1. Evolving Oversight - The Australian Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Shane Armstrong Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Shane.Armstrong.Reps@aph.gov.au

2. Contents Introduction New oversight activities Reports of the Committee Other Australian jurisdictions Conclusions

3. Introduction Committee’s centenary year Committee role has evolved – Monitoring receipts and expenditure – Oversight of the Auditor-General New oversight roles have developed – Primarily driven by inquiries – Also given by Government – Varied role of Auditor-General in these hearings

4. New oversight activities Annual Public Hearing with Commissioner of Taxation – Arisen out of Committee inquiry – Purpose – Format Defence Materiel Organisation Major Projects Report – Arisen out of Committee inquiry – Annual item, but an evolving process Public sector governance and administration – Driven by Committee – Originally private – Purpose – Latest hearing involving fourth arm of government bodies Parliamentary Budget Office – Oversight conferred by Government through legislation – Based on oversight of Auditor-General Other oversight roles – Driven by Committee

5. Reports of the Committee Don’t tell the full story of what a Committee does Best publicly available indication Categorised into: – Inquiries – Administrative – Audit Reports – Bills – Auditor-General – Oversight Findings

6. Other Australian jurisdictions No comparable increase in other jurisdictions Reasons – Other oversight Committees – Use of Select Committees – Powers under the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1953 (Cth)

7. Conclusions Clear trend, accounting for a consistent amount of JCPAA output (approx. 30 per cent over the last 3 Parliaments) May not continue to be the case No comparable trend in other jurisdictions However, no loss of accountability JCPAA’s oversight role, while remaining true to the Act has evolved