The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has launched two new inquiries into Governance of Public Resources and Regulatory Activities as part of its examination of Auditor-General reports.

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 17 November 2020

The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has launched two new inquiries into Governance of Public Resources and Regulatory Activities as part of its examination of Auditor-General reports. Committee Chair Ms Lucy Wicks MP said, “By taking a thematic approach to these inquiries, the Committee seeks to encourage improvements in key areas of public administration.” “For the first inquiry, we’ll be looking into how governance of public resources can be improved across Commonwealth entities, to ensure Australia’s public sector can continue to deliver better outcomes,” Ms Wicks said. “The second inquiry will look into regulatory activities—how effectively Commonwealth entities regulate matters in accordance with relevant legislation, including monitoring compliance." As Parliament’s joint public administration committee, the JCPAA has an important role in holding Commonwealth entities to account. The Committee has the power to initiate its own inquiries. The Committee examines all reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the Parliament and can inquire into any items, matters or circumstances connected with these reports. Submissions from interested individuals and organisations are invited by Friday 29 January 2020. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account. Further information about the inquiries is available on the Committee’s website. The Committee’s inquiries are based on the following Auditor-General reports: Governance in the Stewardship of Public Resources No. 11 (2019-20), Implementation of the Digital Continuity 2020 Policy No. 31 (2019-20), Management of Defence Housing Australia No. 39 (2019-20), Implementation of the CSIRO Property Investment Strategy No. 2 (2020-21), Procurement of Strategic Water Entitlements No. 9 (2020-21), Purchase of the ‘Leppington Triangle’ Land for the Future Development of Western Sydney Airport Regulatory Activities No. 33 (2019-20), Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s Regulation of Higher Education No. 47 (2019-20), Referrals, Assessments and Approvals of Controlled Actions under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 No. 48 (2019-20), Management of the Australian Government’s Lobbying Code of Conduct: Follow-up Audit No. 5 (2020-21), Regulation of the National Energy Market No. 8 (2020-21), Administration of Financial Disclosure Requirements under the Commonwealth Electoral Act Media enquiries Ms Lucy Wicks MP 02 6277 4738 (Parliament House) 02 4322 2400 (Electorate Office). For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 4615 jcpaa@aph.gov.au