The objective of this audit is to examine the effectiveness of the procurement and contract management of onshore-manufactured antivenoms and vaccines.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (DAFF) compliance with domestic and international travel requirements.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is effectively managing the delivery of the Australian Antarctic Program (AAP) to achieve program outcomes.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of Services Australia’s management of the privacy of client information.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ACIC) and Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s (CASA) compliance with domestic and international travel requirements.

The objective of this audit is to examine whether the Office of Parliamentary Counsel’s procurement and contract management of the new Federal Register of Legislation project complied with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and demonstrated the achievement of value for money.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of Services Australia’s compliance with domestic and international travel requirements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO) management of small business taxpayer debt.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the selected entities’ administration of Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI) requests is effective in giving the community access to Australian Government information.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water (DCCEEW) and Australian Renewable Energy Authority’s (ARENA) delivery of the Community Batteries for Household Solar program.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether procurements conducted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for the Security Enhancement Program achieved value for money and complied with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the expected benefits from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Security Enhancements Programs (SEP) have been realised.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the design and establishment of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC).

The objective of this audit is to assess whether entities effectively implemented agreed recommendations relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation targets in major procurements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of the Treasury’s (Treasury) design and implementation of the Measuring What Matters Framework.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the award of funding under the Disaster Ready Fund was effective and consistent with the published guidelines.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's (DAFF) management of the biosecurity workforce.

The objective of this audit is to examine whether the Department of Defence (Defence) has effective and efficient sustainment arrangements for Navy’s Canberra Class fleet.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the Attorney-General’s Department’s (AGD) conduct of the procurements relating to two new child sexual abuse-related national services employed open and effective competition and achieved value for money, consistent with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).

The objective of the audit is to examine the effectiveness of the Department of Defence’s (Defence) administration of contractual obligations to maximise Australian industry participation.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s (PM&C’s) administration of the Impact Analysis (IA) framework.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether entities are providing effective support to Ministers to ensure Statements of Expectations and responding Regulator Statements of Intent are in place.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the Department of Health and Aged Care (Health) is effectively administering the Future Fit Program.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Taxation Office’s (ATO’s) procurement of IT managed services.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the governance board in the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The objective of this audit is to examine the effectiveness of the implementation of frameworks to support ethical behaviours within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the management and oversight of compliance activities within the Child Care Subsidy program.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of Creative Australia’s fraud and corruption control arrangements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of selected Commonwealth entities’ management of Senior Executive Service (SES) conflict of interest requirements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of procurement reforms — follow on from Auditor-General Report No. 5 2022–23 Digital Transformation Agency’s Procurement of ICT-Related Services.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the Department of Defence (Defence) has complied with gifts, benefits and hospitality requirements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of Airservices Australia’s management of the OneSKY contract.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s (DCCEEW’s) regulation of appliance and equipment energy efficiency standards.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) management of compliance in paying claims.

The objective of this audit is examine whether Department of Defence's (Defence’s) management of the Strategic Domestic Munitions Manufacturing (SDMM) contract has achieved value for money and the effective delivery of the contracted arrangements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission’s (NDIS Commission's) regulatory functions.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness to date of the Department of Defence’s (Defence) planning and implementation of the Collins Class Life of Type Extension.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources’ (DISR) management of domestic and international travel in accordance with legislative and entity requirements.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of implementation design and measurement of progress for early childhood development and schooling commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) and Services Australia’s management of age pension.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General’s (the Office’s) management of official residences and other assets.

Grants are widely used to achieve Government policy outcomes. This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Education's administration of a selection of grant programs, including those delivered with third parties. The audit would consider the design of the grants programs and whether the administration and management of the grant programs are consistent with the Australian Government Grants Framework.

The Australian Government can undertake investments through a range of models to achieve policy and investment outcomes. This audit would assess the effectiveness of the utilisation of these investment models for a selection of investments. The audit would consider the design and governance arrangements of the selected investment models.

This audit would continue the ANAO’s series of audits on cybersecurity.

The scope would include comparing the entities’ cybersecurity frameworks and controls against the controls required under the Protective Security Policy Framework (Policy 2 — Management structures and responsibilities, Policy 4 — Security maturity monitoring, and Policy 10 — Safeguarding information from cyber threats) and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Essential Eight Maturity Model.

The goal of the $250 million Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) is to help address access to finance challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South and South East Asia. It invests in funds and other financial intermediaries that in turn invest in early and growth stage SMEs with investments in the range of USD5,000 to USD2 million. The May 2023–24 Federal Budget measure that increased the size of the EMIIF stated that the majority of assistance would be provided via equity and loans (rather than grants), the cost of which will be met from Australia’s existing Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding.

EMIIF is an investment trust with DFAT as the sole beneficiary. Day to day management is undertaken by the investment manager appointed by DFAT and investment decision making is undertaken by the investment committee appointed by DFAT, as well as representatives from the investment manager. The design of EMIIF was intended to enable appropriate DFAT oversight by a DFAT delegate for the EMIIF being responsible for making any contractual and strategic decisions, who would be advised by an SES-level Impact Investing Advisory Group to provide advice, guidance and support regarding the overall direction and implementation of EMIIF and DFAT’s other impact investing programs. In addition, a Secretariat within DFAT is responsible for the day-to-day management of EMIIF, including interaction with counterparties to monitor ongoing performance, disseminate information and prepare relevant reporting to the advisory group or decision-makers.

The audit would examine DFAT’s establishment and oversight of the EMIIF.

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Fraud Fusion Taskforce, to determine how government agencies work together to detect, resolve and prevent fraud and serious organised crime in the NDIS, while maintaining a focus on participant safety and welfare.

The NDIS Fraud Fusion Taskforce commenced in November 2022, co-led by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) and Services Australia, with 14 other government agencies including the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. $126.3 million was allocated over four years in the October 2022–23 Federal Budget to establish the taskforce.

The 2024–25 Federal Budget allocated funding of $35.6 million, in addition to the allocation of $48.3 million over two years from 2023–24, to boost fraud detecting information technology systems at the NDIA and $23.5 million over two years for Services Australia to continue fraud investigation and response activities as part of the Fraud Fusion Taskforce.

The Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs) require that, in order to draw the market’s early attention to potential opportunities, each entity must maintain on AusTender a current procurement plan containing a short strategic procurement outlook. Entity procurement plans are also to include the subject matter of any significant planned procurement and the estimated publication date of the approach to market. Plans are to be updated regularly throughout the year. As at November 2023, 52% of the 133 reporting entities had not updated their procurement plans in over two years. Of the 3,752 open tenders published on AusTender between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2023, 799 (21.3%) were reported as having been included in an Annual Procurement Plan.

This audit would examine the preparation of entity procurement plans and their effectiveness, including by analysing the extent to which significant procurements conducted had been included in the relevant annual procurement plan.

This audit would examine the effectiveness of the allocation of funding for assistive technology supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), including how the NDIA assesses these supports as reasonable and necessary for each participant and manages associated fraud risks.

Assistive technology is a support category for devices, mobility aides, software, equipment, vehicle modifications or animals that assist people with disability to do things more easily, safely or independently. Funding for assistive technology under the NDIS must meet ‘reasonable and necessary’ decision criteria. In the twelve months to 30 September 2023, assistive technology accounted for 3 per cent ($1.4 billion) of annualised committed supports in current participant plans.

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) and the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) in the development and implementation of frameworks to govern the use of new and emerging technologies. DISR has oversight of frameworks that support Australian industries (private sector) and DTA oversees Australian Government entities’ application of emerging technology such as artificial intelligence (AI).

The Australian Government announced $101.2 million in the 2023–24 Federal Budget to support businesses to integrate quantum and AI technologies into their operations. The investment is expected to support the creation of 1.2 million tech-related jobs by 2030, increasing local capacity and capability and driving the uptake of these technologies.

This audit would examine the effectiveness of Defence’s establishment and management of the Major Service Provider (MSP) Panel.

The MSP Agreement 2018–2026 was established to facilitate the engagement and management of large, long-term, multi-discipline and integrated work packages across the air, land and maritime capability domains. Defence selected four consortia (comprising 13 companies) as MSPs under the panel arrangements, which commenced in February 2018. AusTender data as at December 2023 indicated that the four MSPs had been awarded 351 contracts with a reported total value of $4.47 billion since the commencement of the panel in February 2018.

This audit would assess the implementation of the Australian Public Service (APS) ethical frameworks by the Australian Taxation Office. The APS ethical frameworks comprise the legal framework (the basis of which is the Public Service Act 1999 and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013); activity-specific frameworks (such as the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines); government policies; and entity-specific frameworks (including the requirements of enabling legislation, Accountable Authority Instructions and other internal policies).

This is part of a series of audits on the implementation of ethical frameworks in APS Agencies.

The audit would assess the administration of procurement on the construction and development of the National Security Office precinct.

The Department of Finance is leading the development of a National Security Office Precinct (Precinct) at the York Park in Barton, ACT. The Precinct will provide a permanent solution to the critical accommodation and capability requirements of several national security and other Commonwealth agencies. The Precinct is expected to accommodate up to 5,000 workers.

In 2005, a 12-year $106 million contract was entered into by the Australian Government for helicopter response, surveillance and logistics support missions to prevent people smuggling and manage other maritime threats across the North West approaches of Australia. The term of the contract is due to expire in 2024 at an estimated total cost of $182 million. The Department of Home Affairs’ Annual Procurement Plan includes conducting a procurement in 2023—24 to replace this contract.

As set out in Auditor-General Report No. 6 2021–22, Management of the Civil Maritime Surveillance Services Contract the rotary wing contract is the second and smaller of two contracts the department has in place for aerial surveillance. The procurement process for, and management of, the rotary wing services contract was not examined in Auditor-General Report No. 6 of 2021–22 Management of the Civil Maritime Surveillance Contract. The conduct of the procurement of a new contract for rotary wing surveillance, response and logistic support services will provide an early indication of whether lessons have been learned from the management of the civil maritime surveillance services contract examined in that Auditor-General Report. The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has recommended that the ANAO undertake a performance audit of the Department of Home Affairs’ transition to the new surveillance services contract when the current contract expires (in 2027).

The audit would assess whether the conduct of the procurement employed open and effective competition and achieved value for money, consistent with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs).

The audit will assess the effectiveness of the Department of Health and Aged Care’s (Health’s) approach to health provider compliance, including its response to the 2023 Independent Review of Medicare Integrity and Compliance. The audit will also examine the Professional Services Review Scheme, which investigates Medicare-referred cases of possible inappropriate practice in relation to Medicare, Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Health has policy responsibility for Medicare, the CDBS and the PBS. Through its Health Benefit Compliance Program, the department aims to support the integrity of health benefit claims through prevention, early identification and treatment of incorrect claiming, inappropriate practice and fraud. Auditor-General Report No. 17 2020–21 Managing Health Provider Compliance found that the department’s approach to health provider compliance was partially effective, due in part to a lack of risk-based compliance planning and monitoring of compliance outcomes. The Independent Review of Medicare Integrity and Compliance (the Philip Review), completed in March 2023, made a number of recommendations to strengthen the integrity of the Medicare system and its health provider compliance mechanisms. In the 2023–24 Federal Budget Health received $29.8 million to establish a taskforce to respond to the review’s recommendations. In the 2024–25 Budget, Health received $18.1 million over four years to extend and expand the government’s response to the Philip Review.

This audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) in managing its backlog of compensation claims under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.

DVA is responsible for processing veteran compensation claims for liability, permanent impairment and incapacity. As at September 2022, DVA had a backlog of 45,226 compensation claims (claims not allocated to a claims officer). The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s August 2022 Interim Report included a recommendation for DVA to eliminate the claims backlog. The Australian Government agreed to the recommendation. The Australian Government provided $298 million over four years (across October 2022–23 and May 2023–24 Federal Budgets), to employ 500 additional frontline staff to process claims and maintain a skilled workforce. As at 30 April 2024, DVA had allocated 94.3 per cent of the backlog identified by the Royal Commission (41,799) and there were 73,590 claims with a claims officer for processing.