Report Writing: A core responsibility of a committee clerk

What are the core tasks of a PAC Clerk?

Procedural and handling advice

Administration

Managing relationships

Drafting

Drafting is more than just writing – it involves managing relationshipsManaging relationships - There are six core relationships; the good management of which can be considered essential to the successful clerking of a PAC. They are managing relationships with and between:

1. The Chair;

2. The Committee;

3. The Auditor General (and his or her office);

4. Parliamentary colleagues (clerking team, research, legal and expert advisors);

5. The people; and

6. Other parliamentary committees.

Why is report writing important to the PAC?

• Translating oversight into reform →Accountability = Answerability & Enforcement

• Government responds to report/ recommendations.

• More important with the introduction of performance audit reports

PAC ReportsPAC reports are a tool of accountability rather than a verbatim transcript of a PAC hearing.

Analysis is needed to support the recommendations included in a PAC report:Cost/ benefit analysis (For each recommendation you should think about how much it will cost and how much money it will save)Opportunity cost (Would the recommendation use public resources in the most efficient way? What opportunities would government need to forego in order to implement?)Problem analysis (What are the symptoms and what is the cause of the problem – what is your recommendation trying to solve?)

Recommendations need to be SMART

(S) Specific - You should state the method for implementing your recommendation (‘through’, ‘by’)(M) Measurable – Recommendations will be more persuasive and easiest to assess whether implemented if measurable (A) Achievable - Recommendations should not involve too little time, or too much money, labour, facilities or risk(R) Result-orientated - The recommendation should provide good results for stakeholders(T) Time-bound - The recommendation should set realistic deadlines for completion of suggestions

Types of ReportsTypes of PAC Reports Legislatures that produce these reports

Report on the Comments of the A-G on the annual accounts and auditors report

NASS (Senate)

Report on the annual reports of the A-G on the accounts of the government

NASS (Senate)

Reports on Routine Status Enquiry carried out by the Committee on the expenditure of the MDAs to obtain VFM

NASS (Senate)

Referral Report on referral to the Committee from Plenary

NASS (Senate)

Session Report submitted at the end of each legislative year

NASS (Senate)

Qualities of Good Reports/ Recommendations

SMART Qualities Specific Measurable Achievable Results-orientated Time-bound

• Precision• Accuracy of facts• Grammatical accuracy• Simple language• Clarity• Consciousness• Reader-friendly• Attractiveness etc

Who is the audience of a PAC report?