List of Recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.35

The Committee recommends that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, in consultation with the Australian National Audit Office, amend the Auditor-General Act 1997 to implement a requirement for the Auditor-General to inform Ministers in the event where either a significant finding or a significant legislative breach is identified during the course of the financial audits.

Recommendation 2

2.39

The Committee recommends that the following updates be provided to the Committee within six (6) months of the tabling of this report:

An update from the Northern Land Council providing an update in relation to its progress in addressing the significant legislative breach identified by the Australian National Audit Office; and

An update from the Australian National Audit Office informing the Committee on whether sufficient progress has been made by the Northern Land Council in addressing this breach.

Recommendation 3

2.40

The Committee recommends that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet investigate potential amendment to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 to accommodate for situations where payments cannot be distributed to traditional owners within the timeframe nominated due to the absence of identifiable traditional owners.

Recommendation 4

3.90

The Committee recommends that the Department of Finance, as part of the transparency.gov.au project, develop and publish guidance material for users of the project which explains what the included ratios measure, which ratios are most important, and what particular ratio results signify.

Recommendation 5

3.94

The Committee recommends that the Department of Finance, with advice from the Department of Parliamentary Services, provide an update to the Committee within six months of this report’s tabling date that details:

A progress report detailing the development and implementation of the Online Tabled Documents Projects, including proposed roll-out dates; and

A timeline of the establishment of a new tabling date for Commonwealth entities, including details such as proposed legislative amendments and an anticipated date for introduction to Parliament.

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