Background to the review

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:

• the significance of the program or issues raised in the audit reports;
• the significance of the audit findings;
• the arguments advanced by the audited agencies; and
• the public interest of the report.

Upon consideration of 21 audit reports presented to the Parliament by the Auditor-General between 12 January 2005 and 19 April 2005, the Committee selected five reports for further scrutiny at public hearings.

The audit reports reviewed by the JCPAA are listed below:

• Audit Report No. 22, 2004–05, Investment of Public Funds;
• Audit Report No. 42, 2004–05, Commonwealth Debt Management;
• Audit Report No. 30, 2004–05, Regulation of Commonwealth Radiation and Nuclear Activities;
• Audit Report No. 40, 2004–05, The Edge Project; and
• Audit Report No. 31, 2004–05, Centrelink’s Customer Feedback Systems (summary of Reports Nos. 32-36 on Centrelink).

The public hearings for the respective reports were held on:

• Friday 19 August 2005 (ANAO Reports No. 31 and No. 40);
• Monday 5 September 2005 (ANAO Reports No. 22 and No. 42) ; and
• Monday 12 September 2005 (ANAO Report No. 30).

A list of witnesses attending all public hearings is at Appendix D.

The Committee’s report

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.

The Committee’s report is structured as follows:

• Chapter 2 – Audit Report No. 22, 2004–05, Investment of Public Funds; and Audit Report No. 42, 2004–05, Commonwealth Debt Management;
• Chapter 3 – Audit Report No. 30, 2004–05, Regulation of Commonwealth Radiation and Nuclear Activities;
• Chapter 4 – Audit Report No. 40, 2004–05, The Edge Project; and
• Chapter 5 – Audit Report No. 31, 2004–05, Centrelink’s Customer Feedback Systems (summary of Reports Nos. 32-36 on Centrelink).

The following appendices provide further information:

• Appendix A – Conduct of the Committee’s review
• Appendix B – List of submissions authorised
• Appendix C – List of exhibits received
• Appendix D – List of witnesses who appeared at the public hearings
• Appendix E – ARPANSA action on recommendations
• Appendix F – ARPANSA statement of regulatory policy
• Appendix G – Centrelink action on recommendations

A copy of this report is available on the Committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jpaa/reports.htm