The ANAO could examine the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF’s) management of approved arrangements for the importation of live animals. The Biosecurity Act 2015 allows DAFF to approve public or private industry entities (or biosecurity industry participants) to carry out certain border biosecurity risk management activities, in accordance with specified conditions. Approved arrangement holders are approved to undertake certain biosecurity actions.

The ANAO could assess the administration of statutory functions by selected inspectors-general. This may include assessing how relevant entities address recommendations made by inspectors-general. There are several Commonwealth inspectors-general including: Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security; Inspector-General of Biosecurity; Inspector-General of the Australian Defence; Inspector-General of Aged Care; Inspector-General of Water Compliance; Inspector-General of Taxation and Taxation Ombudsman; and the Inspector-General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports.

The Airports Act 1996 (and associated regulations) established the regulatory arrangements for leased airports. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts administers the Airports Act 1996, associated regulations and airport head leases for the 21 federally leased Australian airports. The ANAO could assess the department’s management and oversight of these arrangements.

The ANAO could assess the effectiveness of the design and delivery of the Leaving Violence Program national program.

Many Commonwealth entities continue to rely on long-lived, business-critical ICT systems that deliver essential services but can be increasingly costly and difficult to support. These systems often sit on older technology stacks, potentially include end-of-support components, and may carry heightened operational, security and continuity risks. The ANAO could examine whether selected entities appropriately identify, govern, secure and sustain or progressively modernise these established platforms.

This audit, or series of audits, would explore key issues in procurement and contract management. This could include: entities’ use of Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) exemptions, including Division 2 exemptions (which allow use of limited tender) and/or exemptions from all or part of the CPRs under paragraph 2.6 of the CPRs; use of contract amendments; and/or other areas of risk in procurement and contract management.