Pursuant to section 8B of the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951, I am pleased to present the 2019-20 Annual Report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (the Committee). This annual report outlines the work of the Committee of the 46th Parliament from the period 2 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.
Members have continued the work of the Committee through the challenges and disruptions presented by Coronavirus (COVID-19), tabling two reports in the Parliament containing 12 recommendations. A total of six public hearings were held via a combination of in-person, video and tele-conference formats during the COVID-19 period. A number of inquiries were also underway as at 30 June including: the Administration of Government Grants: Inquiry into Auditor-General’s Reports 5, 12 and 23 92019-20); Review of the Operations of the Parliamentary Budget Office 2019-20; Inquiry into the 2018-19 Defence Major Projects Report and the Future Submarine Project – Transition to Design (Auditor-General’s Reports 19 and 22 (2019-20); and Cyber Resilience: Inquiry into Auditor-General’s Reports 1 and 13 (2019-20).
A highlight of the Committee’s activities was hosting the 15th Biennial Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committee (ACPAC) Conference with the theme of ‘Changes and Challenges over the last 30 Years’. The three day conference was attended by representatives of Australian state legislatures and international Public Accounts Committees.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank Committee Members and inquiry participants during the first year of the 46th Parliament, especially during the COVID-19 period, for being flexible and making themselves available.
I look forward to continuing the important work of this Committee during 2020-21.
Ms Lucy Wicks
Chair