Parliament's Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has tabled its reporton Defence's implementation of the First Principles Review and mobilisation of naval construction programs, and management of mental health in the Australian Federal Police.
The Committee has also tabled its reporton the Department of Education and Training's monitoring of Australian Government school funding, and the Department of Health's administration of primary healthcare under the Indigenous Australians' Health Program (IAHP).
Committee Chair Senator Dean Smith said the JCPAA scrutinises the governance, performance and accountability of Commonwealth agencies, to examine whether public money is used in an efficient, effective, economical and ethical manner.
"The Committee has made a number of recommendations in these two reports to maintain public accountability in the important areas of defence, health and education," Senator Smith said.
Report 475 makes ten recommendations, including that Defence maintain momentum to implement recommendations of the First Principles Review and provide a copy of its workforce plan to the Committee. The report also recommended that the AFP work to improve governance arrangements for employee mental health.
Report 476 makes thirteen recommendations, including the Australian Education Act 2013 be amended to include a specific legislative requirement that the Department of Education monitors compliance and provides assurance that school funding is delivered in accordance with the Act. The report also recommends that the Department of Health continues to prioritise the implementation of the planned funding model for the IAHP, and develop a revised national Key Performance Indicator framework.
JCPAA Report 475 was based on based on the following Auditor-General's reports:
- No. 31 (2017-18) Managing Mental Health in the Australian Federal Police
- No. 34 (2017-18) Defence's Implementation of the First Principles Review
- No. 39 (2017-18) Naval Construction Programs—Mobilisation
JCPAA Report 476 was based on based on the following Auditor-General's reports:
- No. 18 (2017-18) Monitoring the Impact of Australian Government School Funding
- No. 50 (2017-18) Primary Healthcare Grants under Indigenous Australians' Health Program.
The JCPAA is the Parliament's joint public administration committee. 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.
