This audit would examine the effectiveness of the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) and the Department of Communications and the Arts’ (the department’s) administration of grant funding to support the culture and capability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and organisations.

The audit would focus on the NIAA’s administration of the Culture and Capability program under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS), and the department’s administration of the Indigenous Languages and Arts program and Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program. The IAS Culture and Capability program has a recurrent appropriation of approximately $50 million a year, and the two programs managed by the department have a total of $41 million in funding.

As part of a series of audits examining key funding streams under the IAS and associated programs, this audit would determine whether grant funding is being appropriately and effectively administered to ensure the achievement of improved culture and capability outcomes.

This audit would examine the effectiveness of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities Regional Development’s award of funding under the Regional Aviation Access Program, and the administration of agreements with successful applicants for funding.

The Regional Aviation Access Program provides funding assistance for access and safety upgrades to remote aerodromes, as well as subsidised flights, to ensure residents of remote communities have access to regional service centres. The 2018–19 Budget included $85 million for the program for that year and over the forward estimates.

This audit would examine the effectiveness of the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s (NIAA’s) administration of the Remote Australia Strategies program, one of five streams of Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) funding.

The Remote Australia Strategies program, which has a recurrent appropriation of approximately $50 million a year, is designed to support projects that contribute to improved education, employment and community safety in remote areas. This is achieved through grant funding to support place-based agreements with Indigenous communities and regions, alongside improved infrastructure in remote areas, including telecommunications and renewable energy. Other Australian Government commitments delivered under the program include the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program ($7 million a year from the IAS) and Outback Power ($10 million from the IAS).

As part of a series of audits examining the key funding streams under the IAS and associated programs outside of the NIAA, the audit would seek to determine whether grant funding is being appropriately and effectively administered to ensure the achievement of improved outcomes for remote Australia.