This annual report documents the performance of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the financial year ended 30 June 2026. The report addresses all applicable obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014; the Auditor-General Act 1997; the performance measures set out in the outcome and programs framework in the ANAO’s Portfolio Budget Statements 2025–26 and in the ANAO Corporate Plan 2025–26; and annual reporting requirements set out in other relevant legislation.

The objective of the audit was to examine Defence’s progress since 2007 in introducing into service a fully capable Tiger fleet and cost-effective sustainment arrangements.

The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of Finance’s administration of travel entitlements provided to Parliamentarians.

Increased transparency and accountability on progress with major Defence equipment acquisitions has been a focus of parliamentary interest for some time. Beginning in 2007–08, an annual program has been established in conjunction with the Department of Defence to enable the ANAO to review and report to the Parliament on the status of major Defence acquisition projects, as set out in the Major Projects Report. The review includes information relating to the cost, schedule and progress towards delivery of required capability of individual projects as at 30 June each year. The Report is undertaken at the request of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.

The intent of performance statements audits is to drive improvements in the transparency and quality of entities’ performance reporting and, in turn, increase entities’ accountability to the Parliament and public.

This report complements the interim phase report released in June 2013 (Audit Report No.49 2012–13), and provides a summary of the final audit results of the audits of the financial statements of all Australian Government entities, including the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Australian Government.

Welcome to the latest edition of Audit Matters. In this edition, we reflect on the 125th anniversary of the legislation that established the position of the Commonwealth Auditor-General, and share lessons from our latest reports and insights products, including the importance of integrity and ethical behaviour in auditing. We also outline developments in our strategic planning and look more closely at what makes performance information meaningful.

This is my first edition of Audit Matters since being appointed Deputy Auditor-General in July. Having spent more than 28 years working across public sector auditing, governance and organisational leadership, including leading both the ANAO’s financial statements and performance audit services groups, it is a privilege to take on this role. I look forward to continuing to work with entities across the Australian Government sector to support transparency, accountability and improved public sector performance.

I’d also like to acknowledge my predecessor, Rona Mellor, for her leadership and contribution to the ANAO and the wider public sector. I was fortunate to work closely with Rona and wish her all the best in retirement.

Audit Matters provides an important opportunity for us to share practical lessons from our work and highlight issues that may warrant attention across the sector. I hope you find this edition useful.

Carla Jago
Deputy Auditor-General

The ANAO, provided a country paper to the 8th ASOSAI Symposium held virtually on 8 September 2021. The paper was titled Responding to disaster and pandemic issues.

This annual report documents the performance of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the financial year ending on 30 June 2018. The report addresses all applicable obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act); the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule); the Auditor-General Act 1997; the performance measures set out in the outcome and programs framework in the ANAO’s 2017–18 Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) and the ANAO 2017–18 Corporate Plan and annual reporting requirements set out in other relevant legislation.

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.

This is the second e-newsletter of the Commonwealth Auditors General Group. These e-newsletters are a genuine effort to share experiences, challenges and engage in thought-provoking discussions on topics which are common to the fifty-three member countries of the Commonwealth.

This annual report documents the performance of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the financial year ended 30 June 2020. The report addresses all applicable obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014; the Auditor-General Act 1997; the performance measures set out in the outcome and programs framework in the ANAO's Portfolio Budget Statements 2019–20 and the ANAO Corporate Plan 2019–20; and annual reporting requirements set out in other relevant legislation.

This annual report documents the performance of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the financial year ended on 30 June 2019. The report addresses all applicable obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014; the Auditor-General Act 1997; the performance measures set out in the outcome and programs framework in the ANAO’s Portfolio Budget Statements 2018–19 and the ANAO Corporate Plan 2018–19, and annual reporting requirements set out in other relevant legislation.

This annual report documents the performance of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in the financial year ended 30 June 2021. The report addresses all applicable obligations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013; the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014; the Auditor-General Act 1997; the performance measures set out in the outcome and programs framework in the ANAO’s Portfolio Budget Statements 2020–21 and the ANAO Corporate Plan 2020–21; and annual reporting requirements set out in other relevant legislation.

This report complements the interim phase report published in June 2014 (Audit Report No.44 2013–14), and provides a summary of the final audit results of the audits of the financial statements of 251 Australian Government entities, including the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Australian Government.

The objective of this audit was to examine whether the Australian Postal Corporation (Australia Post) is meetings its Community Service and International obligations efficiently and the effectiveness of Commonwealth shareholders in monitoring value for money.

The Auditor-General responded on 30 April 2019 to correspondence from Ms Cathy McGowan AO, MP dated 8 April 2019, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the politicisation of taxpayer funded grant announcements (Community Sport Infrastructure grants program). 

The Auditor-General has responded to correspondence received from Senator Griff dated 11 April 2019, requesting that the Auditor-General provide as much detail as possible regarding the negotiation and awarding of contracts in the audit of the procurement of garrison support and welfare services.

The Auditor-General responded on 20 December 2024 to correspondence from the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP dated 26 November 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the administrative arrangements of the Inclusion Support Program (ISP).

The acting Auditor-General responded on 29 February 2024 to correspondence from Hon. Catherine King MP dated 29 January 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General to conduct an assurance review of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Aids to Navigation (AtoN) procurement.

This edition of audit insights draws together key learnings from Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) performance audit reports tabled in the Parliament of Australia from July to September 2017. It provides insights into entities’ operational implementation of government policies and frameworks, drawing on a number of common findings and key learnings on policy and program design, governance, performance and impact measurement, and risk management.

The focus of this report is on the year end results of the financial statement audits of all general purpose reporting entities for the 2005–06 financial year. Financial management issues (where relevant) arising out of the audits and their relationship to internal control structures are also included in this report.

The Auditor-General responded on 4 February 2021 to correspondence from Senator Sarah Hanson-Young dated 14 January 2021, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an audit of the approval of the Yeelirrie uranium mine by the Federal Government in 2019.

The Auditor-General responded on 21 August 2020 to correspondence from the Hon Mark Butler MP dated 26 July 2020, requesting that the Auditor-General review the integrity of the Supporting Reliable Energy Infrastructure Program, in particular with reference to the grant to Shine Energy. The Auditor-General provided a follow-up response on 16 September 2020.

The focus of this report is on the year end results of the financial statement audits of all general purpose reporting entities for the 2004–05 financial year. Financial management issues (where relevant) arising out of the audits and their relationship to internal control structures are also included in this report.

The Defence Force Recruitment Campaign is designed to attract the right people to sustain and enhance Defence capability by generating enough enquiries to successfully meet Australian Defence Force's (ADF) recruitment target. The Navy Brand advertising is intended to convey the key messages associated with the Navy.

This campaign aims to attract the right people to sustain and enhance Defence capability by generating enough enquiries to successfully meet Australian Defence Force's (ADF) recruitment target. The cut down versions of the Navy television commercials are intended to provide greater flexibility in placing the advertisements and without loss of impact.

This campaign aims to attract the appropriate people to sustain and enhance Defence capability by generating enough enquiries to successfully meet Australian Defence Force's (ADF) recruitment target. The campaign is designed to create a greater level of awareness, among Australia's Indian and Arabic populations, of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as an employer of culturally diverse Australians.

The campaign objectives are to raise awareness of undergraduate and graduate health positions in the ADF and to communicate that the roles provide the opportunity for intelligent, everyday people to do extraordinary and worthwhile jobs

The campaign aims to encourage nurses and midwives who are currently outside the nursing workforce to return to nursing by providing cash bonuses of up to $6,000 to eligible nurses and $1,000 to the employers as retraining contribution.