The issues examined by the ANAO were considered on two levels. First, legal and ethical processes that focus on whether there are any impediments to the Government and public service implementing the CEIP in the way they have. The public interest issues turn largely on the question of whether the CEIP was for Government or party-political purposes. The other level on which these issues were considered is that of public accountability and the way in which decisions to spend public money are made. In turn, these issues raise questions about the relationship between, and authority of, the Government and Parliament. They may also involve consideration of what might be regarded as proper or responsible conduct by governments and the public service.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the CPA South Australia Annual Congress 2001, 'Riding the Next Wave'

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.

The Auditor-General responded on 17 January 2022 to correspondence from the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP dated 20 December 2021, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the Australian Government’s administration of Australian Research Council grants. 

Government service delivery through the Internet presents both significant opportunities and challenges in the delivery of on-line services. Depending on the level of sophistication of the application, the Internet allows Commonwealth agencies to publish information, interact with clients in the exchange of information, and/or transact business electronically. The over-all objective of this audit was to determine Commonwealth agencies' preparedness to achieve the Government's goal of all appropriate services being Internet-deliverable by 2001. The audit sought to assess:

• the extent to which agencies considered that they would be able to achieve that goal;
• what type of services agencies were delivering or planning to deliver on the Internet; and
• whether agencies had identified barriers and possible solutions to that delivery.

The Auditor-General responded on 20 July 2018 to correspondence from the Hon. Catherine King MP dated 31 May 2018, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the circumstances surrounding the listing of afatinib (Giotrif^®) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). 

The objective of the audit was to determine whether DIMIA's workforce planning systems are effectively supporting human resource management practices, which contribute to the efficient and effective achievement of project outcomes.

The Auditor-General responded on 5 January 2021 to correspondence from Ms Kristy McBain MP dated 14 December 2020, requesting that the Auditor-General review the governance and outcomes of a 2019 tender process seeking leased office accommodation for the Department of Defence. 

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 responded on 20 August 2021 to correspondence from Mr Julian Hill MP dated 26 July 2021, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and integrity of partner visa processing by the Department of Home Affairs. 

The Auditor-General has received follow-up correspondence from Mr Julian Hill MP dated 27 August 2021.

The acting Auditor-General responded on 26 August 2024 to correspondence from the Hon Paul Fletcher MP dated 30 July 2024 and follow-up correspondence dated 14 August 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation into the investment in PsiQuantum announced by the Australian and Queensland governments on 30 April 2024.

The acting Auditor-General responded on 24 September 2024 to correspondence from Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck dated 27 August 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the COVID-19 Vaccine Claims Scheme.

The objectives of the audit were to: assess the effectiveness of the key evaluation methods used to review the efficacy of the Australian Government's national counter-terrorism coordination arrangements; and examine the effectiveness of the links between the key evaluation methods, and how the key evaluation methods contribute to the process of continuous improvement.

The acting Auditor-General responded on 14 August 2024 to correspondence from Senator David Shoebridge dated 26 July 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to the use of public funds allocated towards the OneSchool Global schools.

The Auditor-General responded on 3 February 2023 to correspondence from Senator Nick McKim dated 10 January 2023, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation into decisions by the Department of Home Affairs to engage Management & Training Corporation Pty. Ltd (MTC Australia) to run garrison and welfare services in Nauru for refugees and people who sought asylum in Australia. 

The Auditor-General undertook a limited assurance engagement of the Department of Finance’s management of the lease between the Commonwealth of Australia and the New South Wales Rifle Association over the Malabar Headland. The limited assurance engagement examined whether the management was, in all material respects, in accordance with the Commonwealth Property Management Framework.

The acting Auditor-General responded on 27 June 2024 to correspondence from Senator Andrew Bragg dated 5 June 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the contract for legal services between King & Wood Mallesons and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources regarding PSI Quantum.

The objective of the audit was to examine Coastwatch's administration of the Australian civil coastal and offshore surveillance and response service. In particular, the audit focused on Coastwatch's:

• coordination with its clients and external service providers;
• surveillance and response operations; and
• aspects of its corporate governance arrangements bearing on performance and associated accountability.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of ARPANSA’s management of the regulation of Commonwealth nuclear, radiation facilities and sources, including ARPANSA’s compliance with its legislative requirements.

The Government introduced the Defence Reform Program (DRP) in 1997 to enable Defence's resources to be focused more efficiently and effectively on its core functions. The objective of the audit was to assess Defence's management and implementation of DRP and the extent to which it achieved savings for reinvestment in the operational capabilities of the ADF.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, Occasional Paper

The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in delivering high quality interpreting services to its clients.

Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have informal and formal complaint mechanisms available to them to address grievances. Initially, members are advised to seek resolution of their complaint at the lowest possible level, through the normal command channels and administrative arrangements. A member who is not satisfied that a complaint has been resolved in this manner may use the Redress of Grievance (ROG) system to submit a formal complaint to the commanding officer of the member's unit. The objective of this audit was to ascertain whether the ROG system could be refined to improve the efficiency and timeliness of processing of complaints while preserving the equity and transparency the current system provides.The Redress of Grievance system is clearly time-consuming and resource intensive. Some grievances have taken as long as four years to resolve. Some could be resolved by administrative means rather than through recourse to grievance processes. The system contains various inefficiencies that detract from its cost-effectiveness from the viewpoint of the ADF and individual members. In addition many members are unaware of the system or do not have a high level of confidence in its effectiveness.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of DIAC’s management of individual management services provided to people in immigration detention.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of Defence’s implementation of the First Principles Review.

The Auditor-General responded on 27 February 2017 to correspondence from Dr Jim Chalmers MP dated 29 December 2016, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an audit of aspects of the lease arrangements for the rifle range at Malabar Headland in New South Wales (NSW).

The objective was to examine whether the award of funding under the Supporting Reliable Energy Infrastructure Program was informed by an appropriate assessment process and sound advice that complied with the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines.

The objectives of the audit were to: assess compliance with the Stevedoring Levy (Collection) Act 1998 and Stevedoring Levy (Imposition) Act 1998 and other relevant legislation; assess the effectiveness of the administrative and financial controls regarding the collection of the Stevedoring Levy by DoTRS and the provision of redundancy payments to eligible employees of stevedoring companies and the management of the funding of those payments by way of borrowings by MIFCo; and review the administrative efficiency of the redundancy payment and Stevedoring Levy collection aspects of the waterfront redundancy scheme.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the IPAA ACT Division, Half day seminar

The objective of the Risk Framework and associated programs of risk management activities is to support effective risk management across all ANAO operations.

The audit reviewed the effectiveness of HIC's approach to customer service delivery to the Australian public as customers of Medicare. The primary issues examined were whether: . HIC manages its customer service delivery performance effectively;

• HIC's approach to people management adequately supports customer service delivery;
• HIC obtains adequate information from customers on their needs, expectations, and perceptions of HIC's service delivery; and
• HIC provides adequate information to customers on its services and on the service standards that customers should expect.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Queensland Commonwealth Regional Heads Forum 15th Annual Government Business Conference

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at a Seminar on 'Financial Management and Electronic Government' Kuala Lumpur

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Institute of Public Administration Australia

Mr Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presentation to the Global Working Group of Auditors-General

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Defence and Strategic Studies Course, Australian Defence College, Canberra

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Central Agency Broker Seminar - Towards a Best Practice Australian Public Service - Hobart

The examined the $1 billion Federation Fund program, which was established by the Government to mark the Centenary of Federation. The objectives of the examination were to assess the:

• extent to which the administration of the FCHP program complied with better practice in the assessment of applications, especially in relation to the transparency and rigour of the decision-making process;
• equity of the geographic spread of grants to States and electorates; and
• process for the announcement of the results of grant applications.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 18th Commonwealth Auditors-General Conference, Malaysia

The objective of the audit was to review the efficiency and administrative effectiveness of the Commercial Compliance Branch's risk management processes and to establish whether the approach provided a sound foundation for the development and application of risk management across the Australian Customs Service. The ANAO also examined the wider risk management context across ACS in order to appreciate how risk management processes in the Branch related to the agency as a whole.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the MinterEllison Seminar Series

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the CPA Australia National Public Sector Convention, Perth

The primary objective of the audit was to assess the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of DoTRD's implementation of Annex 17 in the Australian aviation environment. The ANAO concluded that DoTRD has established a regulatory regime which ensures Australia's compliance with the standards embodied in Annex 17. However, there are areas where Australia's aviation security regime can be strengthened even further including; developing a more robust approach to risk management, developing a longer-term perspective to DoTRD's planning structure, development of proactive alliances with aviation regulators in neighbouring countries in the Asia-Pacific region, further improvement of the airport audit process, development and implementation of an evaluation strategy, development of a formal transparent approach to enforcement.

The objective of the audit was to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the management of AQIS cost-recovery systems and provide assurance to the Parliament that the cost-recoverable programs are identifying and recovering the full costs of services provided, without cross-subsidisation.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Attorney-General's Luncheon

The objective of the audit was to review AusAID's management of funding to Non-Government Organisations, to assess whether:

• the objectives of overseas development programs to be delivered by NGOs were clearly established;
• funding mechanisms for the delivery of aid programs by NGOs were clearly defined, consistently applied, and in compliance with the law; and
• whether AusAID could provide assurances that NGOs delivering development projects using Commonwealth monies are accountable for: proper expenditure of Commonwealth monies; the achievement of stated objectives; and the achievement of value for money.

The ANAO examined AusAID documentation on overseas development programs delivered by NGOs, looking particularly for clear objectives, performance measures, and evaluation mechanisms. Three levels of documentation were examined:

• government programs;
• grants schemes; and
• individual projects.

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.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Risk Management in the Public Sector Seminar

This benchmarking study across 14 agencies examined how line managers plan for and manage their staff and how the human resource (HR) function supports them to do that. People management was categorised into nine, practice areas, to enable comparisons between the participating agencies. The study also assessed each people management practice area against four criteria: quality, HR integration, effectiveness & efficiency and business contribution.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Global Working Group Meeting, Washington

The audit assessed the effectiveness of the governance framework for the management of the transition from the existing red meat industry structures to new structures which increased industry's role in self determination and self regulation and minimised the involvement of Government. Matters considered included the effectiveness of:

• planning for the implementation of the new arrangements;
• management of the risks associated with the implementation of the new arrangements;
• management structures used in the transition arrangements; and
• accountability arrangements for ongoing Commonwealth involvement.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at a Laboratory for Politicians and Top Managers from Different Public Institutions in Europe

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Australasian Council of Auditors-General Conference, Melbourne

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Australian Corporate Lawyers Association and the Australian Institute of Administrative Law Conference on Outsourcing

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 2nd Taipai Corporate Governance Forum

The audit assessed DITR's and the ATO's administration of the R&D Tax Concession including review processes for registration and subsequent expenditure claims, by eligible companies. In particular, the audit focussed on measuring performance, risk management, and information systems including security and data integrity.

The objective of the audit was to assess whether the controls employed by the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) and Centrelink to ensure the correctness of payments made under the Age Pension program were effective and efficient. The ANAO focused on:

• business arrangements between FACS and Centrelink and the Business Assurance Framework;
• whether the source of error was correctly attributed in customer records assessed by FACS and Centrelink as containing an error in the 2000-01 Age Pension Random Sample Survey:
• the correctness of Centrelink's processing of reassessments, including Pensioner Entitlements Reviews, Customer Initiated Reassessments and automated reassessments: and
• progress in implementing the recommendations of previous ANAO audits concerning the preventive quality controls that underpin correct payments.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees (ACPAC)

The audit reviewed collection management practices and management information systems of the National Library of Australia, National Gallery of Australia, National Museum of Australia and the Australian War Memorial. The objective of the audit was to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of the management processes employed in safeguarding national collections.

The audit reviewed the Australian Customs Service (Customs) fraud control arrangements. The audit objective was to assess whether Customs has implemented appropriate fraud control arrangements consistent with the Commonwealth's Fraud Control Guidelines and the administrative effectiveness of these arrangements.