Committee Chair, Mr Julian Hill MP today tabled the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit‘s report on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) crisis management arrangements during COVID-19.

Media release issue date: Thursday, 30 March 2023

Committee Chair, Mr Julian Hill MP today tabled the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit‘s report on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT) crisis management arrangements during COVID-19. The Committee examined DFAT's role in facilitating the return of Australians who had been stranded overseas during the pandemic due to border closures and travel restrictions, based on a performance audit of this response by the Australian National Audit Office. The Committee expressed deep concern regarding DFAT’s evidence that no advice was provided to inform certain public statements made by Ministers in the previous government during the pandemic. “This led to confusing and misleading public messaging to stranded Australians in 2020 and 2021, and underscores the responsibility of government ministers to ensure they are informed by sensible and evidence-based advice before making public commitments in such sensitive areas,” Mr Hill said. “The Committee also considers that more could and should have been done by the Commonwealth to provide adequate quarantine facilities later in the pandemic. This was one of the key constraints upon DFAT’s ability to bring stranded Australians home.” The Committee makes several unanimous recommendations aimed at strengthening the Australian Government's future crisis response, and ensuring that lessons learned from COVID-19 are incorporated into existing frameworks, including that: the Government formally respond to the 2021 Halton review into hotel quarantine arrangements human rights considerations be incorporated into the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework, and the Auditor-General consider an audit of the updated version of this Framework. Mr Hill commended the department for its ongoing dedication to assisting Australians across the globe, saying that “it is important that DFAT and the wider Australian Public Service learn from the unprecedented global crisis that COVID-19 posed, so that the Australian Government will be better prepared to assist our most vulnerable citizens during future crises.” The Committee focused on matters relating to DFAT's data capability, response coordination, assistance for vulnerable Australians, and procurement practices under the crisis management framework. The report is available on the Committee’s website. Media inquiries Mr Julian Hill MP, Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit on (03) 9791 7770 (Electorate Office). For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4615 jcpaa@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) preparedness to respond to future complex and large-scale crises will be examined in a new parliamentary inquiry, taking account of weaknesses highlighted and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 20 September 2022

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) preparedness to respond to future complex and large-scale crises will be examined in a new parliamentary inquiry, taking account of weaknesses highlighted and lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into the Auditor-General's report on the effectiveness of DFAT’s crisis management and consular response arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic (Auditor‑General Report No. 39 of 2021-22). Committee Chair, Mr Julian Hill MP, said that the Auditor-General examined DFAT’s efforts to assist the many Australians stranded overseas during the pandemic and identified scope to improve the Department’s crisis management and response arrangements. "The Committee is seeking to understand whether DFAT was adequately prepared for major crises prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what measures the Department has taken in response to the Auditor-General’s recommendations to ensure it is well placed to respond to similar crises in the future,” Mr Hill said. “We want to know what lessons have been learned so far, and whether DFAT has put in place robust plans for anticipating and responding to future complex and large‑scale crises." The Committee invites submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference to be received by Friday, 4 November 2022. Details of public hearings will be made available on the inquiry website. Media inquiries Mr Julian Hill MP, Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (03) 9791 7770 (Electorate Office) or via Phillip Danh 0469 646 998. For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4615 jcpaa@aph.gov.au For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right hand corner of the page.