Annual Report 2002/2003

1 Overview

2 Statement of Service Performance for the Year Ended 30 June 2003

3 Financial Statements and Schedules: Non-Departmental

4 Financial Statements

5 Triple Bottom Line Progress

6 Management of the Ministry

7 Contact Information

Vote: Environment: Output Class 3: Bioethics Council

This output class will enable the effective operation of the Bioethics Council. The Bioethics Council is a ministerial advisory committee. Its role is to:

• provide independent advice to government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions
• promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities.
• provide public information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology.

Performance measures

Outputs in this class were provided within the appropriated sum and specified timeframes (unless otherwise stated). Performance measures were specified for each output as appropriate.

Resources employed

Actual 30/06/2002 $000		Actual 30/06/2003 $000	Main estimates 30/06/2003 $000	Supplementary estimates 30/06/2003 $000
	Revenue:
0	Crown	1,333	1,333	1,333
0	Total revenue	1,333	1,333	1,333
0	Total expenses	551	1,333	1,333
-	Net surplus	782	-	-

Review of output achievements

Provide independent advice to the Government on biotechnological issues involving significant cultural, ethical and spiritual dimensions

To date the Council has made two submissions: one on the NOOM Bill (New Organisms and Other Matters Bill) and the other on the HART Bill (Human Assisted Reproduction Technology Bill).

Promote and participate in public dialogue on cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology, and enable public participation in the Council's activities

The Council is currently in the middle of a public dialogue process involving the issue of human genes and other organisms.

Provide public information on the cultural, ethical and spiritual aspects of biotechnology

The Council has developed and established a website providing detailed information on biotechnology and the work of the Council.