Public Accounts Committee commences new inquiries

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced inquiries into several areas of public sector governance, performance and accountability as part of its examination of Auditor-General’s reports.

Committee chair Senator Dean Smith said the JCPAA scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, to examine whether public money is used in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner.

“As Parliament’s joint public administration committee, the JCPAA has an important role in holding Commonwealth agencies to account,” Senator Smith said.

The Committee has commenced the following inquiries based on audit reports:

• Commonwealth Financial Statements
• Defence First Principles Review and Naval Construction
• Australian Government Funding — Schools and Indigenous Health
• Australian Government Security Arrangements — Personnel Security and Domestic Passenger Screening
• Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police
• Foreign Investment Obligations in Residential Real Estate

The Committee examines all reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the Parliament and can inquire into any items, matters or circumstances connected with these reports.

The Committee invites submissions to the inquiries, addressing the terms of reference. Public hearings will be held from August 2018. Further information about the inquiries can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

The Committee’s inquiries are based on the following Auditor-General reports:

Commonwealth Financial Statements

• No. 24 (2017–18), Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2017

Defence First Principles Review and Naval Construction

• No. 34 (2017–18), Defence’s Implementation of the First Principles Review
• No. 39 (2017-18), Naval Construction Programs—Mobilisation

Australian Government Funding—Schools and Indigenous Health

• No. 18 (2017–18), Monitoring the Impact of Australian Government School Funding
• No. 50 (2017-18), Primary Healthcare Grants under Indigenous Australians’ Health Program

Australian Government Security Arrangements—Personnel Security & Domestic Passenger Screening

• No. 38 (2017-18), Mitigating Insider Threats through Personnel Security
• No. 43 (2017-18), Domestic Passenger Screening—Follow-Up

Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police

• No. 31 (2017-18), Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police

Foreign Investment Obligations in Residential Real Estate

• No. 48 (2017-18), Compliance with Foreign Investment Obligations for Residential Real Estate

 

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

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