Public sector management under scrutiny

PARLIAMENT’s Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is holding two public hearings tomorrow.

The first public hearing will hear from the Australian Federal Police and the Australian National Audit Office, for the Committee’s inquiry into Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police. The inquiry is based on Auditor-General report, No. 31 (2017–18), Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police.

The second public hearing will hear from the Department of Finance and the Australian National Audit Office, for the Committee’s inquiry into Commonwealth financial statements. The inquiry is based on Auditor-General report No. 24 (2017–18), Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2017.

Committee Chair, Senator Dean Smith, said the first public hearing will focus on the AFP’s mental health support services, governance arrangements and procedures for managing the mental health of AFP employees.

“Following the six recommendations from the Auditor‑General’s report, the Committee will be interested to hear from the AFP about the progress made to improve the agency’s approach to employee mental health,” Senator Smith said.

“The second public hearing will focus on the significant and moderate findings from the Commonwealth financial statements audit; the accounting rules for equity investment, concessional loans and contingent liabilities; and agency management of IT security.”

“Commonwealth financial statements play a critical role in providing accountability to the Parliament and the public for the expenditure of public funds,” Senator Smith said.

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 JCPAA is Parliament’s joint public administration committee. It scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, and has the power to inquire into all expenditure of Commonwealth money.

Further information about the inquiries can be accessed via the Committee’s website.

Public hearings: Wednesday 22 August 2018, Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

8.45am to 9.30am: Auditor‑General Report No. 31 (2017–18), Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police

Witnesses: Australian Federal Police and Australian National Audit Office

9.30am to 10.30am: Auditor‑General Report No. 24 (2017–18), Audits of the Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2017

Witnesses: Department of Finance and Australian National Audit Office

The public hearings will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live. The hearing programs are available from the Committee website.

ends