The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit is constituted by the Public Accounts and Audit Committee Act 1951. The Committee initiates its own inquiries into public administration matters and can conduct inquiries into matters referred to it by either House of Parliament.
The breakdown of the current membership of the Joint Committee is:
Five Upper House Senators – 3 Labor, 1 Liberal, 1 Nationals; and
Nine Lower House MPs – 6 Labor, 1 Liberal, 2 Liberal-Nationals.
This new inquiry into probity and ethics within the Australian Public Sector was referred to the Joint Committee by the Department of the House of Representatives.
Inquiry into probity and ethics in the Australian Public Sector
On 27 June 2023, the Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit adopted an inquiry into probity and ethics in the Australian Public Sector, with a view to examining whether there are systemic factors contributing to poor ethical behaviour in government agencies, and identifying opportunities to strengthen government integrity and accountability.
The inquiry will have particular regard to any matters contained in or connected to the following Auditor-General Reports:
No. 30 of 2022–23, Probity Management in Financial Regulators — Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
No. 36 of 2022–23, Probity Management in Financial Regulators — Australian Securities and Investments Commission
No. 38 of 2022–23, Probity Management in Financial Regulators — Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
No. 31 of 2022–23, Administration of the Community Health and Hospitals Program — Department of Health and Aged Care
No. 18 of 2022-23, Acquisition, Management and Leasing of Artworks by Artbank — Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
The Committee invites submissions to the inquiry addressing the terms of reference by Friday, 25 August 2023.
Committee Secretariat contact:
Committee Secretary
Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
PO Box 6021
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Phone: +61 2 6277 4615
