The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will inquire into and report on matters relating to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) crisis management arrangements as contained in Auditor-General's Report No. 39 (2021-22) Overseas Crisis Management and Response: The Effectiveness of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Management of the Return of Overseas Australians in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The report found that “DFAT applied its crisis management arrangements to support the return of Australians and adapted these to deliver a new program of flights and financial assistance”. The pandemic has, however, highlighted “weaknesses in responding to standard and complex, and large-scale crises” and that “DFAT’s underlying crisis management structures and capabilities require strengthening to ensure it is prepared to respond to future major and complex crises”.

The Auditor-General made nine recommendations, seven of which were agreed to by DFAT.

The Committee will report and make recommendations on any matters arising from consideration of the report and submissions, including examination of DFAT’s response to the report and progress in implementing agreed recommendations.