The ANAO could assess whether workforce planning and deployment in the Australian Taxation Office effectively supports delivery of its key activities.

The ANAO could assess the Department of Defence’s (Defence) procurement of the MC-55A Peregrine aircraft through a United States Foreign Military Sales arrangement. The project, AIR555 Phase 1, is a first-of-type acquisition to deliver airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and electronic warfare (ISREW) capability, based on a modified Gulfstream G550 aircraft. Second pass approval occurred in September 2017 for $1.9 billion to deliver four aircraft and supporting IT and training systems. The project’s approved budget was $2.4 billion as at 30 June 2025. AIR555 has been reported in the ANAO’s Major Projects Report since 2021–22 and was elevated to a ‘project of interest’ in September 2023 due to schedule delays. The ANAO could provide independent assurance to Parliament on Defence’s acquisition and project management of AIR555, including Defence’s management of cost, schedule, scope and integration risks.

The ANAO could assess the Department of Defence’s (Defence) planning of the Henderson Defence Precinct. The precinct is a major infrastructure initiative intended to support continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment, including facilities for larger and more complex surface vessels and for contingency docking and maintenance of Australia’s future conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Government announced an initial commitment of $127 million over three years in October 2024 for planning and enabling activities, followed by $12 billion in September 2025 to commence early works while detailed planning and design are finalised. Defence has estimated the precinct will require infrastructure investment in the order of $25 billion over the next decade. The ANAO could examine whether Defence has established effective arrangements to plan and manage the precinct’s scope, cost, schedule, risks, dependencies and stakeholder engagement.

The ANAO could assess how the Fair Work Commission (FWC) is managing its responsibilities under the Fair Work Act 2009 and the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. The audit would examine the FWC’s governance, systems and processes for handling its overall workload and regulatory functions, including its approach to managing case volumes and its oversight of federally registered organisations.

Airservices Australia delivers safety-critical air navigation services and aviation rescue firefighting across the national network, functions that depend on a highly specialised workforce operating under multiple industrial agreements and certification regimes. Shortfalls or mismatches in skills, numbers, locations, or rostering of this workforce can materially affect the service continuity, cost efficiency, and safety assurance or air transportation. The ANAO could examine workforce management in Airservices Australia, including whether its workforce is strategically planned, sustainably resourced, and effectively deployed.

The ANAO could examine whether Services Australia’s procurement and contract management activities are complying with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and demonstrating the achievement of value for money. The ANAO could examine one or more procurement and/or contract management activity of Services Australia. The ANAO could consider whether the procurement and/or contract management activity demonstrated value for money, ethical, efficient, effective and/or economical practice, if it was transparent and accountable, whether it supported broader government objectives, and/or whether risks were identified and managed. An audit of contract management may also consider whether: contracts effectively set milestones and establish performance standards; variations and extensions delivered value for money; transition of services is appropriately planned and managed to ensure continuity of service; and contract management and administration arrangements are in place and are operating effectively.

The ANAO could assess the effectiveness of implementation of recommendations made by both the 2024 ANAO performance audit into Australian Office of Financial Management’s (AOFM) management of government debt and the 2026 independent review of the AOFM.

The AOFM is Australia’s sovereign debt manager. Its role is to finance the operations of the Australian Government through issue of debt securities and cash management. The AOFM also implements government initiatives which relate to the Australian securitisation market.

The ANAO could assess the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission’s (NDIS Commission) and the National Disability Insurance Agency’s management of critical incidents. Under the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act) it is the responsibility of the NDISQSC to receive reports of and manage reportable incidents in relation to NDIS providers and workers. Reportable incidents include the death of, serious injury to, abuse or neglect of, unlawful sexual or physical contact or assault of, sexual misconduct committed against or the use of a restrictive practice against a person with a disability. Responding to reportable incidents may involve investigating serious and alleged incidents by NDIS providers, and where there are breaches of the NDIS Act and Rules managing any necessary action. The NDIS Commission shares reportable incident data with police, state and territory worker screening units, consumer affairs agencies and other regulatory bodies to support the identification of systematic issues and to respond to incidents. In 2024–25 there were 24,566 reportable incidents of which 6,369 were reported to the police.

The ANAO could assess the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA’s) debt management and recovery processes, and its administration of compensation recovery and reduction amounts. A debt can arise and be recovered where a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) payment is made to a person or organisation not entitled to it. For example, where a NDIS participant or provider makes a mistake in their claim or makes a false claim. In 2024–25 the NDIA reported a historical scheme debt provision of $6.3 million. In August 2025, the NDIA completed a review of its debt management policies and practices and found errors in the way it handled some historical participant and provider debts, which it revoked or refunded. The NDIA is progressing system and policy improvements through its Crack Down on Fraud and Payment Integrity programs. Amendments to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 made in October 2024 allow the NDIA to apply more flexible debt waivers to protect participants.

For some participants entitled to NDIS payments, separate compensation is also payable for the cost of supports they need due to personal injury causing their impairment. The NDIA may recover specific compensation amounts from participants, compensation payers or insurers to avoid duplication in support funding. In 2024–25 the NDIA reported compensation receipts of $69.2 million. The NDIA may separately apply a compensation reduction amount (CRA) to a participant’s plan, reducing their entitlement to future NDIS support funding. A CRA is not a debt owed to the NDIA. In relation to compensation recovery, NDIS legislation allows the NDIA to seek compensation on a participant’s behalf and allows it to decide not to recover compensation in special circumstances.

The ANAO could assess the National Disability Insurance Agency’s (NDIA) policies and practices for procuring goods and services — including planning, market engagement, risk management, probity arrangements, tender evaluation, contract management and transparency. As a non-prescribed corporate Commonwealth entity, the NDIA is not required to comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules. A March 2023 Independent Review of Services Australia and NDIA Procurement and Contracting identified deficiencies and deviations from good practice in relation to NDIA’s procurement practices, and made recommendations to improve documentation, probity, competition, reporting, and value-for-money assessments. In 2024–25, the NDIA reported 40 contracts with an original value of over $1 million, the combined value of which was over $484 million.