Transparency and accountability of Commonwealth public funding and expenditure
Terms of Reference
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On 21 June 2006 , the Senate referred the following matter to the Finance and Public Administration References Committee for inquiry and report by 19 October 2006:
That the Committee inquire into and report on the transparency and accountability to Parliament of Commonwealth public funding and expenditure, including:
- the impact on the Parliament's ability to scrutinise, approve and monitor proposed and actual expenditure of:
- outcome budget appropriations and reporting;
- multiple sources of funding including special appropriations, advances to the Minister for Finance, annual departmental carry-over surpluses, revenue retained under section 31 of the
Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, special accounts and goods and services tax appropriations; and
- the use of ordinary annual services to fund activities including non-annual services;
- options for improving the transparency and specificity of budget papers and related documents; and
- other measures to improve the Parliament's oversight of proposed and actual Commonwealth funding and expenditure.
For further information, contact:
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Finance and Public Administration
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia