This report complements the Interim Report on Key Financial Controls of Major Entities financial statement audit report published in June 2017. It provides a summary of the final results of the audits of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Australian Government and the financial statements of Australian Government entities for the period ended 30 June 2017.

The audit is a follow-up of ANAO Audit Report No.33 of 1997-98, which assessed the effectiveness and efficiency of the Commonwealth's management of the Great Barrier Reef and made seven recommendations for improvement. The objective of the follow-up audit was to assess the extent to which the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which is responsible for advising the Commonwealth on the care and developement of the Marine Park, has implemented the recommendations of the earlier audit.

The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs monitoring and implementation of ANAO and internal performance audit recommendations.

Grant Hehir, Auditor-General for Australia, attended the XXIII Commonwealth Auditors-General Conference in New Delhi, India, and presented a keynote speech on 22 March 2017 titled Environmental Audit: A Commonwealth Perspective.

This report presents the results of the interim phase of the 2006–07 financial statement audits of all portfolio departments and other major General Government Sector (GGS) agencies that collectively represent 95 per cent of total GGS revenues and expenses.

In May 1997, the $1 billion Federation Fund was announced as part of the 1997-98 Budget to mark the Centenary of Federation. One component, the Federation Fund Major Projects ($906.8m), was to provide financial assistance to a number of major projects of national significance; by generating jobs in the construction industry and by making a significant and ongoing contribution to Australia and the Australian economy. Projects were expected to be geographically spread around Australia and well advanced, but not necessarily complete, by 2001. Commonwealth monies were intended to fully fund projects; augment existing funding; or match funding from other sources. The objective of the audit was to determine the extent to which the administration of the Federation Fund programme met identified better practice in relation to policy development and programme planning; the process of calling for, assessing, approving and announcing proposals; and ongoing programme and project management.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the selection, implementation, operation and monitoring of FRCs by AGD and FaHCSIA. The three main criteria for this audit assessed whether AGD and FaHCSIA had effectively:

• planned and implemented the FRC initiative, including the FRC selection and funding processes;
• undertaken administration activities to guide the operation and progress of the FRC initiative towards meeting its objectives; and
• monitored, evaluated and reported on the performance of FRCs.

Under section 57 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) the Auditor-General is required to report each year to the relevant Minister, on whether the financial statements of agencies have been prepared in accordance with the Finance Minister's Orders (FMOs) and whether they give a true and fair view of the matters required by those Orders.

Our interim audits of agencies encompass a review of governance arrangements related to agencies' financial reporting responsibilities, and an examination of relevant internal controls, including information technology system controls. An examination of such issues is designed to assess the reliance that can be placed on internal controls to produce complete and accurate information for financial reporting purposes.

The audit theme was financial management and accountability. The audit concluded that six of the eight organisations had satisfactory payment of accounts processes and that GST administration control frameworks had been implemented. Payment of accounts processes could be improved by greater use of information technology whereas using risk management; formalising the BAS preparation procedures; and increasing monitoring and review procedures could improve GST administration.

This report complements the Interim Report on Key Financial Controls of Major Entities financial statement audit report published in June 2022. It provides a summary of the final results of the audits of the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Australian Government and the financial statements of Australian Government entities for the period ended 30 June 2022.