Mr P.J. Barrett (AM) - Auditor-General for Australia, presented to the ANAO Graduates - Graduate Recall Day

Mr Ian McPhee - Deputy Auditor-General, presented at the National Institute for Governance, University of Canberra

The purpose of this audit was to determine whether Australian Hearing Services has in place procedures to monitor the quality of services provided at both its own hearing centres and contractors' sites.

The objective of this information report is to provide transparency and insights on the governing boards of Commonwealth entities and companies and the membership of these boards.

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 at the CPA Australia Public Sectore Finance and Management Conference

The Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 establishes a scheme to confiscate proceeds of crime and allows for confiscated proceeds of crime to be re-invested in programs for relevant purposes, including crime prevention and law enforcement. Auditor-General Report No. 43 2016–17 Proceeds of Crime concluded that:

• effective processes had been established by the Attorney-General’s Department to identify the possible use of funds from the Confiscated Assets Account;
• appropriate advice was being provided to the Minister to inform decision-making; and
• the main beneficiaries of funding from the Confiscated Assets Account have been Commonwealth criminal intelligence or law enforcement entities with significant funds also approved for non-government, community organisations or local council’s projects, including through the Safer Streets Programme (examined in Auditor-General Report No. 41 2014–15 The Award of Funding under the Safer Streets Programme). In addition, the initial allocation to the Safer Communities Fund (examined in Auditor-General Report No. 16 2021–22) included unspent Safer Streets program funding (sourced from the Confiscated Asset Fund, under the Proceeds of Crime Act).

This audit would examine the processes through which funding allocations are identified, the appropriateness of the advice provided by the Attorney-General’s Department to inform funding decisions.

The goal of the $250 million Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund (EMIIF) is to help address access to finance challenges for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in South and South East Asia. It invests in funds and other financial intermediaries that in turn invest in early and growth stage SMEs with investments in the range of USD5,000 to USD2 million. The May 2023–24 Federal Budget measure that increased the size of the EMIIF stated that the majority of assistance would be provided via equity and loans (rather than grants), the cost of which will be met from Australia’s existing Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding.

EMIIF is an investment trust with DFAT as the sole beneficiary. Day to day management is undertaken by the investment manager appointed by DFAT and investment decision making is undertaken by the investment committee appointed by DFAT, as well as representatives from the investment manager. The design of EMIIF was intended to enable appropriate DFAT oversight by a DFAT delegate for the EMIIF being responsible for making any contractual and strategic decisions, who would be advised by an SES-level Impact Investing Advisory Group to provide advice, guidance and support regarding the overall direction and implementation of EMIIF and DFAT’s other impact investing programs. In addition, a Secretariat within DFAT is responsible for the day-to-day management of EMIIF, including interaction with counterparties to monitor ongoing performance, disseminate information and prepare relevant reporting to the advisory group or decision-makers.

The audit would examine DFAT’s establishment and oversight of the EMIIF.

Mr Ian McPhee - Auditor-General for Australia, presented at the Australian Institute of Company Directors Public Sector Governance Conference

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