Linda Burney (Barton, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, I present the following reports: Report 507: Defence 2022-23 major projects report and Report 508: annual report 2023-24.

Reports made parliamentary papers in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Now in its 16th year, the major projects report continues to be an important tool for defence accountability and transparency. In adopting its annual MPR inquiries, the committee establishes the expansive terms of reference to allow it to consider any matters contained in and associated with the MPR. This year the committee paid attention to growing secrecy and the need to maintain transparency, the lessons-learned process, the Australian industry capability plans, the implementation of defence risk management systems, contingency statements and the use of terminology. The committee also examined scope creep, off-the-shelf options in defence procurement, the accuracy of the battlefield command system project data summary sheet and the future of the MPR itself.

The committee made four recommendations, which will result in important corrections and introduce evolutions to the MPR process. This will improve transparency and accountability for what are large amounts of public expenditure. Broadly, these recommendations deal with the reinstatement of lessons learned, reporting on improved governance and assurance processes, assessments of the full project costs of each project and more clearly identifying the scope of schedule and budget changes.

On Report 508, the Joint Standing Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is required under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act to report annually to parliament on the work it has undertaken. The committee's work includes reviews of the Australian National Audit Office, reports on other priorities of the parliament and making recommendations to the government on budget estimates of the ANAO and the Parliamentary Budget Office. In 2023-24 the committee met 24 times, including nine public hearings. The committee also commenced four inquiries and presented seven reports that contained a total of 46 recommendations for government. The committee inquiries in 2023-24 included annual performance statements, probity and ethics, and defence major projects.

In conclusion, the committee also undertakes a range of other non-inquiry activities, pursuant to its legislative responsibilities, including the confirmation of significant statutory appointments. In 2023-24 the committee considered and confirmed the appointment of both the independent auditor of the ANAO and the Auditor-General.

I'd like to acknowledge the work of the previous chair, the Hon. Julian Hill MP, for his dedication and leadership of the committee over the 2023-24 period, and for his shepherding of the early stages of the 2022-23 MPR inquiry. I thank my fellow members of the committee for the spirit in which they approached the committee's work and their dedication to scrutiny and function. I particularly acknowledge the economics senator, the Hon. Linda Reynolds CSC, for her collegiate approach to the role of deputy chair, and the secretariat for its professionalism in supporting the work of the committee. I commend both reports to the House and I move:

That the House take note of each report.

Ross Vasta (Bonner, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under standing order 39, the debates are adjourned and the resumption of each debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.