Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit, I present the committee's report, entitled Report 480.1: annual report 2019-20, together with minutes of proceedings. The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is required to ensure the accountability and transparency of public administration and expenditure of the Commonwealth. The committee's annual report is presented to the parliament under section 8B of the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951 and summarises the work of the committee in the 2019-20 financial year. One of the committee's key roles is to examine the reports of the Auditor-General tabled in the parliament. The committee periodically selects several of these reports for further inquiry.

Like all committees, the work of the JCPAA was challenged by the circumstances of COVID-19. Despite this, the committee presented two reports in the parliament, containing 12 recommendations, and held six public hearings using a combination of face to face, video and teleconference. Four further inquiries were also underway as at 30 June.

The committee's report on efficiency and effectiveness reviewed seven Australian National Audit Office reports on matters such as the Farm Management Deposits scheme, small business tax debt and the operations of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the deputy chair and all committee members and participants for their commitment and flexibility over this time in conducting this inquiry.

A highlight of the committee's activities during 2019-20 was hosting the 15th biennial Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committees conference, with the theme 'Changes and challenges over the last 30 years'. The conference presented an opportunity to strengthen existing intraparliamentary dialogue and discuss the workings of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit and its counterpart committees in each state and territory. International delegates from South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand also attended the conference.

I look forward to continuing the important work of the committee over the coming year. I commend the report to the House.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

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