House of Representatives Committees

| Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit

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Report 421 The role of the Auditor-General in scrutinising government advertising

March 2011

View the report as a single document - (PDF 1.3MB)

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Preliminary pages	(PDF 322KB)

Chapter 1 Introduction	(PDF 312KB)
Background Government advertising Current restrictions on government advertising Context Guidelines on Information and Advertising Campaigns by Australian Government Departments and Agencies The role of the Auditor-General Refined framework for government campaign advertising Purpose of the inquiry Conduct of inquiry Structure of the report

Chapter 2 The role of the Auditor-General in scrutinising government advertising	(PDF 377KB)
The role of the Auditor-General and ANAO The Auditor-General and the Guidelines Assurance activities ‘Limited’ and ‘reasonable’ assurance The review of government information and advertising campaigns Purpose of the review The role of the ANAO Use of ANAO resources The role of the Department of Finance and Deregulation The role of the Interdepartmental Committee on Communications The role of the Communications Advice Branch Reporting Stages of a campaign Departmental processes for development and launch of campaigns ANAO review process Access to agency staff and documentation Ordinary business activities Accuracy of information and advertising campaigns

Chapter 3 Issues raised by the Auditor-General’s role in compliance	(PDF 395KB)
Introduction Agencies Effect of the ANAO review on agencies Time taken to complete the review Scope of the ANAO review Issues identified by the ANAO The need for a campaign Reviewing a campaign for compliance with the Guidelines Review of NESB and Indigenous materials Cost-benefit analysis Websites Impact of the Guidelines on creativity The Auditor-General’s role in compliance Weight of the review opinion Other issues Partisanship/Guideline 3 Involvement of Ministers

Chapter 4 The refined framework for government advertising campaigns	(PDF 345KB)
Independent Review of Government Advertising Arrangements The Hawke Report Report findings of issues with review arrangements ANAO response Dr Allan Hawke AC The amended Guidelines Independent Communications Committee Committee comment

Appendix A – Guidelines on Campaign Advertising by Australian Government Departments and Agencies	(PDF 675KB)

Appendix B – List of Submissions	(PDF 219KB)

Appendix C – List of Exhibits	(PDF 247KB)

Appendix D – List of witnesses appearing at public hearings	(PDF 248KB)