The audit would examine the effectiveness of the management and maintenance of official residences and related assets, including the implementation of relevant heritage strategies, heritage management plans, and property and asset management plans; the use of the whole of Australian Government property services arrangements (established by the Department of Finance); the management of risk; and governance arrangements.

The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General (the Office) manages $170 million in land and buildings, and $1.26 million of infrastructure, plant and equipment. In 2022–23, the Office spent $5.73 million on managing and maintaining the Governor-General’s two official residences: Government House in Canberra; and Admiralty House in Sydney. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet manages the Prime Minister’s two official residences: The Lodge; and Kirribilli House.