ANAO's upcoming 2018-19 audit work program: the full list

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Defence, ATO and Prime Minister and Cabinet top the list for potential upcoming audits as the Australian National Audit Office releases its plan for the coming year.

ANAO’s annual audit program for the 2018-19 financial year lists 87 potential performance audit and assurance review topics, as well as a range of ongoing audits.

“Key issues emerging from ANAO performance audits tabled in 2017-18 included getting the basics right, maximising value for money and using evidence in the design, implementation and review of programs,” writes Auditor General Grant Hehir in the overview of the audit program.

“ANAO audits have found that entities can generate significant value from having an understanding of the market and maintaining competition through the procurement process. The ANAO observed that entities that understood their market were better able to scope their service or product needs, were more aware of the options available and could better provide assurance of best value for money being delivered,” he says.

“The ANAO has observed variable quality in the evidence base of policy advice to government, in the design of programs and in the evaluation of program performance.”

Key areas of focus for the upcoming year include:

• An ongoing focus on the key accountabilities as outlined in the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, including efficiency, effectiveness, economy and ethics;
• Compliance with legislation and government policy frameworks;
• Promoting transparency on the effective use of taxpayers’ money through audits of procurement processes, contract management and grants management;
• Program implementation and risk management in major areas of public investment, such as in Defence capability; large-scale infrastructure such as the national broadband network; the National Disability Insurance Scheme; and programs targeting Indigenous Australians;
• Value for money and transparency of the operations of government business enterprises;
• Transparency in the measurement of performance and impact against agreed program objectives;
• Effective delivery of services to citizens; and
• Cyber resilience, including IT security and systems controls.

Find out below whether ANAO is planning to cast an eye over your work.

Agriculture and Water Resources

Potential

• Design and establishment of the Regional Investment Corporation
• Farm Management Deposits Scheme
• Probity management in rural research and development corporations
• Procurement of strategic water entitlements
• Reliance on third-party assurance on imported goods

In progress

• Application of cost recovery principles
• Coordination arrangements of Australian Government entities operating in the Torres Strait
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework
• Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (follow-on audit)

Attorney-General’s

Potential

• Adherence to model litigant obligations
• Case management efficiency of the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions
• Implementation of the Digital Continuity 2020 Policy
• Management of customer information
  

In progress

• Addressing illegal phoenix activity
• Administration of the Data Retention Industry Grants program
• Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements 2017-18
• Operational efficiency of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity

Australian Taxation Office

Potential

• Adherence to model litigant obligations
• Aggressive tax planning
• Farm Management Deposits Scheme
• Management of small business tax debt
• Regulation of charities by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
• Tax Avoidance Taskforce — meeting Budget commitments
• Tourist Refund Scheme

In progress

• Addressing illegal phoenix activity

Communications and the Arts

Potential

• Governance of the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation
• Management of spectrum for 5G services
• Migration of telecommunication services from fixed line to the national broadband network
• Mobile Black Spot Program

Cross-entity

Potential

• Commonwealth performance reporting and the ‘clear read’ principle
• Cyber resilience of corporate Commonwealth entities and government business enterprises
• Cyber resilience of non-corporate Commonwealth entities
• Data matching and sharing between Human Services and other entities
• Department of Human Services’ delivery of programs, services and payments on behalf of other entities
• Design and implementation of the Streamlining Government Grants Administration Program
• Government advertising
• Implementation of ANAO and parliamentary committee recommendations
• Implementation of annual performance statements requirements in 2018-19
• Implementation of the Northern Australia White Paper
• Management of Senior Executive Service retirement arrangements in the Australian Public Service
• Panel procurement
  

In progress

• Effectiveness of public sector boards

Defence

Potential

• Defence facilities in Benalla and Mulwala
• Defence’s administration of allowances and entitlements paid to civilian personnel
• Defence’s information and communications technology environment
• Defence’s procurement and management of the Offshore Patrol Vessels project
• Defence’s procurement of combat reconnaissance vehicles (LAND 400 Phase 2)
• Defence’s Sustainment Performance Management System
• Future Submarine program — progress against design milestones
• Management of Defence Housing Australia
  

In progress

• 2017–18 Major Projects Report
• Anzac class frigates — sustainment
• Army Battlefield Command System (LAND 200 Tranche 2)
• Army’s Protected Mobility Vehicle — Light
• Defence’s management of its projects of concern
• Joint Strike Fighter — introduction into service and sustainment planning

Education and Training

Potential

• Australian Research Council’s administration of grants
• Design and administration of the Trade Support Loans program
• Design and implementation of the Child Care Package
• Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s regulation of the higher education sector
  

In progress

• Design and implementation of the VET Student Loans program
• Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements 2017-18

Environment and Energy

Potential

• Design of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation partnership
• Grants management by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency
• Management of national parks
• Preparation of extreme weather and natural disaster forecasting products and services
• Referrals, assessments and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
  

In progress

• Administration of the Renewable Energy Target

Finance

Potential

• Buyout of Snowy Hydro Limited
• Design and establishment of the Regional Investment Corporation
• Design and implementation of the Streamlining Government Grants Administration Program
• Management of Defence Housing Australia
• Migration of telecommunication services from fixed line to the national broadband network
• Western Sydney Airport procurement activities
  

In progress

• Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements 2017-18
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework
• Management of Commonwealth leased office property
• Procurement processes and management of probity by the Moorebank Intermodal Company

Foreign Affairs and Trade

Potential

• Effectiveness of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation
• Efficiency of Australia’s primary overseas aid delivery providers
• Implementation of the Passport Redevelopment Program
  

In progress

• Coordination arrangements of Australian government entities operating in the Torres Strait
• Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements 2017-18
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework

Health

Potential

• Implementation of the My Aged Care portal
• Management of cyber security risks in My Health Record
• Managing health professionals compliance
• National Ice Action Strategy rollout
• Reforms to the Prostheses List
  

In progress

• Application of cost recovery principles
• Australian government funding of public hospital services — risk management, data monitoring and reporting arrangements
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework

Home Affairs

Potential

• Australian Border Force’s collection of international trade statistics
• Border Intelligence Fusion Centre
• Collection of visa revenue
• Management of the Civil Maritime Surveillance Services contract
• Procurement of garrison support and welfare services
• Tourist Refund Scheme
  

In progress

• Addressing illegal phoenix activity
• Cape class patrol boat in-service support
• Coordination arrangements of Australian government entities operating in the Torres Strait
• Efficiency of the processing of applications for citizenship by conferral
• The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s administration of the Biometric Information Services project

Human Services

Potential

• Data matching and sharing between Human Services and other entities
• Department of Human Services’ delivery of programs, services and payments on behalf of other entities
• Human Services’ systems redevelopment strategy
• Improving service delivery through informed program design
• Management of customer information
  

In progress

• Design and implementation of the Department of Human Services’ Quality Framework
• Disability Support Pension — follow-on audit
• Human Services’ enforcement and compliance strategies
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework
• Management of Smart Centres’ Centrelink telephone services — follow-up audit

Industry, Innovation and Science

Potential

• Management of the Rights In One program
• Regional Jobs and Investment Packages
• Supporting Australia’s nuclear and scientific assets and research into the future
  

In progress

• Governance and integrity of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility

Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities

Potential

• Administration of regulation by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority
• Efficiency of the airport master plan approval process
• Efficiency of the investigation of transport accidents and safety occurrences
• OneSKY contractual arrangements
• Regional Jobs and Investment Packages
• Western Sydney Airport procurement activities
  

In progress

• Application of cost recovery principles
• Award of funding under the Community Development Grants Programme
• Procurement processes and management of probity by the Moorebank Intermodal Company
• The design, implementation and monitoring of services reform on Norfolk Island

Jobs and Small Business

Potential

• Investigating compliance with workplace laws
• Work for the Dole
• Youth Jobs PaTH — design and monitoring
  

In progress

• Addressing illegal phoenix activity

Parliamentary departments

Potential

• Security works at Parliament House

Prime Minister & Cabinet

Potential

• Administration of Indigenous crime prevention, diversion and rehabilitation initiatives
• Administration of Indigenous schooling initiatives
• Evaluating Indigenous programs
• Implementation of Indigenous employment targets in government contracts
• Management of performance reporting in Indigenous grants
• Transform information and communications technology procurement
• Work for the Dole
  

In progress

• Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage
• Coordination arrangements of Australian government entities operating in the Torres Strait
• Implementation of the Annual Performance Statements Requirements 2017-18
• Implementation of the Australian government’s workplace bargaining framework
• Indigenous Affairs Regional Network

Social Services

Potential

• Decision-making controls for financial sustainability — National Disability Insurance Scheme participant plans
• Design and implementation of the Humanitarian Settlement Program
• Management of contracts for Disability Employment Services
  

In progress

• Coordination and targeting of domestic violence funding and actions
• Disability Support Pension — follow-on audit
• National Disability Insurance Scheme fraud control program
• The implementation and performance of the Cashless Debit Card trial

Treasury

Potential

• Administration of the Terrorism Reinsurance Scheme
• Australian Border Force’s collection of international trade statistics
• Buyout of Snowy Hydro Limited
• Farm Management Deposits Scheme
• National energy retail, electricity and gas regulation — compliance and enforcement
• Reforms to the Prostheses List
• Treasury’s management of the balance sheet — concessional loans
  

In progress

• Addressing illegal phoenix activity
• Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage
• The Royal Australian Mint’s strategies for addressing the impacts of declining demand for Australian circulating coins
• Transforming the Australian Bureau of Statistics: management of risk