This follow-up audit reviewed the operations of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) which is responsible for ensuring the sustainable use and efficient management of Commonwealth fisheries resources. The objective of this follow-up audit was to assess the extent to which AFMA addressed the issues that gave rise to the recommendations of ANAO Report No.32 1995-96, and the related recommendations of the House of Representatives Standing Committee Report 1997, that were supported by the Government.

The follow-up audit focussed on the key issues identified in the recommendations and grouped these in the themes of:

• strategic and performance management;
• management of the advisory process;
• implementation of fisheries management methods;
• managing AFMA's environmental responsibilities as they relate to Commonwealth fisheries
  management;
• compliance, monitoring and enforcement responsibilities; and
• management of information and research.

The objective of this audit was to examine if Social Services and Human Services drive improvements in the Disability Support Pension program using data and information from multiple sources, including agreed Auditor-General and parliamentary committee recommendations. 

This report outlines the ANAO’s assessment of the internal controls of major agencies, including governance arrangements, information systems and control procedures. The findings summarised in this report are the results of the interim phase of the financial statement audits of 23 major General Government Sector agencies that represent some 95 per cent of total General Government Sector revenues and expenses.

This report presents the results of the interim phase of the 2007-08 financial statement audits of all portfolio departments and other major General Government Sector (GGS) agencies that collectively represent some 95 per cent of total GGS revenues and expenses. The results of the final audits of these departments and agencies will be included in a second report to be tabled in the Parliament in December 2008 following completion of the financial statement audits of all entities for 2007-08.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Health Insurance Commission Senior Management Group

This audit would examine the effectiveness of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s (Health’s) implementation of star ratings for residential aged care.

The star ratings system was introduced in December 2022. An overall star rating and star ratings in four categories (compliance, residents’ experience, staffing and quality measures) are assigned to residential aged care services on a public facing website (My Aged Care) operated by Health. The star rating system aims to help older Australians and their representatives make more informed choices about their care and to help aged care providers to see where they are performing well and how they can improve. In October 2024 the Commonwealth Ombudsman made a public statement expressing a view that star ratings were not sufficiently meaningful to help people make informed decisions about their aged care. From November to December 2024 Health ran a consultation process on planned design changes to star ratings. Health has stated that an evaluation report was expected to be provided to the Australian Government in early 2025.

This audit followed up the ANAO's 1999 performance audit report on the Commonwealth's planning and response mechanisms to deal with exotic and new endemic pest and emergencies in the animal and plant sectors (Audit Report No 9 1999-2000 Managing Pest and Disease Emergencies). The previous audit made nine recommendations to improve planning and response strategies for emergencies; better coordination; diagnostic support; and appropriate monitoring and surveillance. The objective of the follow-up audit was to assess AFFA's implementation of the recommendations, and whether implementation of these recommendations, or appropriate alternative measures, has improved the Commonwealth's planning and response strategies for pest and disease emergencies. The ANAO also observed and assessed relevant parts of the September 2002 foot and mouth disease simulation, Exercise Minotaur.

This report outlines the ANAO’s assessment of the internal controls of major agencies, including governance arrangements, information systems and control procedures. The findings summarised in this report are the results of the interim phase of the financial statement audits of 24 major General Government Sector agencies that represent some 95 per cent of total General Government Sector revenues and expenses.

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held on Wednesday, 14 June 2019 from 10am until 12:30pm. The venue was the Galambany Centre, Department of Finance, One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT. The agenda, slides and communique from the forum are available on this events page.

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Australian Government Procurement Conference