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External scrutiny
The Australian National Audit Office issued a number of reports in 2005–06. Some involved the Department directly and others were of special or general interest to the Department.
2005–06 direct participation
Report No. 16: The Management and Processing of Leave
Tabled: 17 November 2005.
The Department was one of six agencies included in the audit. The objectives of the audit were to determine whether entities had established appropriate arrangements in relation to the management of annual leave and had effective internal controls over leave processing, assess whether leave had been managed in accordance with the requirements of the respective entity's certified agreement, and identify sound and better practices in the management and processing of leave. The Department agreed with the seven recommendations of the report.
Report No. 21: Audit of Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2005
Tabled: 21 December 2005.
The focus of this audit was on the year end results of the financial statement audits of all general purpose reporting entities for the 2004–05 financial year.
There were no moderate or significant audit issues noted during the audit for the Department.
Report No. 27: Reporting of Expenditure on Consultants
Tabled: 30 January 2006.
The Department was included in the examination of 73 Financial Management and Accountability agencies which focussed on the accuracy and completeness of agencies reporting of expenditure on consultants.
The Department is implementing the relevant recommendation of this report.
Report No. 28: Management of Net Appropriation Agreements
Tabled: 31 January 2006.
The Department was one of the agencies included in the review of 231 Section 31 agreements made under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997
from 1 January 1998 to 30 June 2005. The objective of this performance audit was to assess agencies' financial management of, and accountability for, the use of net appropriation agreements to increase available appropriations.
The Department has implemented the relevant recommendations of this report.
Report No. 39: Artbank, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
Tabled: 11 May 2006.
The objective of the audit was to provide assurance that Artbank was effectively meeting its charter. The audit also examined Artbank's governance arrangements and its programs for marketing, client development, performance management, budgeting and debt management. It also sought client feedback on Artbank's operations.
The audit concluded that Artbank was meeting its charter and that Artbank demonstrated particular strengths in managing the collection and rental scheme. The survey revealed a high level of satisfaction with Artbank's services and provided some valuable feedback on the running of the scheme.
A number of opportunities for improving Artbank's governance arrangements and operational matters were identified and the Department is implementing the recommendations.
Report No. 48: Interim Phase of the Audit of Financial Statements of General Government Sector Entities for the Year Ending 30 June 2006
Tabled: 22 June 2006.
The objective of this audit was to assess whether reliance could be placed upon the Department's systems and environment to produce accurate and complete information for financial reporting purposes.
There were no moderate or significant audit issues noted during the audit for the Department.
Report No. 52: Management of selected Telstra Social Bonus 2 (TSB2) and Telecommunications Service Inquiry (TSI) Response Programs
Tabled: 29 June 2006.
This performance audit examined the Department's management of seven TSB2 and TSI response programs. The objectives were to examine the extent to which selected TSB2 and TSI Response programs were achieving or had achieved their objectives, and had been administered effectively by the Department according to better practice principles. To evaluate this aspect, the audit assessed the Department's compliance with the better practice principles outlined in the Administration of Grants: Better Practice Guide (May 2002) produced by the Australian National Audit Office.
The audit concluded that all programs subject to audit, except the Intelligent Island program, were effectively achieving their stated objectives and that the Department's management of the programs demonstrated a high level of compliance with the better practice principles of grant management. Notwithstanding this, the Australian National Audit Office considered there were certain areas of the Department's grant management practice, impacting on more than one audited program, that only partially complied with relevant better practice principles and that in this regard processes could be improved.
Two recommendations were made aimed at enhancing DCITA's administration of grant programs. The Department agreed with the two recommendations.
2005–06 Special interest
Audits in which the Department has a special interest are listed below.
Report No. 11: The Senate Order for Departmental and Agency Contracts (Calendar Year 2004 Compliance)
Tabled: 29 September 2005.
Report No. 22 Cross Portfolio Audit of Green Office Procurement
Tabled: 22 December 2005.
Report No. 23: IT Security Management
Tabled: 22 December 2005.
Report No. 37: The Management of Infrastructure Plant and Equipment Assets
Tabled: 3 May 2006.
Report No. 45: Internet Security in Australian Government Agencies
Tabled: 13 June 2006.
The Department is implementing the relevant recommendations from these reports.