Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00854:body:0:p21
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00854
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 59856–63080

the approval of applications for grants are transparent, well documented and consistent with the legislative and policy requirements set out in Part 1, sections 3 and 4 of the CGRPs.
          * Officials should put in place a transparent and systematic application and selection process. Such processes assist in informing decisions and enhancing confidence in the grant opportunity outcomes and grants administration processes, for both stakeholders and the public.
          * Targeted or restrictive eligibility criteria may assist where narrowing the field of potential applicants aims to achieve a particular policy outcome. However, care needs to be taken that restrictive eligibility criteria does not exclude potential applicants that may be better placed to contribute to the policy outcomes, or provide better value with relevant money.
          * Those involved in grants administration should be aware that the geographic distribution of grants may be seen as an indicator of the general equity of a grant opportunity and also of party-political bias in the distribution of grants.
          * A key consideration is whether decision-makers or approvers have equitably and transparently selected grant activities that achieve value with relevant money in the context of the outcomes of the grant opportunity, as set out in the grant opportunity guidelines.

  12.        Achieving Value with Relevant Money
    12.1.   Achieving value with relevant money should be a prime consideration in all phases of grants administration.[76] Grants administration should provide value, as should the grantees in delivering grant activities. This requires the careful comparison of the costs and benefits of feasible options in all phases of grants administration, particularly when planning and designing grant opportunities and when selecting grantees. It is also a means by which officials can assure the entity's accountable authority, ministers and the Parliament that resources are deployed in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner, while not imposing overly burdensome requirements on grantees.
    12.2.   Officials achieve value with relevant money in grants administration by:
          * Considering and promoting the proper use and management of public resources (proper means efficient, effective, economical and ethical).
          * Working with government and non-government stakeholders when appropriate to develop or modify grant opportunities. Stakeholder input can aid in improving the efficiency of the design and delivery of grant opportunities.
          * Using processes, procedures and requirements that are proportional to the risks and nature of grant opportunities. For intellectual property rights resulting from grant activities, entities should not generally assert ownership, but should consider a licence for Commonwealth purposes.
          * Adopting an active risk identification and engagement approach focused on minimising potential adverse impacts and maximising benefits, through identifying and treating risks.
          * Responding to change. Officials should establish flexible processes so as to be able to respond quickly to changing government priorities.