertakes an annual detailed budget exercise in February of each year which feeds into the business planning and budgets for the ensuing year.
The key assumptions for the above estimates are as follows:
The AFMA Collective Agreement expires on 30 June 2011. The agreement provides for a 4% salary increase on 1 July 2010. Further salary increases are dependent on the next collective agreement, however a 4% increase has been factored into the estimates.
An increase of 2% has been factored into the supplier expense estimates. This takes into account general cost increases and any efficiency gains that AFMA can put into place.
The depreciation and amortisation charges are expected to spike in 2011-12 and then gradually decrease as capital items are fully written off
The appropriation revenues from Government have been forecast to increase by 2%, however the forward estimates are subject to scrutiny by the Department of Finance and Deregulation on an annual basis and any specific decisions by Government
AFMA is continually reviewing its operations to identify measures for cost savings and more efficient business processes. Some specific areas for review in 2009-10 and 2010-11 are:
– Review Canberra office accommodation to explore opportunities for sub leasing portions of the Canberra office
– Explore opportunities for shared services arrangements with other Government agencies, and in particular the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
– Continue implementation of recommendations from the Business Efficiency Review, particularly the cost of MACs and RAGs.
The estimated industry recovered costs as identified in the table above is projected to be $13.496 million for 2010-11 and increase by 3% annually going forward.
Budgets for each fishery are compiled each year and a detailed analysis is provided to MACs in about April each year for their review and comment.
AFMA’s direct, corporate and support costs for 2009-10 and 2010-11 forecasts for the cost recovered portion of AFMAs budget is set out below.
Direct Costs 5,151 5,301
Corporate Costs 2,813 2,895
Support Costs 5,145 5,300
Total Industry Cost 13,109 13,496
The costing information listed is shown below:
Summary of Expected Available Funding 2009-10 to 2012-13
Actual and Estimated Levy and other Fee Collections 2001-02 to 2012-13
Summary of Proposed Charging Arrangements 2009-10
Summary of Expected Available Funding over the next three years
Industry Levies and License Fees 12,884 13,071 13,168 13,563 13,970
Observer Fees 655 655 655 655 655
Total Levies and Fees from industry 13,539 13,726 13,823 14,218 14,625
Other Revenue 1695 750 500 500 500
AFMA Appropriation – Departmental Funding 10,684 9,930 10,134 10274 11458
AFMA Appropriation – Foreign Fishing Compliance 12,334 12,844 13,400 13347 13431
Administered Appropriation – Foreign Fishing Compliance 5,038 7,146 5,139 5,276 5,367
Funding from reserves 3239 1,536 – – –
431 677 664 664
Total Available Funding 46,529 46,363 43,673 44,279 46,045
Table 2 – Expected funding
Based on the 2010-11 Portfolio Budget Statements.
Departmental funding for 2008-09 includes $3m for the levy subsidy and $2m for science data and compliance funding – these both cease for 2009-10 and beyond. The comparable amount for subsequent years is $11.210m.
The total funding available does not take into account any deficit funding for special projects.
The figures shown as total available funding for 2009-10 and beyond are only expected to increase for CPI adjustments.
The above figures do not take account of Government savings of $0.7m in 2009-10 and $1.4m in subsequent years from the AFMA Departmental Appropriations. This decision was announced in October 2009.
Actual and Estimated Levy and Other Fee Collections
Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Actual Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget
Levy and License Fees 11,252,390 12,394,145 12,250,480 13,134,809 6,892,682 8,683,219 9,988,000 12,884,000 13,071,000 13,168,000 13,563,000 13,970,000
Observer fees 567,000 481,000 560,000 505,000 242,000 301,000 419,000 655,000 655,000 655,000 655,000 655,000
Other fees 42,000 76,000 35,000 41,000 107,000 57,000
609,000 557,000 595,000 546,000 349,000 358,000 419,000 655,000 655,000 655,000 655,000 655,000
Total cost recovered income 11,861,390 12,951,145 12,845,480 13,680,809 7,241,682 9,041,219 10,407,000 13,539,000 13,726,000 13,823,000 14,218,000
Levy Subsidy provided for 3 financial years 7,250,000 5,250,000 3,000,000
Subsidy plus recovered costs 11,861,390 12,951,145 12,845,480 13,680,809 14,491,682 14,291,219 13,407,000 13,575,000 13,726,000 13,823,000 14,218,000
Table 3 – Actual and Estimated Levy and Fees Collections 2002-03 to 2013-14
Summary of draft 2010-11 Budgets by CRIS Activity
Activity Industry Taxpayer Total
Group Name $’000 $’000 $’000
Activity 1 Management of Domestic Commercial Fisheries
Fishery Management 3,746
Management Advisory Committees 590
Activity 2 Management of traditional indigenous and non commercial fisheries
Fishery management costs 1,790
Torres Strait research 600
Activity 3 Input into defining international treaty standards and developing regulation 815
Activity 4 Policy Support 4,830
Activity 5 Domestic fisheries compliance enforcement 3,423
Activity 6 Foreign fisheries compliance enforcement and outreach
Departmental 12,844
Administered 7,146
Activity 7 Data Collection and management
Logbooks 519
Observers 2,912
Compliance data collection 444
Activity 8 Research – Industry funded
Research projects 2,660
Resource Assessment Groups 433
Research Administration 310
Activity 9 Research Government funded
Research projects 1,548
Resource Assessment Groups 108
Research Administration 194
Activity 10 Licensing/Registration and revenue collection
Licensing and quota management 868
PISCES & Go-Fish amortisation 503
Total AFMA Expenditure 13,634 33,298 46,932
Table 4 – Summary Charging Arrangements based on 2010-11 budgets
The finalised and approved CRIS will become operational with effect from 1 July 2010, subject to the agreement of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
AFMA will continue its annual monitoring of costs and prices. This will be open to scrutiny by stakeholders through consultation with MACs and Commonwealth commercial fishing industry sectors in setting fishery budgets for each activity group, and to Parliamentary scrutiny in the Levy Regulation-making process.
AFMA provides detailed budgetary information to MACs for review and comment as part of AFMA’s budget setting process.
License and observer fees are reviewed on an annual basis.
AFMA will publish costing and cost recovery information for each activity or group of activities in its annual report.
The AFMA Commission and the Audit and Risk Committee will monitor costs and cost recovery arrangements to ensure they are appropriate and efficient.
AFMA’s internal auditors will monitor and review AFMA’s operations and costs. The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) can also review AFMA’s operations and costs whenever it should decide to do so. The ANAO publishes a forward work program on an annual basis and may include AFMA in cross agency reviews of activities or it may undertake performance reviews of specific programs.
AFMA provided a 1st consultation draft CRIS to industry in January 2009. AFMA provided further costing details to industry in April 2009 which identified the potential impact of the new CRIS on 2009-10 budgets. Industry raised a number of issues with the CRIS and the budgets and AFMA has worked with industry to resolve the issues. AFMA provided a further three consultation drafts to industry as well as a draft research policy. The draft CRIS was simplified and rearranged to ensure that it complied with the Government’s Cost Recovery Guidelines.
The Commonwealth Fisheries Association has endorsed the cost recovery arrangements as identified in this CRIS.
AFMA will continue the processes of consultation with stakeholders, through MACs, RAGs and fishing industry organisations, on its activities and costs.
AFMA will conduct detailed reviews of costs and cost recovery arrangements which will be less frequent, but in addition to, annual monitoring. The triggers for such periodic reviews may include:
Significant developments in fisheries policy, domestically or internationally
Changes in other government policies which may impact on fishery activities and costs
Significant technological changes which may impact on AFMA’s costs
Significant changes in the guidelines.
AFMA has introduced a number of activities on-line in 2009. E-licensing was introduced in September 2009 and allows for registered users to conduct most of their AFMA licensing business electronically. As part of the introduction of e-licensing, AFMA has reviewed the fees and charges to ensure that the anticipated reduced costs of electronic processing are passed on to the users.
AFMA will formally involve stakeholders in all periodic reviews.
In any case, government policy requires agencies to review their cost recovery arrangements at least every five years, which means subject to any of the above triggers, the next major review would be in 2015.
I certify that this Cost Recovery Impact Statement is prepared in accordance with the Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines – July 2005 and complies with the Australian Government’s cost recovery policy.
6. Cost recovery links
The Australian Government Cost Recovery Guidelines and the accompanying Finance circulars can be found at;
https://www.finance.gov.au/resource-management/charging-framework/charging-for-regulatory-activities/
Attachment A – Schedule of Current Licensing Fees and Charges
Column 1Item Column 2Matter Column 3Fee
Part 1 Formally managed fisheries
2 Application for the grant of a foreign fishing licence in respect of a boat for a formally managed fishery 300
3 Application for the grant of a foreign master fishing licence for a formally managed fishery 100
4 Application for the grant of a fishing permit or a foreign master fishing licence for an area in a formally managed fishery 100
5 Application for the grant of a foreign fishing licence for an area in a formally managed fishery 300
Part 2 Informally managed fisheries
6 Application for the grant of a fishing permit or a foreign fishing licence in respect of a boat for an informally managed fishery 300
7 Application for the grant of a fishing permit or a foreign fishing licence for an area in an informally managed fishery 300
8 Application for the grant of a foreign master fishing licence for an area in an informally managed fishery 100
8A Application for the grant of a fishing permit for an informally managed fishery that is outside the Australian fishing zone 400
8B Application for the grant of a fishing permit for an informally managed fishery that is in the area of waters south of the Antarctic Convergence 1 000
Part 3 Fisheries generally
9 Application for the variation, revocation or specification, under subsection 32 (8) of the Act, of a condition, or conditions, of: 300
(a) a permit in respect of a boat; or
(b) if the application is made at the same time in relation to more than 1 permit in respect of that boat — those permits
10 Application for the transfer, under subsection 32 (10) of the Act, of: 300
(a) a permit for a boat; or
(b) if the application is made at the same time to transfer more than 1 permit in respect of that boat — those permits
11 Registration of an interest in a statutory fishing right under subsection 46 (4) of the Act 50
12 Inspection of the Register under subsection 52 (1) of the Act 50
12A Inspection of the High Seas Register under subsection 57D (1) of the Act 50
12B Inspection of the Fishing Permits Register under subsection 57J (1) of the Act 50
13 Application for the grant or renewal of a fish receiver permit under subsection 91 (2) or (10) of the Act 150
14 Notice (under paragraph 32 (1A) (b) of the Act) of nomination of another Australian boat in lieu of the boat specified in a permit, or in each permit of a permit package 300
15 Notice (under subsection 32 (1B) of the Act) of nomination of an Australian boat to a permit, or in each permit of a permit package 300
16 Application for the grant of a port permit under section 94 of the Act:
(a) first instalment (payable when the application is made); and 414
(b) second instalment (payable if AFMA decides to grant the application) 336for each port entry requested in the application
With the introduction of electronic transactions, AFMA has introduced the following fee reductions:
Item Current Fee Estimated amounts to be deducted from current fee [s 21(2)] Applicable Electronic Transactions Fee
Part 1 – item 4 $100.00 $12.00 $88.00
Part 1 – item 5 $300.00 $212.00 $88.00
Part 2 – item 6 $300.00 $212.00 $88.00
Part 2 – item 7 $300.00 $212.00 $88.00
Part 2 – item 8A $400.00 $312.00 $88.00
Part 3 – item 9 $300.00 $212.00 $88.00
Part 3 – item 10 $300.00 $212.00 $88.00
Part 3 – item 13 $150.00 $62.00 $88.00
The full impact of these fee reductions will be reflected in the 2010-11 budgets.
[1] Recent developments in the delineation of Australia’s “extended” continental shelf (to beyond 200 nm) have, potentially, implications for foreign fisheries compliance in relation to the conservation and management of the benthic species on the (extended) sea bed. Whether and how this might affect future foreign fisheries compliance arrangements and costs will need to be kept under review and, if necessary, reflected in revisions of AFMA’s CRIS and future budget requirements.
[2] Funding for other fisheries related research activities is available through the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and CSIRO within existing appropriations. The Department also administers the Fisheries Resources Research Fund (FRRF) which provides funding for a rolling program of assessments of all Commonwealth fisheries undertaken by ABARE and BRS, and targeted biological, economic and social research to underpin the Government’s response to current and emerging fishery policy and management issues. These sources are not subject to this CRIS.
[3] Research commissioned by AFMA will likely partially fall into this activity group and partially fall into activity group nine. An AFMA policy (attachment A) provides guidance on how particular research projects will be divided between this activity group and activity group nine.
5 However, those ICT services attributable to “above private sector” security standards will be taxpayer funded (see Output 1.0) and those directly attributable to fishery specific activities – such as those for e-licensing, e-logbooks and the like – will be recovered from industry through relevant Outputs such as Output 1.1.3.