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Request for audit
Investigation into the Incolink grant
Response provided
Responded: Thursday 17 April 2025
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The Auditor-General responded on 17 April 2025 to correspondence from Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash dated 21 March 2025, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the Incolink grant.
Auditor-General's response
17 April 2025
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Senator for Western Australia
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
By email: senator.cash@aph.gov.au
Dear Senator Cash
Request for an investigation in relation to grant (GA441235) awarded to the Trustee for Redundancy Payment Central Fund
Thank you for your correspondence dated 21 March 2025 requesting an investigation of the actions of the government and relevant departments in relation to a grant (GA441235) awarded to the Trustee for Redundancy Payment Central Fund, known as Incolink.
Grants awarded by the Commonwealth are subject to financial audit by the ANAO. The Incolink grant referred in your letter will be examined in the course of the ANAO’s 2024–25 financial statements audit of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Any issues identified within the course of the financial statement audit that I consider require further review may be addressed through the conduct of further audit or assurance work.
A report on the audits of financial statements is tabled to the Parliament twice a year. The first of these reports, Interim Report of Key Financial Controls of Major Entities, reports on our coverage of key financial systems and controls in major Australian Government entities. The second report, Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities, reports on the results of the financial statements audits of all Australian Government Entities. The 2024–25 reports are expected to be tabled in the Parliament in June and December 2025 respectively.
I hope this information is of assistance to you.
Yours sincerely
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Correspondence from Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Transcript of letter from Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
21 March 2025
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707 CANBERRA ACT 2601
By email: ag1@anao.gov.au
Dear Dr McLiesh,
I write to request that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) undertake an audit to investigate the actions of the Government and relevant departments in relation to a grant (GA441235) of $5,488,195.90 awarded to The Trustee for Redundancy Payment Central Fund, more commonly known as Incolink.
As widely reported in the media, including in The Age on 19 March 2025, the grant was awarded to Incolink, which is owned by the CFMEU. The CFMEU has been subject to significant allegations of misconduct, including instances of violence against women, sexual harassment, and a culture of covering up such behaviour.
I also note that on 23 August 2024, the CFMEU and its Divisional branches were placed under administration for a period of up to 5 years, in accordance with the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Act 2024.
Given these revelations, there is a strong public interest in scrutinising whether the decision to award this grant was appropriate and in alignment with the Government’s own governance and accountability standards. There is also a very real risk that the Government has given this grant to Incolink in order to directly benefit the CFMEU, who have donated millions of dollars to the Australian Labor Party.
Concerns regarding CFMEU’s eligibility for funding under this program were previously raised by the Coalition during Senate Estimates in November 2024. Despite the Nine Entertainment Company’s 14 July 2024 exposé on the CFMEU’s misconduct, the CFMEU were still eligible for grants under the Building Women’s Careers Program (Question on Notice - SQ-001874).
Furthermore, on 6 November 2024 Employment and Workplace Relations Minister, Senator Murray Watt, acknowledged in Senate Estimates that "it does appear that elements of the CFMEU have been infiltrated by organised crime." This statement underscores serious concerns regarding the governance and integrity of organisations affiliated with the grant recipient.
As you would be aware, the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 (CGRP) requires that all grant funding decisions be transparent, demonstrate value for money, and ensure that recipients meet the highest standards of probity and accountability. Given the gravity of the allegations against the CFMEU, and their partnership with Incolink, I urge the ANAO to review the grant’s compliance with the CGRP, in particular:
- The due diligence undertaken by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and any other relevant departments in assessing the suitability of CFMEU-affiliated entities as beneficiaries;
- Any risk assessments conducted concerning the CFMEU’s involvement.
I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash