The Hon Simon Crean MP
Minister for the Arts
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Minister
On behalf of the Council of the National Museum of Australia, I am pleased to submit our annual report for the financial year ended 30 June 2012. The Council is responsible under Section 9 and Schedule 1 of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 for the preparation and content of the report of operations of the National Museum of Australia. The 2011–12 Annual Report has been prepared in conformity with the Commonwealth Authorities (Annual Reporting) Orders 2011, and with select regard to the Requirements for Annual Reports, as approved by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit under subsections 63(2) and 70(2) of the Public Service Act 1999and made available by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on 28 June 2012. In accordance with a resolution of the Council, passed on 23 August 2012, the members of Council accept this report as being a fair and accurate representation of the organisation’s performance during the year under review.
This year was marked by many achievements for the National Museum. Visitation reached record levels, with over five million people visiting the Museum and its travelling exhibitions or engaging with the Museum’s programs and increasingly rich and informative presence online.
The Council is committed to continually improving the performance of the Museum. To this end, the Council examined how the Museum’s strategic priorities should be defined and how these priorities could be linked with whole-of-government aspirations, particularly in the area of education and access. Council gave the Museum’s management the task of implementing changes to the Museum’s staff structure and business practices to deliver effectively on new strategic priorities. This process of change will continue into 2012–13.
The Museum has achieved or surpassed the outcomes set for it by government for 2011–12 and there have been no significant developments since the end of the financial year.
I would like to express Council’s appreciation of your support for the Museum throughout 2011–12. We were especially pleased to note that the pressures caused by rising costs were recognised in government funding decisions throughout the year. Additional funds allocated in the 2012–13 Budget will assist in making more of the National Historical Collection accessible. It will also allow us to introduce new and innovative ways to present our collection digitally.
I would like to acknowledge the support of all Council members in ensuring the highest levels of governance of the National Museum. All Council members join me in congratulating the Director and staff on the Museum’s continuing success.
Yours sincerely
Daniel Gilbert AM
Chair of Council
August 2012