Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the International Consortium on Governmental Financial Management - Washington

The audit reviewed the retention of military personnel that are managed by the Australian Defence Force which comprises the three Services. The objective of the audit was to review the management of personnel retention within the ADF with a view to evaluating the measures Defence has in place to monitor and control the flow of trained personnel from the Services

The audit reviewed management of the Commonwealth's role in preparing for, and managing, pest and disease emergencies requiring a rapid response. The audit focused on the role of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry -Australia (AFFA), which is the Commonwealth Department with primary portfolio responsibility for coordinating the national and international response to an emergency. The audit did not address preventative measures such as quarantine and border controls; controlled release of exotic diseases or pests; or emergencies associated with previously known endemic diseases, food safety or chemical residue issues.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the National Institute of Governance, University of Canberra

The main objectives of the audit were to examine DOTARS' response to the heightened threat environment following the events of 11 September 2001, and to determine the extent to which DOTARS' monitoring and compliance regime ensures that the aviation industry complies with its security obligations. The scope of the audit included:

• the respective roles and responsibilities of the organisations involved in aviation security;
• the setting of security settings; DOTARS' monitoring of airport, airline and cargo security;
• the action DOTARS takes in response to security breaches; and
• evaluation of aviation security.

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

The objective of the audit was to examine DVA's implementation of the Repatriation health card system, which aims to ensure that veterans can obtain health care through community-based providers and facilities.

The audit reviewed the management of unscheduled absence in 74 APS agencies. The objective of the audit was to assess the extent and cost of unscheduled absence in the APS; to examine whether unscheduled absence in the APS was being managed efficiently and effectively; and to identify opportunities for improvement.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presentation to Macquarie University

Closing the books processes sometimes referred to as 'month-end or year-end processing' are those processes undertaken by organisations in order to generate periodic financial information. This audit focused on the monthly closing the books processes undertaken at six of the material Commonwealth organisations, in order to provide some generic conclusions on the operation and effectiveness of these periodic processes in the Commonwealth and to identify opportunities for improvement.

The audit objective was to form an opinion on the Department of Veterans' Affairs administration of its activities to maintain and enhance the health and independence of veterans and war widows in their homes and in the community.

The objective of this report is to provide information, prepared by both the ANAO and DMO, on the performance of major projects as well as providing the Auditor-General’s formal conclusion on the review of the Project Data Summary Sheets (PDSSs) prepared by DMO and contained in this report.

The Auditor-General (A/g) responded on 23 September 2015 to correspondence from Alannah MacTiernan MP on 7 September 2015 regarding the Perth Freight Link Project in Western Australia.

The objective of this audit was to determine the progress made by the AEC in implementing the ANAO's recommendations, taking into account any changed circumstances, or new administrative issues, affecting implementation of those recommendations.

The audit examined whether the Department of Health and Ageing had the performance information necessary to administer the Australian Health Care Agreements. A strong focus of the audit was accountability for performance given the significant size of Commonwealth financial assistance, more than $29.6 billion over 5 years, provided to the States and Territories for the provision of health care services.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the House of Representatives Occasional Seminar Series

Presentation by Mr Alan Greenslade - Executive Director, to the Industry, Research and Develoment Board

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Australia New Zealand School of Government Conference

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 25th National Conference of Association of Risk and Insurance Managers of Australasia Limited

The objective of the audit was to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of Austrade's management of customer services to Australian exporters, with particular reference to:

• performance as a customer-focused organisation;
• achievement of quality customer service through its client service initiatives; and
• measurement and evaluation of its customer service performance.

Mr Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Institute of Public Administration Australia, ACT Division

The focus of this audit was to ascertain how the Family Court had spent Justice Statement monies and to form an opinion on the current and projected financial position of the Court. The ANAO undertook the review of the Family Court in a two-stage process. The first stage, the findings of which appear in this report, to allow consideration in the Budget context, was undertaken as a project audit and had the objective of addressing the issues of immediate concern to the Attorney-General.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, addressed the Institute of Internal Auditors, Canberra

The objective of the audit was to report to Parliament on the progress Defence has made since June 2001 in implementing appropriate strategies for recruiting, developing and retaining skilled IT personnel. The audit focused on management of specialist information system skills and did not examine skills needed by users of information systems, although the latter is of obvious importance for overall performance. In June 2001, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA), after reviewing the ANAO's Audit Report No. 11 Knowledge System Equipment Acquisition Projects in Defence, commented that its major concern about Defence's ability to develop a knowledge edge with adequate coherence, centred on Defence's ability to recruit, develop and retain skilled individuals needed in all parts of the DIE. The JCPAA recommended that the ANAO conduct an audit of Defence's strategies for recruiting, developing and retaining skilled IT personnel.

The audit examined the Commonwealth's management of the Building Better Cities Program to identify areas where improvement was needed and where lessons learned from BCP could be useful in other programs.

In April 2002, the ANAO tabled Audit Report No.40 2001-02 Corporate Governance in the Australian Broadcasting Corporation ( the 2002 audit). In August 2003, the ABC submitted a report to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) on its progress in implementing the recommendations from the 2002 audit and the JCPAA report. This follow-up audit examined the ABC's implementation of recommendations from both reports, using the ABC's progress report as its base.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, address to the Department of Environment and Heritage - Sustainability Reporting by the Public Sector

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, addressed the Defence Audit and Program Evaluation Committee (DAPEC)

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Launch of MAB/MIAC Report 17 - Guidelines for Managing Risk in the Australian Public Sector - An Exposure Draft

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Public Service and Merit Protection Commission Senior Executive Service (SES) Breakfast Seminar Series

The audit reviewed the sales of DASFLEET, Works Australia and DAS Interiors Australia. Separate audit reports have been produced for each of the sales. This report focuses on the management of the overall sale processes for all business units.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Committee for Economic Development of Australia, Sydney, 30 Sept

The audit examined the administrative effectiveness of arrangements between Health and HIC, in relation to the management and administration of the Medicare Benefits Scheme and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Health predominantly exercises a policy and leadership role within the health portfolio - HIC delivers a range of health services directly to the public and members of the health industry. Both agencies have stated that they recognise the importance of working together, as partners in their respective roles, to maximise their performance in the achievement of health portfolio outcomes and to discharge their respective responsibilities. This joint commitment is embodied in a written agreement - called the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA).

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

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

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the CPA Australia National Public Sector Convention : Overview and Panel Discussion by Auditors General

The audit objective was to examine the adequacy of Defence's and DMO's management of the nearly completed elements of Project Air 5276. The ANAO identified a number of causes for time delays and cost escalation in those elements. Those causes are outlined in the overall audit conclusions, to assist in the achievement of improvements in future planning and management of capital equipment acquisitions.

The objectives for the audit were to report on the efficiency and cost effectiveness of selected agencies' procurement of air travel services. Specifically the audit was to:

• identify the potential for more cost effective procurement in agencies' contracting for air travel services;
• produce estimates of potential savings in expenditure by improved contracting arrangements in agencies where possible; and
• outline any improvements to procurement management practices, including improvement in Commonwealth coordination activities.

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 2009 Brookes Oration Deakin Business School, Deakin University

Mr Ian McPhee - Deputy Auditor-General, presented at the Best Practice Financial Management Seminar, Canberra

The Auditor-General responded on 10 November 2016 to correspondence from The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP on 13 October 2016 requesting the ANAO include the impact of the Australian Government’s proposed relocation of the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Authority in its current performance audit of Pesticide and Veterinary Medicine (agvet) Regulatory Reform.

The Acting Auditor-General responded on 11 May 2017, and the Auditor-General followed-up on 19 July 2017, to correspondence from Ms Cathy McGowan AO MP dated 10 April 2017. Ms McGowan had requested that the Auditor-General conduct an audit of the Regional Australia Impact Statement process, which is administered by the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.

Mr Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Public Sector Audit Network Group

The objective of the audit was to examine the efficiency and administrative effectiveness of the scheme in light of rapidly increasing expenditure and a history of administrative difficulties and deficiencies.

The primary objectives of the ANAO preliminary study were to gain an understanding of the concepts and associated processes used in the management of preparedness. This included the methodology for translating the Government's strategic guidance into military capability; the processes by which the Services translate preparedness directives into operational requirements; and how Headquarters ADF (HQADF) and the three Service Offices assure themselves that units can satisfy the requirements of preparedness directives.

Within the scope of this preliminary study the ANAO did not attempt to form a conclusion regarding the current ability of the ADF to satisfy the roles set by Government in strategic guidance; that is, its actual state of preparedness. It was important first to obtain a good understanding of the concepts and associated methodology used by Defence in managing preparedness.

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Global Working Group 10th Annual Meeting, Norway

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Institute of Internal Auditors Australia. South Pacific and Asia Conference SOPAC 2001, Melbourne

The overall objective of the preliminary study was to determine whether a performance audit of the management of corporate sponsorship was warranted. Specifically, the areas canvassed during the preliminary study were:

• policies and guidelines for the management of corporate sponsorship;
• integration of corporate sponsorship into agency planning;
• contractual arrangements;
• evaluation of corporate sponsorship within the agency;
• valuation and reporting of corporate sponsorship; and
• costs and benefits associated with corporate sponsorship.

The preliminary study findings did not warrant proceeding to a full performance audit. However, because corporate sponsorship is likely to be a growing area of importance for the Commonwealth, the ANAO concluded that there was value in producing a better practice guide in addition to the audit report.

The objective of the audit was to determine whether the Department of Health and Family Services had managed its coordinating role and implemented its responsibilities under the National Rural Health Strategy efficiently and effectively.

The Auditor-General responded on 1 December 2015 to correspondence from Senator Nick Xenophon of 29 October and 5 November 2015, on the advertising campaign promoting Free Trade Agreements in Asia.

The Commonwealth has significant involvement in national emergency management arrangements through its roles in planning, coordination between agencies, operational response, financial support, education and training, public awareness and research activities. The objectives of this performance audit were to identify the Commonwealth's current emergency management arrangements; to provide assurance to Parliament concerning the adequacy of the arrangements; and to highlight areas for improvement.

Fedlink was to comprise two elements: a high capacity telecommunications infrastructure (phase 1) and information technology applications which support Internet and Intranet communication, and transactions in a secure environment (phase 2) [which never went ahead]. OGIT sought the services of the ANAO to provide an opinion on the probity of the methodology and procedures applied in the evaluation process for phase 1. Therefore the objectives of this audit were to assist OGIT in the timely identification of any deficiencies in the evaluation of responses from suppliers and options for addressing the deficiencies.

Mr Mr Ian McPhee, AO PSM - Auditor-General for Australia, presented an Australian Country Paper at the 6th ASOSAI Symposium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 20th Commonwealth Auditors-General Conference

This first Assurance Report on the status of selected Defence equipment acquisition projects, which has the support of the Parliament and the Government, represents a substantial step towards improving transparency and public accountability in major Defence procurement projects. It is the pilot of an annual Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Major Projects Report, and was developed in conjunction with the DMO. It covers the cost, schedule and capability progress achieved by nine DMO projects, which had an approved budget totalling $13.535 billion as at 30 June 2008.

This report is organised into three parts. Part 1 comprises an ANAO overview and Auditor–General's Foreword. Part 2 comprises the Major Projects Report prepared by DMO, including an overview reflecting DMO's perspective on their business and on the nine projects included in the. Part 3 incorporates the Auditor-General's Review Report, the statement by the CEO DMO, and the information prepared by DMO in the form of standardised Project Data Summary Sheets covering each of the nine pilot projects.

In the next 12 months, the ANAO will review 15 DMO projects planned for inclusion in the 2008-09 DMO Major Projects Report, with the number of projects rising to 30 projects in subsequent years. The ANAO will also work with DMO to refine the approach adopted for providing assurance on each project's progress toward achieving Final Operational Capability. The ANAO will also consider the inclusion of an analysis of each project's emerging trends, as appropriate, to complement DMO's intention to provide improved analysis of project management performance regarding all projects included in the Major Projects Report.

The objective of the audit was to provide an independent assurance on the effectiveness of Defence and DMO's management of the acquisition of the ASLAV capability to Army. The audit examined the initial capability requirements and approval process, the contract negotiation process, and the management of the Project and Contracts by DMO.

The audit objective was to examine progress in the development of an overarching approach and guidance for the management of the Commonwealth's intellectual property (Recommendation No. 2 of Audit Report No. 25 of 2003–04).

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, Address to the Challenge of Change : Driving Governance and Accountability CPA Forum 2004

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the launch of Comcare/ANAO Better Practice Guide

The audit examined aspects of the integrity and management of customer data stored on ISIS. In particular, the audit considered measures of data accuracy, completeness and reliability. The scope of the audit also extended to aspects of Centrelink's IT control environment - in particular, controls over data entry.