THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced an inquiry into the administration of Commonwealth regulations.

Chair of the JCPAA, Julian Hill MP, said, "Compliance with Commonwealth regulations is critical to achieving policy outcomes. Numerous Commonwealth agencies have to police regulatory compliance with limited resources, hence proper evidence-based risk-based activities are essential to focus limited resources.

"This inquiry will examine how agencies assess compliance risk, inform compliance and enforcement strategies, and identify and address incidences of non-compliance with Commonwealth rules and regulations," Mr Hill said. "The Parliament provides regulatory power to agencies, and we will assess the extent to which full and appropriate use is being made of these powers.”

The inquiry will have particular regard to any matters contained in or connected to the following Auditor-General Reports:

• Auditor-General Report No.3 of 2023–24 Management of Non-Compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 for Unapproved Therapeutic Goods.
• Auditor-General Report No.5 of 2023–24 Trade Measurement Compliance Activities.
• Auditor-General Report No.8 of 2023–24 Design and Early Implementation of Residential Aged Care Reforms.
• Auditor-General Report No. 15 of 2023–24 Australian Taxation Office’s Management and Oversight of Fraud Control Arrangements for the Goods and Services Tax.
• Auditor-General Report No.26 of 2023–24 Department of Home Affairs’ Regulation of Migration Agents.

Submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference are invited by Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Details of the inquiry – including the submissions received and public hearings – will be made available on the Inquiry website.

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THE House Standing Committee on Economics will hold a public hearing in Devonport, Tasmania, as part of its inquiry into insurers’ responses to 2022 major floods claims.

The hearing will be held at the Paranaple Convention Centre on July 17.

Committee Chair Daniel Mulino MP said he wanted to hear first-hand from local councils, businesses and residents about their experiences.

Invitations have been issued to key councils, business associations and community groups. Other organisations and individuals that wish to give evidence can email their interest to the Committee secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The committee is interested in:

• the experiences of policyholders before, during and after making claims;
• timeframes for resolving claims;
• obstacles to resolving claims;
• insurers’ communication with policyholders;
• accessibility, affordability and quality of hydrology reports and other expert assessments;
• affordability of insurance premiums;
• claimants’ experiences of insurers’ dispute resolution processes.

Dr Mulino said it may not be possible to accommodate everyone interested in speaking, but those who miss out “can still make a public or confidential submission, and/or complete our online survey".

More than 600 people have completed the survey about their experience with their insurer. The survey is open until July 31 and is available here.

Submissions can be uploaded through this online link or emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. until July 31, 2024.

The hearing program will be posted on the inquiry website closer to the time. A live audio stream of the hearings will be available on the APH website.

The committee will next be travelling to Cairns and Townsville in Far North Queensland on July 24 and 25.

For further information contact the Committee secretariat on 02 6277 4707 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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THE Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has commenced an inquiry into the contract management frameworks operated by Commonwealth entities.

Chair of the JCPAA, Julian Hill MP, said, "Recent major inquiries into Commonwealth Procurement and Probity and Ethics revealed serious failings. Recent audit reports have highlighted similar issues ‘downstream’ of procurement in how agencies manage contracts once executed.

"The committee will examine whether the frameworks supporting contract management by various Commonwealth entities are fit for purpose to ensure project delivery.”

Mr Hill noted in this regard that “successful outcomes are very unlikely to be achieved from government procurement activities without effective contract management. This is therefore a vital capability for public sector agencies but one that commonly goes under the radar and is often lacking for a number of reasons".

"We will be carefully evaluating the levels of expertise, governance arrangements, record-keeping, performance measures, and policies and guidelines of a number of recently audited agencies with respect to their external contracts," Mr Hill said. "There are also ongoing probity issues which arise during the management of a contract and the committee will consider whether current frameworks and practices are fit for purpose.”

The inquiry will have particular regard to any matters contained in or connected to the following Auditor-General Reports:

• Auditor-General Report No. 21 2023–24 Management of the Australian War Memorial’s Development Project.
• Auditor-General Report No. 36 2023–24 Procurement of My Health Record.
• Auditor-General Report No. 37 2023–24 Administration of the Adult Migrant English Program contracts.
• Auditor-General Report No.47 Defence's management of contracts for the supply of munitions: Part 1.
  [This audit has been conducted in two parts and Part 2 is currently expected to be tabled in the Parliament in November 2024] 

• Defence’s procurement and implementation of the myClearance system (due to table in July 2024).

Submissions to the inquiry addressing the  terms of reference are invited by Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Details of this inquiry – including the submissions received and public hearings – will be available on the inquiry website.

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THE House of Representatives Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport will hear from the Department of Health and Aged Care as part of its inquiry into local government sustainability today, July 4.

Committee Chair, Luke Gosling OAM, MP, said, "Local governments play a vital role in providing a range of public health services across their communities. The hearing will provide an opportunity for the committee to hear about the roles of the Australian, state and territory, and local governments in managing our health system, with a particular focus on the financial support provided to local governments that are delivering essential health services.

"Increasing rates of chronic disease, an ageing population, and greater reliance on mental health services are key health system challenges across Australia. Our local governments are facing increasing demands to ensure community access to primary care, aged care, and mental health services, amidst challenges attracting and retaining a skilled health workforce in regional, rural, and remote areas," Mr Gosling said.

"Many local governments report increased responsibility and financial pressure arising from changing funding models and reforms by higher levels of government, particularly in the aged care sector. Service gaps around essential mental health services in regional, rural and remote areas are a growing concern, with many councils providing financial support to ensure community access to these vital services.

"The committee is keen to hear from the Australian Government about the health funding, program and regulatory framework in the context of local government health service delivery," Mr Gosling said.

The hearing also provides an opportunity to gather evidence concerning current and future health workforce skills, attraction, and retention challenges and the Australian Government’s role in securing access to a local government health workforce.

Public hearing details

Canberra, Australian Parliament House

Date:      Thursday, 4 July 2024

Venue:   Committee Room 1R3

Time:     11.05am to 12pm (AEST)

The committee will hold further public hearings during 2024. Further information on the inquiry, including the terms of reference and how to contribute, is available on the committee’s website.

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