Chapter 1 Introduction
Background to the review
1.1
The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has a statutory
duty to examine all reports of the Auditor-General that are presented to the
Presiding Officers of the Australian Parliament, and report the results of its
deliberations to both Houses of Parliament. In selecting audit reports for
review, the Committee considers:
n the significance of
the program or issues raised in audit reports;
n the significance of
the audit findings;
n the arguments
advanced by the audited agencies; and
n the public interest
of the report.
1.2
Upon consideration of 14 audit reports presented to the Parliament by
the Auditor-General between September 2008 and January 2009, the Committee
selected five reports for further scrutiny at public hearings.
1.3
The audit reports reviewed by the JCPAA are listed below:
n Audit Report No. 4
2008-09, The Business Partnership Agreement between the Department of
Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Centrelink;
n Audit Report No. 7
2008-09, Centrlink’s Tip-off System;
n Audit Report No. 11
2008-09, Disability Employment Services;
n Audit Report No. 12
2008-09, Active After-school Communities Program and
n Audit Report No. 17
2008-09, Administration of Job Network Outcome Payments.
1.4
The Public hearings for the respective reports were held on:
n Monday 16 March 2009 (ANAO
Report No. 4);
n Monday 16 March 2009
(ANAO Report No. 7);
n Wednesday 18 March 2009
(ANAO Report No. 11);
n Monday 16 March 2009
(ANAO Report No. 12); and
n Wednesday 18 March
2009 (ANAO Report No. 17).
1.5
A list of witnesses attending all public hearings is available at
Appendix C.
The Committee’s report
1.6
This report of the Committee’s examination draws attention to the main
issues raised at the respective public hearings. Where appropriate, the
Committee has commented on unresolved or contentious issues, and has made
recommendations.
1.7
The Committee’s report is structured as follows:
n Chapter 2 – Audit
Report No. 4 2008-09, The Business Partnership Agreement between the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Centrelink;
n Chapter 3 – Audit
Report No. 7 2008-09, Centrelink’s Tip-off System;
n Chapter 4 – Audit
Report No. 11 2008-09, Disability Employment Services;
n Chapter 5 – Audit
Report No. 12 2008-09, Active After-school Communities Program; and
n Chapter 6 – Audit
Report No. 17 2008-09, Administration of Job Network Outcome Payments.
1.8
The following appendices provide further information:
n Appendix A – Conduct
of the Committee’s review
n Appendix B – List of
submissions authorised
n Appendix C – List of
witnesses who appeared at the public hearings
1.9
A copy of this report is available on the Committee’s website at
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jcpaa/reports.htm