Audit committee public hearings to examine grants and procurement administration

THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold public hearings on Friday, March 3, for its inquiries into Commonwealth grants administration and Commonwealth procurement.

The grants inquiry is considering ways to strengthen the integrity and improve the administration of Commonwealth grants. The inquiry follows recent audits by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) which have uncovered some issues with the management of certain programs.

The hearing will focus on Commuter Car Parks projects within the Urban Congestion Fund, the Building Better Regions Fund, and the Safer Communities Program.

Committee Chair Julian Hill MP noted concerns raised in these audit reports about the effectiveness and fairness of grants administration.

"The committee will look into how grants were being awarded, what changes agencies are making to address the problems uncovered by the audit office, and what else needs to be done," Mr Hill said.

The procurement inquiry will hear from the ANAO about its recent information report on trends in Australian government procurement reporting on the AusTender website.

Details for the public hearings are:

Friday 3 March 2023
Time: 8.30am – 4.15pm
Venue: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra
Inquiry into Commonwealth Procurement
Inquiry into Commonwealth Grants Administration

Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee website.

 

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