Launch of Commonwealth Contracting inquiry

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has launched a new inquiry into Commonwealth Contracting. The inquiry is based on the Auditor-General’s Information Report—Australian Government Procurement Contract Reporting(Audit Report No. 19, 2017–18).

The Committee’s inquiry will examine matters raised by the Auditor-General’s insights on contract information reported over a five-year period (2012–13 to 2016–17) in AusTender — the Australian Government’s centralised publication of contract notices. Particular areas included:

• the volume and value of Government procurement contracts;
• entities’ procurement contract behaviour as it relates to the timing of procurements during each financial year; and
• reporting on the number and value of contracts undertaken with Small to Medium Enterprises.

The Committee invites submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference. Submissions are requested by 16 February 2018, with public hearings held from February 2018. Complementary Submission Guidance, which highlights the Committee’s five areas of focus, has also been prepared to assist submitters with their respective input to the inquiry.

Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said Commonwealth contracting was worth $47.4 billion in 2016–17 and was an area of public expenditure that deserved close and constant scrutiny.

“Effective procurement contract behaviour is vital and transparency in contract reporting is critical so that the Government can assure itself and the Australian public that entities are achieving their objectives in an efficient and cost-effective manner,” Senator Smith said.

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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