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 Presiding Officers of the Australian Parliament, and report the results of its deliberations to both Houses of Parliament. In selecting audit reports for review, the Committee considers:

n  the significance of the program or issues raised in audit reports;

n  the significance of the audit findings;

n  the arguments advanced by the audited agencies; and

n  the public interest of the report.

1.2                    Upon consideration of 14 audit reports presented to the Parliament by the Auditor-General between September 2008 and January 2009, the Committee selected five reports for further scrutiny at public hearings.

1.3                   The audit reports reviewed by the JCPAA are listed below:

n  Audit Report No. 4 2008-09, The Business Partnership Agreement between the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Centrelink;

n  Audit Report No. 7 2008-09, Centrlink’s Tip-off System;

n  Audit Report No. 11 2008-09, Disability Employment Services;

n  Audit Report No. 12 2008-09, Active After-school Communities Program and

n  Audit Report No. 17 2008-09, Administration of Job Network Outcome Payments.

1.4                   The Public hearings for the respective reports were held on:

n  Monday 16 March 2009 (ANAO Report No. 4);

n  Monday 16 March 2009 (ANAO Report No. 7);

n  Wednesday 18 March 2009 (ANAO Report No. 11);

n  Monday 16 March 2009 (ANAO Report No. 12); and

n  Wednesday 18 March 2009 (ANAO Report No. 17).

1.5                   A list of witnesses attending all public hearings is available at Appendix C.

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. 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:

n  Chapter 2 – Audit Report No. 4 2008-09, The Business Partnership Agreement between the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and Centrelink;

n  Chapter 3 – Audit Report No. 7 2008-09, Centrelink’s Tip-off System;

n  Chapter 4 – Audit Report No. 11 2008-09, Disability Employment Services;

n  Chapter 5 – Audit Report No. 12 2008-09, Active After-school Communities Program; and

n  Chapter 6 – Audit Report No. 17 2008-09, Administration of Job Network Outcome Payments.

1.8                   The following appendices provide further information:

n  Appendix A – Conduct of the Committee’s review

n  Appendix B – List of submissions authorised

n  Appendix C – List of witnesses who appeared at the public hearings

1.9                   A copy of this report is available on the Committee’s website at  

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=jcpaa/reports.htm