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 the follow-up audit was to review the effectiveness of the DETYA International Services (DIS) cost recovery operational model. The initial audit of DIS was undertaken in 1997-98 (Audit Report No.35).
The objective of the audit was to assess the administrative effectiveness of the ATO's management of GST compliance in the large business market segment. In conducting the audit the ANAO examined three key areas: governance - ILEC's corporate planning and reporting arrangements relevant to the management of GST compliance in the large business market segment; assessing and identifying compliance risks- how ILEC collects information relating to the large business market segment and how it uses this information to support risk identification and assessment; and managing compliance- compliance planning and the products and processes used by ILEC to manage GST compliance in the large business market segment and evaluating compliance outcomes to support future compliance planning and the targeting of GST compliance risks. In undertaking the audit, the ANAO took account of the findings of previous reviews, in particular the LCCP Review.
This follow-up audit examined the actions taken by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to address the ANAO's recommendations made in Audit Report No.28 1993-94 regarding the use of private hospitals on behalf of the Repatriation Commission. The recommendations from that audit were aimed at improving the basis and consistency of contracts with the private sector for the use of private hospitals and providing added assurance that quality care was available to the veteran community.
The objective of the audit was to examine the effectiveness of CSP’s feedback management system. CSP’s performance was assessed against the following criteria:
- CSP has appropriate channels to collect customer feedback;
- CSP effectively manages and resolves complaints; and
- CSP accurately reports on customer feedback, and analyses the information to improve aspects of child support administration.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) administration of the veterans’ children education schemes.
Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the FINEST User Network Annual Conference 1996, Leura, NSW
The objective of the audit was to examine the effectiveness of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ arrangements for the management of contractors.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit reviewed the efficiency and effectiveness of the Department of Health and Ageing's (Health's) planning and conduct of the review undertaken to determine the recommendation to the Government on whether or not to exercise the extension option available to the Commonwealth under the Plasma Fractionation Agreement with CSL Limited. The audit was undertaken in response to a recommendation of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit.
Consistent with the ANAO's practices, and in response to a request from AusAID, a follow-up audit was conducted in the period May to November 1998 to assess the extent of implementation of the recommendations of a 1996 audit into the Management of Funding to Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)and whether the implementation of recommendations has effectively improved the management of funding to NGOs. The ANAO examined AusAID's key funding accountability documentation, tested the revised accountability arrangements and consulted a number of key stakeholders, including NGO representatives.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Federal Police's management of its use of force regime.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
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 planning and implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Office of Financial Management’s (AOFM) management of the Australian Government’s debt.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Institute of Public Administration Australia
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.
In 1997, and subsequently in 1999, the Australian Government introduced two major spending packages with a total value of almost $1 billion. These spending packages were designed to address the challenges posed by the issue of climate change and to meet Australia's domestic and international commitments. Since its inception in 1998, the Australian Greenhouse Office has been responsible for the implementation of greenhouse related programs from these two major spending packages. The objective of the audit was to examine and report on the administrative efficiency and effectiveness of seven major programs administered by the Australian Greenhouse Office.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether Civil Aviation Safety Authority has effective arrangements to comply with domestic and international travel legislative and entity requirements.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the administration of specific climate change programs by the departments of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts and Resources, Energy and Tourism. In undertaking this audit, particular emphasis was given to the implementation of good administrative practice and the extent to which the program objectives were being met. The audit followed four lines of inquiry:
- development of program objectives and assessment of program risks;
- assessment and approval of competitive grant applications;
- assessment and approval of rebate applications; and
- measurement and reporting of program outcomes.
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.
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 audit reviewed six budget-funded agencies (Australian Customs Service, Australian Taxation Office, Centrelink, Department of Defence, Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs, and Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) and two off-budget entities (Airservices Australia and Reserve Bank of Australia). The ANAO also examined the Office for Government Online's (OGO, formerly the Office of Government Information Technology, or OGIT) whole-of-government coordination of the Commonwealth's Year 2000 efforts.
The objective of this audit was to examine the effectiveness of selected non-corporate Commonwealth entities' arrangements for managing cyber security risks within their procurements and specific contracted providers under the Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF).
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
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
Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the IIR Conference 'Risks in Outsourcing in the Public Sector'
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s identity verification arrangements for applicants in the Citizenship Program.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the management of international travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
This report relates to the fifth audit of Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) agencies' compliance with the Senate Order for Departmental and Agency Contracts, (the Senate Order) to list, on the Internet, contract details for the Financial Year 2002-2003 reporting period. The audit was conducted in accordance with the Senate Order request for the Auditor - General to undertake twice - yearly examinations of agency contracts listed on the Internet, and to report whether there had been any inappropriate use of confidentiality provisions. The objectives of the audit were to assess agency performance in relation to compiling the Internet listings required by the Senate Order and the appropriateness of the use of confidentiality of provisions in Commonwealth contracts.
The objectives of this performance audit were to provide assurance that there were effective measures in place to safeguard the national collections and that institutions had processes in place to provide access to them. The ANAO also examined the extent to which the national cultural institutions have implemented the eleven recommendations from the previous report, Safeguarding Our National Collections (Audit Report No.8 1998-99).
Mr Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the Institute of Public Administration Australia, ACT Division
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the Australian Taxation Office has effective arrangements in place to support the adoption of Artificial Intelligence.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the ATO's administration of the LMR. Specifically, the audit sought to: examine and report on aspects of LMR governance; assess the systems, processes and controls used by the ATO to capture and process LMR data reported by providers; examine the mechanisms and strategies the ATO uses to gain assurance that providers are complying with LMR legislation; and assess the mechanisms and strategies the ATO uses to promote awareness of, and enable access to, the LMR.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority's probity management.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Education’s administration of National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy in achieving the outcomes of the program.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the efficiency and the effectiveness of DEWR's administrative oversight for the WfD programme. The components of administration examined included whether:
- the operation of the WfD programme was guided by sound business planning including risk assessment;
- DEWR effectively and efficiently managed, monitored and reported the performance of CWCs in meeting contractual obligations;
- adequate support was provided to DEWR contract managers and account managers to assist in the delivery of WfD outcomes;
- there was evaluation of the performance of CWCs in delivering WfD objectives on behalf of the department;
- DEWR measures the effectiveness of WfD against programme objectives; and
- DEWR had implemented agreed recommendations from the previous WfD audit, where current and relevant.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the Office’s management of official residences and other assets.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s management of the biosecurity workforce.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
Pursuant to a request from the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee and the Auditor - General's response to the Committee, the objective of this performance audit was to examine and report on the selection of the preferred tenderer in the Health Group IT outsourcing process. In particular, the audit examined the circumstances surrounding OASITO's administration of the: - disclosure to a tenderer of information provided by other tenderers; - subsequent acceptance of a late re-pricing offer from a tenderer: and - advice to the decision- maker leading to the selection of the preferred tenderer. The audit focused particularly on assessing the administrative processes undertaken in the selection of the preferred tenderer for the Health Group. Audit emphasis was placed on the management of the probity aspects of the tender process, particularly in regard to events that occurred between June 1999, when the tenderers provided their penultimate pricing, and the selection of the preferred tenderer in September 1999.
The objective of this audit was to assess the efficiency1 and effectiveness of the establishment, implementation and administration of the bike paths component of the Local Jobs stream of the Jobs Fund. A particular focus was on the establishment of program objectives and the extent to which approved grants have demonstrably contributed to the cost-effective achievement of those objectives. The audit approach has been influenced by recent audits of grants administration which have emphasised the importance of transparent and accountable grant decision-making processes to the cost effective achievement of stated program objectives, and having regard for recent government decisions to enhance the framework applying to the administration of grants.
As an economic stimulus program, efficiency was assessed with particular attention to whether the application, assessment, decision-making and funding agreement processes were undertaken in a timely manner. This emphasis was consistent with the criterion adopted by the Government for the design of the stimulus packages established in response to the global financial crisis (see further at paragraph 4.20 of the audit report).
The corporate plan is the ANAO’s primary planning document. Our strategic planning process allows us to continually improve practices and capabilities to demonstrate value in the delivery of services to the Parliament. The corporate plan is complemented by the annual audit work program, which reflects the ANAO’s audit strategy for the coming year.
Please direct enquiries about our corporate plan through our contact page.
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 at the Public Sector Risk Management Conference
The audit examined the design, management and reporting of performance information for the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) which is administered by the Commonwealth Departments of Environment and Heritage, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The objective of the audit was to examine and report on the performance information used to support the administration of $1.5 billion in Commonwealth financial assistance; and compliance with legislative requirements for performance monitoring and reporting.
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
While recognising the diversity of administrative requirements for different special payments, the audit provides a basis for comparison of performance across 14 different agencies in 1997-98 and progress made since the then Joint Committee of Public Accounts report 342 The administration of specific purpose payments. The objectives of the audit were to:
- identify and benchmark current practices in the management of performance information within SPP agreements;
- document the lessons learned including better practice from different agencies;
- provide a longitudinal analysis of progress since 1995; and
- provide practical guidance for the development and implementation of appropriate performance information systems and accountability.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) management of the Aids to Navigation maintenance procurement.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
In two letters dated 19 and 22 June 2009, the Prime Minister requested a performance audit of a range of matters relating to representations to the Treasury regarding automotive finance arrangements for car dealers. In response to these requests, the Auditor-General decided that ANAO would undertake a performance audit under section 18 of the Auditor-General Act 1997 (Auditor-General Act). The audit objective, based on the matters raised in the Prime Minister's correspondence and in the Parliament, was to examine and report on:
- any representations to the Treasury since October 2008 from all sources regarding automotive finance arrangements for car dealers, including any made in relation to John Grant Motors;
- the nature of these representations;
- the manner in which the representations were responded to by officials, having regard to any relevant standards and procedures; and
- any related administrative matters that came to attention.
The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of Services Australia’s management of the privacy of client information.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
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 objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of Geoscience Australia’s 2020 to 2022 procurement of the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network (SouthPAN).
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit objective was to assess the departments of Health and Human Services’ administration, including oversight and monitoring arrangements, for the Indemnity Insurance Fund.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to examine the effectiveness of the implementation of frameworks to support ethical behaviours within the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit objective was to examine the selected entities’ effectiveness in implementing entity-wide fraud control arrangements, including compliance with the requirements of the 2011 Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines (2011 Guidelines), and the overall administration of the fraud control framework by the Attorney-General’s Department.
The objective of the audit was to examine the effectiveness of spectrum reallocation to support the deployment of 5G services.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit objective was to assess whether the early stages of DIAC's preparations for the re-tendering of the detention and health services contracts were consistent with sound practice. The audit focused on governance arrangements, in particular the recordkeeping arrangements, roles and responsibilities of personnel, expert advisors and the probity auditor—matters raised in the previous audit report. The audit did not examine the RFT, which is not due to be issued until April 2007.
The objective of this audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' implementation of the new biosecurity legislative framework.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is effectively managing the delivery of the program to achieve program outcomes.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the management of threatened species and ecological communities under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
The objective of the audit was to assess whether the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet effectively manages the Regional Network.
Please direct enquiries through our contact page.
Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the 'Ensuring Accountability and Ethics with Corporate Governance in the Public Sector' - IIR Conference, Canberra
The objective of the audit was to assess the adequacy of selected Australian Government entities’ practices and procedures to manage business continuity. To conclude against this objective, the ANAO adopted high-level criteria relating to the entities’ establishment, implementation and review of business continuity arrangements.
Please direct enquiries relating to reports through our contact page.