Transparency and accountability of Commonwealth public funding and expenditure

Terms of Reference

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On 21 June 2006 , the Senate referred the following matter to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 October 2006:

That the Committee inquire into and report on the transparency and accountability to Parliament of Commonwealth public funding and expenditure, including:

1. the impact on the Parliament's ability to scrutinise, approve and monitor proposed and actual expenditure of:
   1. outcome budget appropriations and reporting;
   2. multiple sources of funding including special appropriations, advances to the Minister for Finance, annual departmental carry-over surpluses, revenue retained under section 31 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, special accounts and goods and services tax appropriations; and
   3. the use of ordinary annual services to fund activities including non-annual services;
2. options for improving the transparency and specificity of budget papers and related documents; and
3. other measures to improve the Parliament's oversight of proposed and actual Commonwealth funding and expenditure.

For further information, contact:

Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Finance and Public Administration
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3439
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5809
Email:	fpa.sen@aph.gov.au