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Recommendations
Recommendation 1
5.10 The
Committee recommends the order be retained while the new AusTender system for
reporting procurement contracts is implemented, with departments and agencies
tabling statements through their ministers in accordance with paragraph (1) of
the order, that they had fulfilled their reporting obligations by placing the
information required under paragraph (2) of the order in the AusTender system.
Recommendation 2
5.11 The
Committee recommends DOFA, in consultation with ANAO, relevant parliamentary
committees and stakeholders, consider reporting arrangements for
non-procurement contracts and explore the development of a reporting mechanism
comparable to the new AusTender system for this category of contract, and
report to the Committee the outcome of this process within six months of the
tabling of this report.
Recommendation 3
5.14 The
Committee recommends agencies, if they have not done so already, implement ANAO
recommendations to improve the accuracy and completeness of contract
information with stronger internal controls and quality assurance for checking
data, and report that they have done so through their ministers' tabling
statements made under paragraph (1) of the order.
Recommendation 4
5.17 The
Committee recommends that to improve data quality and internal governance
agencies include procurement and contract activity in regular business and
management reporting to agency executives and, where necessary, internal audit
and governance committees.
Recommendation 5
5.20 The
Committee recommends DOFA and agencies consult ANAO on examples from compliance
audit testing which illustrate provisions that are classified appropriately and
those that are not, for inclusion in guidance and training in relation to the
order.
Recommendation 6
5.23 The
Committee recommends all agencies provide adequate training and education to
staff responsible for managing contracts and complying with the order, either
through internal training or programs provided externally.
Recommendation 7
5.32 The
Committee recommends DOFA include in guidance advice to the effect that, in
relation to a refusal to disclose information based on a claim of commercial
confidentiality for a contract, the Parliament, and its committees and members,
may:
- test the validity of any claim by reference to DOFA's process
chart for agency staff dealing with confidentiality of information in
contracts; and
- refer the contract to the Auditor-General for examination.
Recommendation 8
5.36 The
Committee requests ANAO consider including ASIO and ASIS regularly in its
compliance audits under the order on a three-yearly basis.
Recommendation 9
5.41 The
Committee recommends the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, in the next
set of guidelines for annual reporting, include a requirement for agencies to
include a note in their annual reports referring readers to the AusTender site
for information on contracts and consultancies. Depending on the outcome of any
decision on the DOFA proposal to rationalise procurement reporting, it may be
necessary for agencies to also include a note explaining changes to reporting
requirements for procurement contracts.
Recommendation 10
5.49 The
Committee recommends that the order be extended to cover CAC Act bodies from 1 July 2007.
Recommendation 11
5.53 The
Committee reaffirms its suggestion that the Department of the House of
Representatives comply voluntarily with the order. If the Senate agrees with
this suggestion, the Committee requests the President of the Senate convey its
suggestion to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Recommendation 12
5.59 The
Committee recommends DOFA provide a general report on the implementation of the
recommendations in this report and the performance of the new single reporting
mechanism, by not later than the last day in September 2007.
Recommendation 13
5.61 The
Committee recommends the Senate amend paragraph (7) of the order, to read: 'The
Finance and Public Administration Committee consider the ongoing operation of
the order and report on relevant developments from time to time'.
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