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 30 audit reports presented to the parliament by
the Auditor-General between February 2009 and August 2009, the committee
selected eight reports for further scrutiny at public hearings. In addition,
the Committee decided to examine Audit Report No. 5 2009-10 Protection of
Residential Aged Care Accommodation Bonds even though it was tabled after
the review period, because of an ongoing interest in aged care issues and
because the same Department of Health and Ageing officials were already
required to provide evidence for Audit Report No. 40 2008-09.
1.3
The audit reports reviewed by the JCPAA are listed below:
n Audit Report No. 25
2008-09, Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office Management;
n Audit Report No. 27
2008-09, Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier Upgrade Project;
n Audit Report No. 28
2008-09, Quality and Integrity of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Income
Support Records;
n Audit Report No. 35
2008-09, Management of the Movement Alert List;
n Audit Report No. 36
2008-09, Settlement Grants Program;
n Audit Report No. 40
2008-09, Planning and Allocating Aged Care Places and Capital Grants;
n Audit Report No. 43
2008-09, Construction of the Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre;
n Audit Report No. 48
2008-09, Planning and Approval of Defence Major Capital Equipment Projects;
and
n Audit Report No. 05
2009-10, Protection of Residential Aged Care Accommodation Bonds.
1.4
The public hearings for the reports were held on:
n 15 June 2009 (Audit
Report Nos. 27, 28);
n 24 June 2009 (Audit
Report No. 25);
n 28 October 2009 (Audit
Report No. 48);
n 16 November 2009
(Audit Report No. 35 & No. 36);
n 18 November 2009
(Audit Report No. 43); and
n 25 November 2009
(Audit Report No. 40 and No. 05).
1.5
A list of witnesses who appeared at the 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. 25 2008-09, Green Office Procurement and Sustainable Office
Management;
n Chapter 3 – Audit
Report No. 27 2008-09, Management of the M113 Armoured Personnel Carrier
Upgrade Project;
n Chapter 4 – Audit
Report No. 28 2008-09, Quality and Integrity of the Department of Veterans’
Affairs Income Support Records;
n Chapter 5 – Audit
Report No. 35 2008-09, Management of the Movement Alert List;
n Chapter 6 – Audit
Report No. 36 2008-09, Settlement Grants Program;
n Chapter 7 – Audit
Report No. 40 2008-09, Planning and Allocating Aged Care Places and Capital
Grants;
n Chapter 8 – Audit
Report No. 43 2008-09, Construction of the Christmas Island Immigration
Detention Centre;
n Chapter 9 – Audit
Report No. 48 2008-09, Planning and Approval of Defence Major Capital
Equipment Projects; and
n Chapter 10 – Audit
Report No. 05 2009-10, Protection of Residential Aged Care Accommodation
Bonds.
1.8
The following appendices provide further information:
n Appendix A – Conduct of
the Committee’s review;
n Appendix B – List of
submissions authorised; and
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.