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Request for audit
Defence export permit approvals process
Response provided
Responded: Friday 21 March 2025
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The Auditor-General responded on 21 March 2025 to correspondence from Ms Kylea Tink MP dated 28 February 2025, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to examine the defence export permit approvals process.
Auditor-General's response
21 March 2025
Ms Kylea Tink MP
Member for North Sydney
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
By email: Kylea.Tink.MP@aph.gov.au
Dear Ms Tink
Request for an audit of the defence export permits approval process
Thank you for your correspondence dated 28 February 2025 requesting an audit of the defence export permits approval process.
Consistent with the requirement that the Auditor-General has regard to the audit priorities of the Parliament, a draft Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) 2025–26 Annual Audit Work Program (AAWP) has been provided to the Parliament for consultation through the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA). The draft 2025–26 AAWP includes a potential topic on Defence’s administration of export permits. If commenced, this audit would assess the effectiveness of the Department of Defence’s administration of defence export permits.
The AAWP reflects the ANAO’s audit strategy and informs the Parliament, government entities and the public of the planned audit coverage for the Australian Government sector. The 2025–26 AAWP is expected to be published on the ANAO website in early July 2025.
Yours sincerely
Dr Caralee McLiesh PSM
Auditor-General
Correspondence from Ms Kylea Tink MP
Transcript of letter from Ms Kylea Tink MP
Dr Caralee McLeish PSM
Auditor-General for Australia
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
CANBERRA ACT 2601
By email: ag1@anao.gov.au
28 February 2025
Dear Dr McLiesh,
I refer to Australia's military export regime with respect to public transparency and Australia’s obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) came into force 10 years ago, establishing global standards including forbidding arms sales where there is a risk of them being used to violate human rights.
However, concern has been expressed by both experts and community members that Australia’s military industry lacks relevant transparency – Government Departments report vastly different information using different methodologies and data sources. In 2023-24 the Department of Defence issued permits for over $100 billion of exports; and DFAT reported $2.7 billion of actual exports.
Neither the Australian public nor the parliament know what weapons (including components) are being exported, by what companies, or for what purpose. It is my understanding that even the Department of Defence, who issues export permits, lacks information about what is being exported. For these reasons, The Arms Trade Treaty Monitor has noted that Australia’s ATT reports lack meaningful transparency, and that European countries with similar or higher levels of military exports fulfill their obligations more effectively than Australia.
Australia has recently exported to regimes where there are serious human rights concerns, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Sudan, and South Sudan. Because of this lack of information, it is unclear whether these exports have directly facilitated human rights abuses.
I ask that you consider an audit of the defence export permit approvals process, and that you review whether current arrangements are sufficiently transparent for both public accountability and meeting our obligations under the Arms Trade Treaty.
Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your response.
Yours sincerely
Kylea Tink MP
Independent Member for North Sydney