27 February 2017

Dr Jim Chalmers MP
Shadow Minister for Finance
Federal Member for Rankin
Parliament House
CANBERRA  ACT  2600

Email: jim.chalmers.mp@aph.gov.au

Dear Dr Chalmers

I refer to your letter of 29 December 2016 requesting that I undertake an audit of the lease entered into by the Commonwealth and the New South Wales Rifle Association for the rifle range on Malabar Headland.

I have decided to conduct an assurance review under section 19A(1) of the Auditor-General Act 1997 (the Act), reviewing the Department of Finance’s management of the Malabar Headland. The review will examine if the management of the Malabar Headland lease with the NSW Rifle Association is in accordance with relevant principles of the Commonwealth Property Management Guidelines. This will include planning and management dating back to 2014.

The procedures performed in an assurance review vary in nature and timing from, and are less in extent than, those performed in an audit. The assurance review will commence in February 2017 and is expected to be tabled in the Parliament during the Winter 2017 sitting period. My report will include a conclusion as to whether anything has come to my attention that causes me to believe that the management of the Malabar Headland lease with the NSW Rifle Association is not in accordance with relevant principles of the Commonwealth Property Management Guidelines.

If you have any questions regarding the review our contact for the review is Ms Michelle Kelly, Group Executive Director, on 6203 7677 or Michelle.Kelly@anao.gov.au. Alternatively, your staff may wish to contact the Executive Director responsible for the audit, Andrew Morris on 6203 7598 or Andrew.Morris@anao.gov.au. Should you wish receive further updates on this assurance review please visit https://www.anao.gov.au/work/request/malabar-headland-rifle-range-lease to register.

Yours sincerely

Grant Hehir