This report outlines the ANAO’s assessment of the internal controls of major entities, including governance arrangements, information systems and control procedures. The findings summarised in this report are the results of the interim phase  of the financial statement audits of 23 major General Government Sector entities that represent some 95 per cent of total General Government Sector revenues and expenses.

This audit followed up the ANAO's 1997 performance audit report on ADF health services (Audit Report No.34 1996-97 Australian Defence Force Health Services), which focused on the delivery of non-operational health services to entitled members. The objective of the follow-up audit was to assess Defence's implementation of recommendations made in the original audit report and their effectiveness in improving ADF health services.

In 1997-98, the ANAO audited the Child Support Agency (CSA), making 12 recommendations to improve its operational performance. A related report by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit supported the general findings of the ANAO audit and reinforced three ANAO recommendations in its own report. The audit examined client service in the CSA by following-up the CSA's implementation of the recommendations contained in these two previous reports and more broadly assessing whether the CSA had improved the management and delivery of its client service sine the previous ANAO audit.

The review assessed the effectiveness of the ANAO’s methodology for conducting audits of other Australian Government entity’s performance statements. See the review.

This page lists status updates about the ANAO's progress on recommendations contained in the review.

The Audit Committee Chairs Forum is a joint initiative of the Department of Finance and the ANAO and includes the general government and non-general government sector Audit Committee Chairs. This communique covers the outcomes of the discussion at the forum on 15 June 2018 including updates from the Auditor-General and the ANAO, and from the Department of Finance.

The report summarises the audit and other related activities of the ANAO in the period June to December 2000. It provides a consolidated report of the ANAO's integrated audit products tabled during the period. Key issues examined in the ANAO's performance audit activity in the period were:

• risk management in a corporate governance framework;
• outsourcing and asset sales;
• contract management;
• service delivery;
• data management/management information systems; and
• legislative implementation.

The report also summarised the results of a report summarising the final results of the audits of the financial statements of Commonwealth entities; and dealt with issues regarding financial management issues, controls and processes arising from the financial audit activities conducted during the period.

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held on Wednesday, 5 December 2018 from 10am until 12:30pm. The venue was the Galambany Centre, Department of Finance, One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT. The slides from the forum are now available. 

The objective of this follow-up audit was to provide assurance to the Parliament on the cost-effectiveness of public sector travel by:

• ascertaining the degree of acceptance, and the extent of implementation, of the previous audit recommendations and better practice principles; and
• establishing whether organisations were managing travel effectively, taking into consideration recommendations and findings detailed in the above Audit Reports and the Better Practice Guide Public Sector Travel.

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held on Friday, 6 December 2019 from 11am until 1:30pm. The venue was the Galambany Centre, Department of Finance, One Canberra Avenue, Forrest ACT.

The agenda and slides are now available in the related documents section of this events page. 

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held on Friday 12 July 2024. The text on this page is the communique from the forum.

The previous audit made ten recommendations to improve Centrelink's review and appeals system. Centrelink agreed to all recommendations. The objective of this follow-up audit was to review Centrelink's progress in implementing the recommendations of Audit Report No.35, Centrelink's Review and Appeals System 2004-05.

The objective of this follow-up audit was to review FaCSIA's progress in implementing the recommendations of Audit Report No.17 1999–2000. The focus was whether FaCSIA had maintained or improved its oversight, coordination and administration of the CSHA for both the 1999 CSHA and the 2003 CSHA, in line with the recommendations and findings identified in the previous ANAO audit.

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held virtually on Friday, 15 July 2022. The text on this page is the communique from the forum.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection's (DIBP’s) management of the Central Movement Alert List (CMAL) system, having particular regard to the recommendations contained in Audit Report No. 35 of 2008–09.

An Audit Committee Chairs Forum was held on Friday 14 July 2023. The communique from the forum is now available here.

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) completed a performance audit of the ATO's use of AUSTRAC data in August 2000, titled The AustralianTaxation Office's Use of AUSTRAC Data, Audit Report No. 7 2000-2001. It found that the ATO had used AUSTRAC data to achieve a significant improvement in the collection of taxation revenue. The ANAO considered that the ATO could build on this success by using AUSTRAC data more effectively at both the strategic and operational levels. The audit made six recommendations. The ATO agreed with all recommendations. The objective of this follow-up performance audit was to assess the ATO's progress in implementing the recommendations of Audit Report No 7 2000-2001, The Australian Taxation Office's Use of AUSTRAC Data.

The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the ANAO’s attraction, retention and development of capability required to undertake the agency’s core activities. The Independent Auditor report — Performance Audit of Attraction, Development, and Retention of Capability — was tabled in Parliament on 15 August 2022.

This page lists status updates on the ANAO’s progress on recommendations contained in the audit report.

The Auditor-General responded on 8 September 2015 to correspondence from Senator Lee Rhiannon on 10 August 2015 regarding the WestConnex road building project in NSW.

This summary audit report brings together the results of the audits of the financial statements of all Commonwealth organisations (that is, agencies and statutory authorities), and is provided to the Parliament to assist in its scrutiny of annual reports and in the consideration of each organisation's financial statements.

This summary audit report brings together the results of the audits of the financial statements of all Commonwealth organisations (that is, agencies and statutory authorities), and is provided to the Parliament to assist in its scrutiny of annual reports and in the consideration of each organisation's financial statements.

The follow-up audit, Drug Evaluation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration [TGA], reviewed the extent to which TGA had implemented recommendations made by the ANAO in 1996 on the efficiency, effectiveness and accountability of TGA's evaluation and approval of prescription drugs for public use. This follow-up audit was conducted because of the importance of effective drug evaluation processes to public health.

The objective of this audit was to determine the extent to which selected agencies have implemented the two recommendations of the previous audit; and the appropriateness of advice provided by Finance and the ATO. To address this audit objective, the audit assessed:

• the roles of Finance and the ATO in clarifying: the interaction of the PB and SG Act; the ongoing role of the PB Act; and mechanisms to monitor Australian Government organisations' compliance with the PB Act;
• the extent to which Finance and the ATO have provided guidance and other support to assist Australian Government organisations manage and meet statutory superannuation obligations for eligible contractors; and
• whether Australian Government organisations have managed and met statutory superannuation obligations for contractors in past and current contracts.

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.

Section 41 of the Auditor-General Act 1997 establishes the position of the Independent Auditor. The Independent Auditor report, Review of Cyber Security, was tabled in Parliament on 4 December 2017.

This report, which informs the Parliament on the audits of financial statements of Commonwealth entities for 1995-96, aligns with the Government's policy for timely public reporting of financial information. It provides a summary of the opinions formed on those organisations' financial statements and the matters and recommendations raised. Matters reported relate primarily to issues on internal control structures and information technology.

The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the ANAO’s internal budgeting and forecasting processes and practices. View the audit.

This page lists status updates about the ANAO's progress on recommendations contained in the audit.

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.

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Canberra Evaluation Forum

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Security in Government 2001 SES Seminar

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

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Security in Government 95 Conference, Canberra

The objective of Phase Two of the audit was to examine the efficiency and effectiveness of operations of ATSIC Central, State and Regional Offices in relation to the administration of the Community Development Employment Projects Scheme. The ANAO established key criteria to assess progress against the implementation of the Phase One recommendations and further assess the efficiency and effectiveness of CDEP administration. The main areas examined were: planning, including reports of progress against plans and the development and use of performance information; monitoring, including client feedback and the review process at the Regional Office level; the implementation and effectiveness of management information systems in relation to CDEP; and the development and implementation of quality assuranced processes at State/Regional level.

Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Conference on 'Surviving the Year 2000 Computer Crisis' Canberra

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented for a video-conference of the International Federation of Accountants

The Auditor-General wrote to the Minister for Finance on 21 June 2024 to advise of the outcomes of the 2023–24 annual performance statements audit program, and a proposal for expanding the program of audits in 2024–25 and the following two financial years. The Minister for Finance responded on 2 July 2024 supporting the proposal. The Minister for Finance's full response is provided below.

The Auditor-General wrote to the Minister for Finance on 25 October 2022 to advise of the outcomes of the 2021–22 annual performance statements audit program, and a proposal for expanding the program of audits in 2022–23 and the following two financial years. The Minister for Finance responded on 16 January 2023 supporting the proposal. The Minister for Finance's full response is provided below.

The Auditor-General wrote to the Minister for Finance on 26 June 2023 to advise of the outcomes of the 2022–23 annual performance statements audit program, and a proposal for expanding the program of audits in 2023–24 and the following two financial years. The Minister for Finance responded on 18 July 2023 supporting the proposal. The Minister for Finance's full response is provided below.

Grant Hehir, Auditor-General for Australia, attended the Institute of Internal Auditors-Australia ‘Public Sector Internal Audit Conference’ on 31 July 2018, and presented an opening keynote session titled Strategic governance of risk: Lessons learnt from public sector audit. The accompanying paper to the speech, which was delivered against a conference theme of ‘internal auditor as a trusted advisor’, is available here.

This was a follow-up of Audit Report No. 29 2000-01, Review of Veterans' Appeals Against Disability Compensation Entitlement Decisions. That audit examined the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA's) and the Veterans' Review Board's (VRB's) management of the review of decisions for disability compensation. The objective of this audit was to assess the extent to which DVA and the VRB had implemented the four recommendations of Report No.29 2000-01, taking into account any changed circumstances, or new administrative issues, affecting implementation of these recommendations.

This was a follow-up of Audit Report No. 40 of 1997-98, Purchase of Hospital Services from State Governments. That audit examined the administration by the Department of Veterans' Affairs of the Purchase of Hospital Services from State Governments. The objective of this audit was to assess the extent to which the Department had implemented the nine recommendations of Report No. 40, taking account of any changed circumstances or administrative issues that the Department identified as affecting their implementation; and to offer continued assurance to the Parliament on the management of the purchase of hospital services.

The objective of this follow-up audit is to assess the Tax Office's progress in implementing the recommendations of Audit Report No.59 2002–03, Administration of Australian Business Number Registrations, having regard to any changed circumstances, or new administrative issues, affecting the implementation of those recommendations.

The objective of this audit was to examine the effectiveness of the Attorney-General’s Department’s implementation of the recommendations from Auditor-General Report No.27 of 2017–18, Management of the Australian Government’s Register of Lobbyists.

The Auditor-General responded on 23 December 2022 to correspondence from Senator Malcolm Roberts dated 29 November 2022, enquiring about public contributions to the Administration of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements performance audit.

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 30 July 2014 to questions raised on 26 May 2014 by Senator the Hon Penny Wong on the appointment of Mr Peter Crone as head of Secretariat for the National Commission of Audit.

Mr Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Ginninderra Rotary Club

This report presents the results of the interim phase of the 2009–10 financial statement audits of all portfolio departments and other major General Government Sector (GGS) agencies that collectively represent some 95 per cent of total GGS revenues and expenses.

The follow-up audit assessed the extent to which the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Department of Health and Ageing (Health), and Medicare Australia had implemented the six recommendations from Audit Report No.47 2001–02, Administration of the 30 Per Cent Private Health Insurance Rebate. The audit also looked at: the implementation of some of the major suggestions for improvement in the original audit; and the current validity of some of the positive major findings from that audit. The audit found that the ATO, Health and Medicare Australia have acted upon the recommendations contained in Audit Report No.47 2001–02 and, overall, the administration of the Rebate is currently being undertaken effectively.

The Audit Committee Chairs Forum is scheduled for Friday, 19 February 2027. Further information about the forum will be announced closer to the event date. The forum is for Commonwealth Audit Committee Chairs and independent members. If you would like to be invited or have any questions regarding the upcoming forum, please contact External.Relations@anao.gov.au.

The Audit Committee Chairs Forum is scheduled for Friday, 30 July 2027. Further information about the forum will be announced closer to the event date. The forum is for Commonwealth Audit Committee Chairs and independent members. If you would like to be invited or have any questions regarding the upcoming forum, please contact External.Relations@anao.gov.au.

This report summarises the final results of the audits of the financial statements of Commonwealth entities, forming the second report this year on financial statement audits for the period ended 30 June 2000. It complements Audit Report No.52 1999-2000 Control Structures as Part of the Audits of Financial Statements of Major Commonwealth Agencies for the Period Ended 30 June 2000. The report is in three parts:

• Part One of the report is a commentary on the structure and status of the new financial framework, focusing on the quality and timeliness of the preparation of the annual financial statements;
• Part Two discusses the summary final results of the audits of the financial statements, providing details regarding qualifications and any matters emphasised in audit reports; and
• Part Three provides the results of the individual financial statement audits and any additional significant control issues identified since Audit Report No.52.

The objectives of this follow-up audit were to:

• examine the ATO's implementation of the ten recommendations in The Australian Taxation Office's Management of its Relationship with Tax Practitioners (Audit Report No.19, 2002–03), having regard to any changed circumstances, or new administrative issues, affecting implementation of those recommendations; and
• identify scope for improvement in the ATO's management of its relationship with tax practitioners.

Follow up audits are recognised as an important element of the accountability processes of Commonwealth administration. Parliament looks to the Auditor General to report, from time to time, on the extent to which Commonwealth agencies have implemented recommendations of previous audit reports. Follow up audits keep Parliament informed of progressive improvements and current challenges in areas of Commonwealth administration that have previously been subject to scrutiny through performance audits.

This report complements the interim phase report, Audit Report No.51 2006–07 Interim Phase of the Audit of Financial Statements of General Government Sector Entities for the Year Ending 30 June 2007, 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.

This report summarises the final results of the audits of the financial statements of Commonwealth entities, forming the second report this year on financial statement audits for the period ended 30 June 2001. It complements Audit Report No.1 2001-2002 Control Structures as Part of the Audits of Financial Statements of Major Commonwealth Agencies for the Period Ended 30 June 2001. The report is in five parts:

• Part One of the report discusses Commonwealth financial management and reporting issues. It also provides ongoing commentary on the structure of the Commonwealth's financial framework. Related reporting issues include developments in relation to the outcomes and outputs costing and appropriation framework. Comment is also made on the quality and timeliness of the preparation of entities' annual financial statements;
• Part Two provides details of the audit of the Commonwealth's Consolidated Financial Statements for 2000-2001;
• Part Three provides an overview of the current control issues noted in the financial statement audits of Commonwealth entities;
• Part Four discusses the summary final results of the audits of the financial statements, providing details regarding qualifications and any matters emphasised in audit reports; and
• Part Five provides the results of the individual financial statement audits and any additional significant control matters identified since Audit Report No.1 2001-2002.

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.

This report summarises the final results of the audits of the financial statements of Commonwealth entities and represents the second report of the year on financial statement audits for the period ended 30 June 2002. It complements Audit Report No.67 2001-2002 Control Structures as part of the Audit of Financial Statements of Major Commonwealth Entities for the Year Ending 30 June 2002. The report is in five parts:

• Part One provides ongoing commentary on the structure of and issues in relation to the Commonwealth's financial framework;
• Part Two provides details of the audit of the Commonwealth's Consolidated Financial Statements for 2001-2002;
• Part Three summarises the final results of the financial statements with particular details regarding qualifications and any other matters emphasised in the audit reports;
• Part Four provides an overview of the results of the year end substantiation of financial balances and a summary of continuing significant accounting issues; and
• Part Five provides the detailed results of the individual financial statement audits and any additional significant control matters identified since Audit Report No..67 2001-2002.

This report summarises audit and other related activities of the Australian National Audit Office in the period January to June 1998.

This report summarises audit and other related activities of the Australian National Audit Office in the period January to June 1999.