Finance and Administration Portfolio

4.1        The Committee took evidence from the Department of Finance and Administration and agencies on Tuesday, 13 February 2007. The Committee chose not to examine a number of agencies due to time constraints.

Department of Finance and Administration

4.2        As with the preceding day's examination of the PM&C department, the Committee and other senators again examined at length the decision making process leading to the Prime Minister's announcement of the proposed $10 billion water plan for the Murray Darling Basin. Considerable time was also devoted to the scrutiny of the ministerial and parliamentary services business group of the department.

4.3        Other issues raised by the committee and other senators included:

• ANAO Audit Report No. 23: Application of the outcomes and outputs framework;
• The redevelopment of AusTender;
• Public Sector Superannuation advice on interdependent relationships;
• The Future Fund Management Agency;
• Googong Dam;
• Asset sales;
• Compliance with certification of senators' and members' monthly management reports; and
• The allocation of an additional fourth staffer to senators' and members' electorate offices.

Australian Electoral Commission

4.4        In accordance with past practice, the Committee pursued with the commission its interest in matters under investigation. These included the:

• Kelvin Thomson section 311A departmental annual reports matter;
• Wielangta Fighting Fund;
• Russell Galt; and
• Friends of Indi.

4.5        The commission also informed the Committee that it had finalised the investigation Senator Bob Brown had requested relating to certain advertisements and pamphlets disclosed at the 2004 federal election.

4.6        Other issues raised by the Committee and other senators included the commission's national communications strategy and best practice guidelines for disclosure returns.

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