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

The Auditor-General (A/g) wrote on 18 May 2016 to Senator Lee Rhiannon regarding the ANAO performance audit of the approval and administration of Commonwealth funding for the WestConnex Project. This is a follow-up to correspondence with Senator Rhiannon published on 8 September 2015.

The objective of the audit was to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ management of the Australian Government’s contribution to the Covenant. The scope of the audit is the Australian Government’s role in the initial establishment of the Covenant and its ongoing contribution through other employment programs.

The objective of the audit was to assess how effectively Geoscience Australia provides geoscientific and geospatial information and services to assist the Australian Government and key stakeholders. Particular emphasis was given to:

• the collection and management of geoscientific and geospatial data and information, including accessibility;
• the provision of products and services; and
• governance arrangements.

The ANAO examined a number of datasets and product and service projects to assess Geoscience Australia's performance in providing geoscientific and geospatial information and services.

As part of its 2001 inquiry into the recruitment and retention of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee reviewed Defence's contract with Manpower Services (Australia) Pty Ltd for trialling the outsourcing of recruiting services to the ADF. In its subsequent report, the Committee commented that the original contractual arrangements deserved further scrutiny by the ANAO. The objective of the audit was to examine Defence's management of the contractual arrangements for the provision of recruiting services to the ADF. In examining the management of the contract, the ANAO looked at the evaluations conducted at the end of each contractual phase, roles and responsibilities associated with ADF recruiting, and Defence's monitoring of contractual performance and management of risks associated with ADF recruiting.

The audit reviewed the coordination of export development and promotion activities across Commonwealth agencies. The objective of the audit was to assess the extent to which export development and promotion activities are managed in a coordinated manner to maximise their effectiveness and transparency, and to minimise duplication. Particular attention was given to:

• Austrade's role in coordinating and advising on the development of export programs across Commonwealth agencies; and
• the design, delivery and evaluation of programs consistent with the Mortimer review design criteria agreed by Government.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General’s (the Office’s) management of official residences and other assets.

The objective of this audit is to assess the effectiveness of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment & Water (DCCEEW) and Australian Renewable Energy Authority’s (ARENA) delivery of the Community Batteries for Household Solar program.

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the award of funding under Department of Defence’s (Defence’s) Industry grants programs was consistent with the Commonwealth Grant Rules and Guidelines (CGRGs).

The objective of this audit is to assess whether the expected benefits from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) Security Enhancements Programs (SEP) have been realised.