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Advertising and market research

The AAT did not undertake any advertising campaigns in 2015-16. Non-campaign advertising expenditure of $9,299 was paid to Dentsu Mitchell for advertising employment vacancies.

The AAT paid $46,768 to ORIMA Research Pty Ltd to conduct a survey of users of the AAT’s services. No amounts were paid to polling or direct mailing organisations during 2015-16.

Grants

The AAT does not administer any grants programs.

Disability reporting mechanism

Since 1994, non-corporate Commonwealth entities have reported on their performance as policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and provider under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. In 2007-08, reporting on the employer role was transferred to the Australian Public Service Commission’s State of the Service reports and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are available at www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010-11, departments and agencies have no longer been required to report on these functions.

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been overtaken by the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020, which sets out a ten-year national policy framework to improve the lives of people with disability, promote participation and create a more inclusive society. A high level two-yearly report will track progress against each of the six outcome areas of the strategy and present a picture of how people with disability are faring. The first of these progress reports was published in 2014, and can be found at www.dss.gov.au.

Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

The AAT does not develop or administer legislation or policy relating to the environment but takes steps to ensure our operations are undertaken in an environmentally sustainable way.

When arranging new leases and refurbishments in 2015-16, we gave consideration to the principles of ecologically sustainable development. The AAT’s Long Term Accommodation Masterplan, adopted in May 2015, states a preference for leases in buildings with NABERS ratings of at least 4.5 and refers to compliance with a range of Australian Government policies, including the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations Policy, ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-2015 and the National Waste Policy. The AAT signed leases for new premises in Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth in 2015-16 which included the required Green Lease Schedules. These buildings have NABERS ratings of 5.5 (Adelaide), 5 (Brisbane) and 4.5 (Perth).

We also limit our impact on the environment in day-to-day operations by implementing simple measures such as ensuring lights are switched off when not required, ensuring any leased vehicles have a high Green Vehicle Guide rating, encouraging double-sided printing, providing facilities to support staff who walk or cycle to work and recycling office waste.

Table A5.1 Environmental performance reporting, 2015-16

THEME STEPS TAKEN TO REDUCE EFFECT MEASURES TO REVIEW AND IMPROVE REDUCING THE EFFECT
Energy efficiency

Install sensor-controlled lighting in any new fit-outs or refurbishments to tenancies.

Consider energy ratings of office machines when replacement is necessary.

The AAT is not able to access consolidated data on electricity consumption across all tenancies.

Vehicles

Ensure the average Green Vehicle Guide rating of the AAT’s leased vehicles is as high as possible.

The AAT’s one leased vehicle as at 30 June 2016 has a Tailpipe CO2 rating of 186g/km.

Waste

Participate in office waste recycling schemes.

All registries recycled paper during the reporting year.

Some registries also recycled glass, plastics and metals, toner cartridges, organic material and e-waste such as batteries.

As the AAT participates in whole-of-building recycling schemes with other tenants, separate data on recycling quantities is not currently available.

Water

Install water saving devices such as dual-flush cisterns and waterless urinals in any new fit-outs or refurbishments to tenancies.

The AAT is not able to access data on water consumption in each of its tenancies.

Correction of material errors in previous annual report

The Social Security Appeals Tribunal Annual Report 2014-15 reported that the number of applications on hand in that tribunal at 30 June 2015 was as follows: 2,993 applications for review of Centrelink decisions, 74 applications for review of paid parental leave decisions and 499 applications for review of child support decisions: see pages 12 and 13. The AAT has become aware that there was a technical issue with the report used at the time to count the number of applications on hand. The correct number of applications on hand at 30 June 2015 was as follows: 2,696 applications for review of Centrelink decisions, 49 applications for review of paid parental leave decisions and 486 applications for review of child support decisions.