The ANAO could assess the Department of Education’s (Education) management and oversight of the development of the Schools Unique Student Identifier (USI). Australian primary and secondary school students will receive a USI by 2027. The USI is intended to travel with students throughout their school years and into post-school education. It is designed to support teaching, learning and wellbeing by tracking students between education systems, and support better policy development through the availability of joined up data on student pathways.

The ANAO could assess the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s design and administration of the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) program. This could include the performance of the Commonwealth partners contracted to implement the program. P4I is Australia’s flagship infrastructure development in Southeast Asia. Funded through Australia’s development program, it works with eight Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN to manage and deliver new infrastructure worth over AUD $50 billion annually. P4I was initially implemented by EY, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One. P4I is transitioning to a new phase of the program which will involve new contracts.

The Australian Government is investing in venue infrastructure for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as high-performance programs through the Australian Sports Commission. The ANAO could examine clarity of governance arrangements, roles and responsibilities across entities involved; funding and investment decision-making processes including risk and value-for-money considerations; whether these arrangements protect Australian Government interests.

The ANAO could assess whether the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has effective procurement and contract management practices that comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and achieve value for money. The audit could examine the planning, competitive processes, and probity controls in procurement activities, as well as the robustness of contract management arrangements to monitor performance, manage risks, and ensure deliverables meet agreed standards. It could also consider how DVA maintains transparency, supports accountability, and mitigates risks of fraud or non-compliance in the use of public funds.

The ANAO could assess whether the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has controls and processes to ensure payments to veterans and their dependants are accurate and timely. The audit could examine the integrity of payment calculations, and the adequacy of verification and quality assurance mechanisms by considering how DVA monitors error rates, addresses payment discrepancies, and manages risks that could impact the financial wellbeing of veterans and the proper use of public funds.

The ANAO could assess the Department of Treasury’s management and oversight of whether Commonwealth and state and territory objectives ‘to unlock quality, affordable housing supply over the medium term’ are achieved under the National Housing Accord. For example, by examining whether funding mechanisms for affordable housing have been carried out according to expected timeframes and requirements; or how state and territory governments’ implementation schedules are monitored, to ensure delivery of their affordable housing allocations.

The National Housing Accord was established in 2022. The accord aims to address housing supply challenges to ‘ensure Australians have access to safe, stable and affordable housing’ that is also ‘close to work, schools and transport’. This includes commitments for ‘immediate actions’ by the Commonwealth, states and territories to: deliver up to 20,000 new affordable dwellings – of which 10,000 will be delivered by the Commonwealth; collaborate to improve financing for new social and affordable housing projects; improve zoning, planning and land release and make sure the right skills are available and improving access to social and affordable housing. The Commonwealth committed $3.5 billion to state, territory and local governments to support the delivery of homes in line with the Accord’s target.

Housing Australia (HA), formerly the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation, is the independent national housing authority and supports the delivery of Australian Government programs to improve the supply of social and affordable housing. HA is responsible for administering the Commonwealth’s commitment of 10,000 affordable dwellings under the accord.

The ANAO could examine entity administration of selected aspects of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 including agency advice to the decision maker, on:

• the new power allowing the Minister for Home Affairs, or their delegate, to refuse permission to import a firearm or weapon, or related good, where the importation of that item poses a risk to the health, safety or security of the public or a sector of the public; and/or
• the new power enabling the Minister for Home Affairs to refuse to grant, or to cancel, a visa, on the basis of hate motivated conduct and offences relating to the spread of hatred and extremism;
• implementation by the Australian Border Force of arrangements to give effect to amendments to customs regulations that will prohibit the import and export of violent extremist material and prohibited hate symbols; and/or
• the establishment of a National Gun Buyback Scheme.

The ANAO could assess the establishment of the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. Critical minerals (cobalt, lithium, manganese, rare earth elements, tungsten and vanadium) are essential inputs to the modern economy. Critical minerals are used in batteries, rare earth permanent magnets, semiconductors, defence technologies and as catalysts for hydrogen production. The Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030 seeks to create diverse, resilient and sustainable supply chains; build sovereign capability in critical minerals processing; help Australia become a renewable energy superpower; and extract more value from onshore resources. In April 2025, the Australian Government committed to establish a Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve to maximise the strategic value of Australia’s critical minerals. The government allocated $1.2 billion to establish the reserve in the 2025–26 Federal Budget. A taskforce established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to support the development of the reserve transferred to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in December 2025. It is anticipated that the reserve will be operational in the second half of 2026.

The ANAO could assess the implementation of one or more aspects of the Australian Government’s environmental protection law reforms. Environmental protection law reforms were passed by the Australian Parliament on 28 November 2025. These reforms were introduced in response to the statutory review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) conducted by Professor Graeme Samuel AC in 2020. The review found that ‘Australia’s natural environment and iconic places are in an overall state of decline and are under increasing threat’, including from climate change. The review found that the EPBC Act is ineffective, outdated and in need of fundamental reform to address current and future challenges. The reforms are focused on three ‘pillars’: stronger environmental protection and restoration; more efficient and robust project assessments; and greater accountability and transparency in decision making. Key aspects of the reforms include: the introduction of National Environmental Standards; new assessment pathways for environmental approvals; a new framework for restoration; the establishment of the National Environmental Protection Agency; and change to Environment Information Australia.

The ANAO could assess Services Australia’s strategic planning for ICT systems. Services Australia administers a range of systems supporting the delivery of government services including: whole of government systems such as myGov and Digital ID; systems supporting the delivery of programs such as welfare payment systems; and ICT supporting corporate shared services. Whole of government and welfare payment systems are considered critical national infrastructure. A key enterprise risk identifies the need for Services Australia to maintain ICT service continuity, while developing and maintaining systems that are fit for purpose, resilient and secure. The Services Australia’s capability review observed that a number of critical systems delivering payments and services are ageing. These systems impede the ability to integrate new technologies, are costly to maintain and are preventing Services Australia implementing efficiencies and innovations to delivering programs and services. Many of these ageing systems rely on staff with specialist programming skills. To address these challenges Services Australia established a cross entity advisory board to develop a 10-year ICT Architecture Strategy and Plan by June 2025. The audit could examine oversight, development and/or implementation of strategic plan for ICT systems.