Browse our range of publications including performance and financial statement audit reports, better practice guides, Opinions newsletters and annual reports.
Requests for audit
The Auditor-General receives requests for audit from Members and Senators of the Parliament of Australia relating to the forward work program of the Office. View
Agriculture and Water Resources
The Agriculture and Water Resources Portfolio supports the sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries and the sustainable and productive management and use of rivers and water resources.
Attorney-General’s
The Attorney-General’s Portfolio covers a diverse range of functions and policy areas, including: privacy; family law and marriage; evidence; private international law; administrative law; freedom of information; personal property securities; native title; international crime cooperation; drugs; firearms; anti-money laundering; corruption; cybercrime; cyber security; and protective security.
Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is the Australian Government’s principal revenue collection entity. Its role is to manage and shape tax, excise and superannuation systems that fund services for Australians. The ATO has a single outcome delivered through 24 programs. In addition, the ATO also provides support to the Tax Practitioners Board, the Australian Business Register and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. In 2016–17, the ATO has budgeted expenses of $21.5 billion to deliver the outcome.
Communications and the Arts
The Communications and the Arts Portfolio is responsible for implementing government policy and programs with respect to digital technologies, communications services and public access to art and culture.
Cross-entity audits
Cross-entity audits are performance audits of the same activity in a number of entities or the administration of a program by a number of entities.
Defence
The Defence portfolio includes a range of entities that together are responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. The principal entity within the Defence Portfolio is the Department of Defence, which incorporates the Australian Defence Force (Defence).
Education and Training
The Education and Training Portfolio is responsible for assisting the Australian Government to take a national leadership role in education at all stages, including: early childhood, school, tertiary and international; and the policy development that supports this role.
Employment
The Employment Portfolio is responsible for assisting the Australian Government to achieve its objectives for employment by providing advice and support, and delivering programs and services to the Australian Government and the wider community. The portfolio is required to work with other Australian Government entities, state and territory governments and a range of service providers to deliver services to the community, safer workplaces and assist businesses with productivity.
Environment and Energy
The Environment and Energy Portfolio is responsible for a range of activities that broadly cover sustainable management of Australia’s environment, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and improving the health of ecosystems.
Finance
The Finance Portfolio is responsible for the preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Australian Government (CFS) and a range of financial related functions that include providing the Australian Government with Budget policy advice on superannuation arrangements for government employees, asset sales and online service delivery initiatives.
Foreign Affairs and Trade
The objective of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio is to make Australia stronger, safer and more prosperous by promoting and protecting its interests internationally and contributing to global stability and economic growth, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.
Health
The Health Portfolio covers a range of policy and program areas aimed at achieving better health outcomes for Australians, supporting a high-quality health system and better outcomes in sport, including integrity, performance and participation.
Human Services
The Human Services portfolio is part of the broader Social Services portfolio. The Human Services portfolio comprises the Department of Human Services and Australian Hearing. The Department of Human Services has responsibility for delivering a range of payments and services to support individuals, families and communities, as well as providers and businesses.
Immigration and Border Protection
The Immigration and Border Protection Portfolio consists solely of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (Immigration).
Immigration is responsible for managing the stay and departure of non-citizens, implementing visa, citizenship and refugee and humanitarian assistance programs, facilitating international trade and collecting border revenue. The Australian Border Force is the operational arm of the department, and has statutory responsibilities to enforce the customs and migration laws and the protection of Australia’s border.
Industry, Innovation and Science
The Industry, Innovation and Science Portfolio is responsible for carrying out government policy and implementing programs to support innovation, productivity and growth within Australian industry.
Infrastructure and Regional Development
The Infrastructure and Regional Development portfolio covers a number of policy areas including: safety across civil aviation, maritime and transport sectors; air navigation services; developing and administering the national capital; and road, rail and freight transport systems.
Parliamentary Departments
The Parliamentary Departments Portfolio supports the operation of the Parliament of Australia, its Committees and members. The portfolio comprises four entities: the Department of Parliamentary Services; the Department of the Senate; the Department of the House of Representatives; and the Parliamentary Budget Office. Together, these four entities support the operation of the Parliament of Australia. In 2016–17, total resourcing is $254 million.
Prime Minister and Cabinet
The Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio is responsible for providing support and policy advice to the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and Ministers on public and government administration matters, including policy development and whole-of-government coordination.
Social Services
The Social Services Portfolio is responsible for achieving the Australian Government’s social policy outcomes and delivering social security priorities through policy advice, program administration, and research.
Treasury
The Treasury Portfolio covers a range of activities aimed at achieving strong, sustainable economic growth and the improved wellbeing of Australians.
Veterans’ Affairs
Responsibility for Veterans’ Affairs programs and policy reside within the Defence Portfolio and includes support for veterans and war widow/ers, serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force, certain Australian Federal Police officers with overseas service and Australian participants in British nuclear tests and their dependants.