The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has today published the report of its inquiry into the administration of Commonwealth regulations. The inquiry was informed by audits into regulatory responsibilities of five entities: Department of Health and Aged Care; Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission; Department of Home Affairs; Department of Industry, Science and Resources; and the Australian Taxation Office.
These audits dealt with: management of non-compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 for unapproved therapeutic goods; early implementation of aged care reforms; regulation of migration agents; trade measurement; and the management and oversight of fraud control arrangements for the goods and services tax.
Chair of the Committee, Hon Linda Burney MP said, 'Government regulation has a profound effect on the daily lives of all Australians. When it is administered effectively, regulation protects the public interest, ensures the efficient delivery of services, promotes trust, and improves community safety and wellbeing.
'The Committee found that overall the agencies were meeting their requirements but there are areas where improvements could be made. We noted gaps and inconsistencies, as well as partial regulation and, in some cases, failure to regulate effectively.'
During the inquiry, the Committee also examined the adequacy of the current principles-based policy guidance from the Department of Finance and found regulators required more practical advice on how to go about their regulatory responsibilities.
'To ensure improvements, we made nine recommendations. These deal with specific entity shortcomings discovered during the inquiry, the need for greater transparency and accountability, and the nature of policy advice,' said Ms Burney.
The report can be downloaded from the Committee website.
Media inquiries
Hon Linda Burney MP, Chair of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit
Electorate office: (02) 9587 1555.
For background information
Committee Secretariat
02 6277 4615
jcpaa@aph.gov.au
For more information about this Committee, you can visit its website. On the site, you can make a submission to an inquiry, read other submissions, and get details for upcoming public hearings. You can also track the Committee and receive email updates by clicking on the blue ‘Track Committee’ button in the bottom right-hand corner of the page.
