Browse our range of reports and publications including performance and financial statement audit reports, assurance review reports, information reports and annual reports.
The objective of this audit was to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of Australian Human Rights Commission’s handling of complaints.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to examine whether the National Capital Authority’s procurement activities are complying with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and demonstrating the achievement of value for money.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) supports good governance in Indigenous corporations consistent with the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (CATSI).
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The Auditor-General responded on 22 November 2019 to correspondence from Senator Katy Gallagher dated 25 October 2019, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine government spending on external contractors and consultants.
Please direct enquiries relating to requests for audit through our contact page.
The objectives of this audit were to assess the progress of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project against stated schedule, cost and technical performance objectives; and Defence Materiel Organisation's (DMO's) progress in implementing the recommendations and addressing the findings of ANAO Audit Report No. 3 2005–06, Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project.
The objectives of the audit were to provide assurance that Artbank was effectively meeting its charter of: acquiring art by contemporary artists; expanding the number of public places that Artbank's collection is rented and displayed; and managing its collection and rental scheme. The audit also examined Artbank's governance arrangements, and its programmes for marketing, client development, performance management, budgeting, debt management and also sought client feedback on Artbank's operations via a survey.
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.
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.
Please direct enquiries relating to requests through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of DFAT's management of the overseas leased estate. In particular, the audit examined whether DFAT:
- has effective governance, reporting and funding arrangements in place to support the sound management and oversight of the overseas leased estate;
- effectively manages overseas leased chancery and residential property on a day-to-day basis; and
- manages relationships with landlords and attached agencies effectively and adequately consults with stakeholders.
The Auditor-General (A/g) responded on 24 September 2015 to correspondence from Senator Glenn Lazarus on 10 September 2015 regarding National Stronger Regions Fund.
Please direct enquiries relating to requests for audit through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s regulation of unsolicited communications.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The objective of the audit is to assess the effectiveness of the ADF’s mechanisms for learning from its military operations and exercises. In particular, the audit focused on the systems and processes the ADF uses for identifying and acting on lessons, and for evaluating performance. The ANAO also examined the manner in which information on lessons is shared within the ADF, with other relevant government agencies, and with international organisations. Reporting to Parliament was also considered.
The objective of this audit was to examine whether the selected entities within the Attorney-General’s portfolio have implemented all agreed recommendations from parliamentary committee and Auditor-General reports within the scoped timeframe.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The policy for responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in government in government includes mandatory requirements to nominate accountable officials and publish AI transparency statements. This statement provides details of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) implementation of these policy requirements.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether, in relation to appeals to the SSAT and the AAT, Centrelink undertakes its role effectively, so as to support the timely implementation of the Tribunals' decisions about customers' entitlements. In assessing Centrelink's performance, the ANAO examined whether:
- the information provided by Centrelink, in relation to appeals to the SSAT and the AAT, effectively supported customers' and Tribunals' decision-making;
- the relationships and administrative arrangements between Centrelink, DEEWR and FaHCSIA supported the effective management of the appeal process and the capture of issues that may have broader implications for legislation, policy and service delivery; and
- Centrelink implemented SSAT and AAT decisions in an effective and timely manner.
The audit focused on the external review and appeal mechanisms and completes the cycle of audits on Centrelink's review and appeal system. The audit examined those appeals where an implementation action was required and did not consider SSAT and AAT appeals that were dismissed, withdrawn or were not within the Tribunals' jurisdiction.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of DHS' management of the tender process for a replacement BasicsCard to support the delivery of the income management scheme.
In conducting the audit, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) assessed the following five key areas of the replacement BasicsCard procurement process, which are described in the Department of Finance and Deregulation's (Finance) Guidance on the Mandatory Procurement Procedures :
• planning for the procurement;
• preparing to approach the market;
• approaching the market;
• evaluating tender submissions; and
• concluding the procurement, including contract negotiation.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the award of funding under the first round of the Safer Streets programme.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to provide assurance to Parliament concerning the adequacy of Defence preparedness management systems and to identify possible areas for improvement. The audit focused on the systems and processes that Defence uses to manage preparedness. We did not review the preparedness levels of specific capabilities, nor did we cover capital acquisition processes. The audit included coverage of: - preparedness systems architecture; - control and direction of preparedness; - coordination among contributors to preparedness; and - performance management and preparedness.
The overall objective of the audit was to assess CrimTrac's progress in achieving the key deliverables it was established to provide, given that the agency had been in operation for some three years. The Australian Government provided $50 million for the implementation of CrimTrac, with an expectation that significant progress would be made within the first three years. The audit further examined whether CrimTrac had progressed the key deliverables efficiently and effectively, and whether the data either held by CrimTrac, or accessed through CrimTrac, for matching purposes is secure.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the administration of procurement initiatives to support opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of this performance audit was to assess whether DIMIA's information systems and business processes are effective in supporting APP to meet its border security and streamlined clearance objectives. In particular, the audit focused on the following: Mandatory APP - Stage 1 (MAPP1) project management; MAPP1 IT development and system performance; APP performance reporting; contract management; and financial management.
The Auditor-General undertook a limited assurance review of the Department of Finance’s reporting and administration of the Advances to the Finance Minister (AFM) for the Period 27 June 2020 to 31 July 2020.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of this audit was to assess the Private Health Insurance Administration Council's (PHIAC's) administrative effectiveness as a regulator of private health insurance. In making this assessment, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) addressed the following criteria: whether PHIAC monitored compliance with its legislative requirements and analysed related data; whether PHIAC addressed and managed non-compliance with its legislative requirements; and whether PHIAC's governance and organisation supported the performance of its legislative functions. Although the Department of Health and Ageing (Health) also has a role in the regulation of the private health insurance industry under the National Health Act 1953 (Health Act), Health's regulatory activities were outside the scope of this audit.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether FaCSIA administers grants effectively, according to better practice guidelines, and consistently across geographic areas and the range of programmes included in the scope of the audit. The scope of the audit included grants administered by FaCSIA between 1 July 2002 and 30 June 2005, relating to programmes falling within four of the five groups of programmes providing funding for families and communities namely: Community Support; Family Assistance; Childcare Support; and Youth and Student Support. In total, these groups involved total expenditure of some $533 million in 2004–05.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of management of the procurement of a major, replacement capability for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by the DMO, and Defence. The audit reviewed the initial capability requirements and approval process; analysed the acquisition agreements for elements of the project; and examined the interim through-life support arrangements being put in place to support the capability.
The Auditor-General responded on 19 November 2021 to correspondence from Senator Malcolm Roberts dated 28 October 2021, requesting that the Auditor-General clarify issues relating to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The Auditor-General received further correspondence about this matter from the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Mr Brendan Moon on 6 June 2022.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the ATO's administration of activity statement HRRs. Specifically the audit sought to: examine aspects of ATO governance relevant to its administration of activity statement HRRs. This includes: ATO planning, the integration between Lines to administer HRRs; corporate risk management processes; and performance management; assess the ATO's methodology and practice to identify and, if necessary, correct activity statement HRRs; and identify and assess the Information Technology (IT) and manual systems, processes and controls used by the ATO to process HRRs resulting from the lodgement of activity statements.
The audit reviewed the ATO's collection and management of activity statement information. The audit paid particular regard to:
- the environment into which activity statements were introduced;
- taxpayer concerns with activity statement administration;
- the mechanisms the ATO uses to capture and process activity statements;
- the change processes the ATO uses to change and test activity statement IT systems; and
- the management methodology used to report on, and assess the performance of, activity statement related systems and processes.
The audit examined the financial management of all Special Appropriations in the period 1998-99 to 2002-03, with the exception of those related to Special Accounts and those administered by Government Business Enterprises. The audit objectives were to: identity all Special Appropriations and ascertain which entities are responsible for their financial management and reporting; and assess entities' financial management and reporting of Special Appropriations against the Commonwealth's financial management and reporting frameworks.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in managing compliance with fair trading obligations.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Clean Energy Regulator’s crediting and selection of carbon abatement to purchase under the Emissions Reduction Fund.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The Auditor-General responded on 1 August 2013 to correspondence from Senator Nick Xenophon of 22 July 2013 on the By boat, no visa advertising campaign.
Please direct enquiries relating to requests for audit through our contact page.
A Health Care Card (HCC) is one of three types of concession cards issued by Centrelink for the Australian Government. The objectives of the audit were to assess: the effectiveness of whole of government approaches to administering HCCs by FaCS, Centrelink, Health and HIC; the adequacy ofperformance information relating to HCCs, including monitoring the use of the card and its budgetary impact, as well as the cost of administering HCCs; and the effectiveness of controls relating to the issue, maintenance and cancellation of the HCC; and to limit its incorrect or fraudulent use.
The audit assessed whether FaCS effectively undertakes its coordination, monitoring and other roles according to the CSTDA. The audit examined all disability services provided for under the CSTDA, except for disability employment services. The ANAO met relevant officers from FaCS' national office and State and Territory offices, and with 22 stakeholder organisations including: advocacy groups; peak national and State bodies representing the interests of disability service providers and people with disabilities; members of national and State Disability Advisory Bodies funded by FaCS; State and Territory governments; relevant Australian Government agencies; In particular, the Department of Health and Ageing and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. and local government bodies. Fieldwork for the audit was primarily undertaken during the period September 2004 to February 2005.
The audit was conducted at the: Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Protective Service (PS); Australian Sports Commission (ASC); Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DoCITA); Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS); and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA). The objectives of the audit were to: determine whether entities had established appropriate arrangements in relation to the management of annual leave For the purposes of this audit the ANAO has used the term ‘annual leave'. However entities refer to this entitlement using other terminology such as recreation leave, planned leave or personal leave. and had effective internal controls over leave processing; assess whether leave had been managed in accordance with the requirements of the respective entity's certified agreement; and identify sound and better practices in the management and processing of leave.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the management and administration of the Communications Fund, including an assessment of:
- the development and implementation of appropriate investment strategies; and
- the robustness of the governance structures and controls relating to investment activities.
The overall objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of Refresh and, in particular:
- the extent to which Centrelink has used the funds invested by the Government to develop its IT capability and realise the anticipated service delivery, financial and other benefits; and
- how Centrelink's programme management approach and Refresh's oversight arrangements have contributed to the achievement of the outcomes of the programme.
The audit objectives were to assess the effectiveness of:
- selected agencies’ administration in developing advertising campaigns and implementing key processes against the requirements of the Australian Government’s campaign advertising framework, and other key legal and administrative requirements; and
- the ongoing administration of the campaign advertising framework.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
This audit focused on the implementation of the Revised Government Foreign Exchange Risk Management Policy. Overall, the audit found the implementation of the Revised Policy with all CAC Act entities was not complete and important elements of the Revised Policy have not been adequately implemented. ANAO made five recommendations aimed at improving the compliance of GGS entities with the revised Policy, central agency consideration of entities' requests for exemption and enhancing the reporting made to Government. Finance and other entities agreed with all the recommendations.
The objective of this audit was to assess whether the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is effectively managing the Search and Rescue Aircraft contract.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The current audit has focussed on Stage 2 of the Scheme. Its objective was to assess whether ACIS is being administered effectively by DIISR and, as relevant, by Customs. In particular, the audit examined the department's arrangements for:
- assessing the eligibility of participants to receive duty credits;
- calculating duty credits accurately and adhering to the funding limits for the Scheme;
- checking the integrity of participants' claims, which are self-assessed;
- accounting for the duty credits transferred to and used at Customs; and
- measuring and reporting on the performance of ACIS.
The audit also followed up on whether the ANAO's previous recommendations have been addressed.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Tribunals' management of their operations. To this end, the audit examined whether the MRT and the RRT:
- have achieved intended operational efficiencies from the introduction of common facilities, services and resourcing;
- have established appropriate arrangements for governance, business planning and guidance of Members and staff, and for performance monitoring and reporting of Tribunal operations;
- finalise cases within Tribunal time and productivity standards; and
- provide applicants with services in accordance with service standards.
The audit covered Tribunal operations for review of visa decisions. The correctness of individual decisions was not assessed as part of the audit.
The audit focused particularly on developments in the Tribunals' management performance in the four year period from 2001–02 to 2004–05.
The scope of the audit covered Centrelink's emergency management framework and community recovery assistance operations in general, with a specific focus on the 2009 North Queensland floods and Victorian bushfires. FaHCSIA's role during those disaster events was also considered as it played a key role in establishing the policy parameters of the services Centrelink delivered and addressing issues arising from policy implementation.
The objective of this audit was to assess AQIS's management of export certification. In particular, it addressed the systems, procedures, processes and resources used to: register premises and license exporters; monitor compliance with arrangements; and manage non-compliance. The audit focussed on regulatory activities for assuring that Australian exports meet food safety and quarantine requirements. The methodology involved an examination of each of the seven AQIS export programmes.
The audit sought to assess how well the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) manages aggressive tax planning. We did this by exploring the nature of aggressive tax planning and the ATO's approach to its management. In the latter context, we looked at:
- the ATO's previous experience with aggressive tax planning and action on previous significant external reviews, particularly dealing with mass marketed investment schemes;
- strategy and operations, intelligence gathering and use; and the identification and management of promoters given their significant role in aggressive tax planning.
The objectives of the audit were to determine whether: citizenship services were planned based on a risk assessment, especially in relation to fraud; and were monitored and reported on appropriately; decision-making was accurate, consistent and in line with relevent laws and policies and was supported by appropriate training and quality assurance (QA) mechanisms; client and outsourced services were managed effectively; and promotion strategies were effective and have been evaluated appropriately.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the major elements of Centrelink's central, strategic level project management arrangements, as defined in the CPMF. It focused on how well:
- the CPMF supports better management and service delivery in Centrelink;
- the CPMF supports project managers and projects to comply with better project management principles, relevant legislation and guidelines; and
- Centrelink monitors project performance and encouraged the attainment of project objectives.
The Auditor-General responded on 28 April 2025 to correspondence from Senator the Hon Anne Ruston dated 31 March 2025, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine a grant awarded to the Gallipoli Turkish Cultural Foundation.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit examined agency approaches to the management of intellectual property under its control, and identified themes common to the management of all types of intellectual property. The audit objective was to:
(i) form an opinion on whether Commonwealth agencies have systems in place to efficiently, effectively and ethically manage their intellectual property assets; and
(ii) identify areas for better practice in intellectual property management by those agencies.
The audit objectives were to report on the implementation status of the parliamentary resolutions and other actions arising out of the six recommendations made in the final PSC Report, Review by the Parliamentary Service Commissioner of Aspects of the Administration of the Parliament. The audit also broadly examined the impact of implementation of the parliamentary resolutions on aspects of: the level of services provided to the Parliament generally following amalgamation of the three former parliamentary departments into the Department of Parliamentary Services; and accommodation space within Parliament House. The designated audit agency was the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS).
The audit objective was to examine the efficiency of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions' (CDPP's) case management.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objectives of this audit were to:
- assess the current status of BCM and EM arrangements in Centrelink and identify opportunities for improvement; and
- review Centrelink's response to the recommendations.
The audit objective was to form an opinion on the effectiveness of DEST's planning, assessment, and Funding Agreements management for the Australian Technical Colleges programme. At the time of the audit fieldwork (prior to the 2007–08 Budget) the Government had announced the establishment of 21 of the then target of 25 colleges. After fieldwork was completed the Government announced its intention to fund an additional three colleges in three new regions.
The criteria for this audit were designed to test whether DEST's management of the programme complied with its plans, procedures and guidelines, with the Act, and better practices for grants administration. For these purposes, the ANAO focused on DEST's:
- planning for the implementation of the programme;
- assessment of proposals to establish and operate the colleges; and
- management of the Funding Agreements.
The objective of the audit was to review the operation of the ATO's Tax Agent and Business Portals. In conducting the audit the ANAO examined three key areas: governance – the governance arrangements supporting ongoing management of the Portals; portals development, user satisfaction and realisation of expected benefits – the ATO's processes for involving users in developing the Tax Agent and Business Portals, assessing user satisfaction, and evaluating business benefits arising from uptake of the Portals; and information technology (IT) security and user access controls – the ATO's IT security environment and user access controls supporting the operation of the Tax Agent and Business Portals.
A Special Account is a mechanism used to record amounts in the Consolidated Revenue Fund that are set aside for specified purposes. A total of $3.40 billion was reported as held in Special Accounts as of 30 June 2003, with $10.33 billion reported as credited to Special Accounts in 2002-03 and $10.06 billion in reported payments (debits) from these Accounts. The audit examined the establishment, management and abolition of Special Accounts by Commonwealth agencies, as well as compliance with legal requirements
The audit objective was to provide independent assurance to the Parliament on the effectiveness of Australian Public Service organisations in the use and management of the HRIS to satisfy mandatory reporting requirements, as well as provide meaningful information to management. The audit also considered the use of employee self service facilities offered by the HRIS, which has the capacity to provide staff with access to their personal information, reduce manual processing and streamline processing.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of DEST's administration of its role in Australian Apprenticeships. To achieve this, the ANAO assessed DEST's performance to determine if DEST:
- monitored whether Australian Apprenticeships was achieving its objectives;
- effectively managed the Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programme; and
- effectively managed its contracts with Australian Apprenticeships Centres.
The objective of this audit was to examine whether the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications exercised appropriate due diligence in its acquisition of the ‘Leppington Triangle’ land for the future development of the Western Sydney Airport.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
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).
Please direct enquiries relating to requests for audit through our contact page.
The Auditor-General responded on 13 September 2021 to correspondence from Senator the Hon Eric Abetz dated 17 August 2021, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC's) payment of the damages and legal costs of one of its employees in a private defamation proceeding.
The Auditor-General provided a follow-up response to Senator the Hon Eric Abetz on 15 October 2021.
Please direct enquiries relating to requests for audit through our contact page.