Chapter 1 Introduction
Background to the review
1.1
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
Australian Parliament, and report the results of its deliberations to both
Houses of Parliament. In selecting audit reports for detailed review, the
Committee considers factors such as:
- the significance of
the program or issues raised in audit reports;
- the significance of
the audit findings;
- the arguments
advanced by the audited agencies; and
- the public interest value
of the report.
1.2
The Committee reviewed the nine audit reports presented to Parliament by
the Auditor-General between August and November 2012.
1.3
The Committee decided to focus on recent developments in Indigenous
service delivery, and in doing so selected Audit Report No.8 2012–13 Australian
Government Coordination Arrangements for Indigenous Programs for detailed
review.
1.4
The Committee decided to expand the inquiry to obtain a fuller picture
of the issues facing Indigenous service delivery at a range of levels by:
- concurrently
examining two earlier Indigenous audit reports, in addition to the selected
report:
- Audit
Report No.43 2011–12 National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service
Delivery
- Audit
Report No. 26 2011–12 Capacity Development for Indigenous Service Delivery;
- inviting the National
Congress of Australia’s First Peoples and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner to submit comments on the audits under
review; and
- calling the COAG
Reform Council to appear at a public hearing to discuss progress on the COAG’s National
Indigenous Reform Agenda.
1.5
Public hearings were held in Canberra on:
- Wednesday, 6 February
2013
- Wednesday, 13 March
2013
- Wednesday, 20 March
2013.
The Committee’s report
1.6
This report of the Committee’s examination draws attention to the main
issues raised at the respective public hearings, in submissions and in
responses to questions on notice. Where appropriate, the Committee has
commented on unresolved or contentious issues, and has made recommendations.
1.7
The Committee’s report is structured as follows:
- Chapter 2 – Audit
Report No.8 2012–13 Australian Government coordination arrangements for
Indigenous programs
- Chapter 3 – Audit
Report No.43 2011–12 National Partnership Agreement on Remote Service
Delivery
- Chapter 4 – Audit
Report No.26 2011–12 Capacity development for Indigenous service delivery
1.8
The following appendices provide additional information:
- Appendix A—List of
submissions
- Appendix B—List of
public hearings and witnesses
1.9
A copy of this report, transcripts of hearings and submissions—including
responses to the Committee’s written questions—are available on the Committee’s
website: www.aph.gov.au/jcpaa
