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Request for audit
National COVID-19 Coordination Commission
Response provided
Responded: Wednesday 12 August 2020
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The Auditor-General responded on 12 August 2020 to correspondence from Senator Rachel Siewert dated 9 July 2020, requesting that the Auditor-General examine the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission as part of the audit program of the Government’s COVID-19 response.
Auditor-General's response
12 August 2020
Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Whip
Senator for Western Australia
By email: Senator.Siewert@aph.gov.au
Dear Senator Siewert
I am writing in response to your letter received on 17 July 2020 requesting that I consider an audit of the National COVID- 19 Coordination Commission (NCCC).
Your letter came after I had released my Annual Audit Work Program for 2020-21. As part of the consultation process for this plan, I outlined four COVID-19 related audits that are currently underway and my intention to consider additional audits during the year as the impact of the pandemic, and the government’s response to it evolves.
The Australian National Audit Office is continuing to monitor emerging risks and challenges that impact on the public sector due to COVID-19. Your request for an audit of the NCCC will be taken into account as part of my further consideration of COVID-19 related audits during 2020-21.
Yours sincerely
Grant Hehir
Correspondence from Senator Rachel Siewert
Transcript of letter from Senator Rachel Siewert
9 July 2020
Mr Grant Heir
Auditor-General for Australia
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
Canberra ACT 2601
Dear Mr Hehir
I write to request that the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) examine the National COVID-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) as part of the audit program of the Government's Covid-19 response.
The NCCC is responsible for coordinating advice to the Government on actions to anticipate and mitigate the economic and social impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. As noted in its Terms of Reference, the NCCC is advising the Prime Minister on all non-health aspects of the pandemic response. APS Departmental Secretaries and Agency Heads are expected to support the NCCC's work and ensure necessary resources are committed to the delivery of outcomes.
The NCCC is a publicly funded body that is playing a key role in informing the Government's policy response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The NCCC is providing advice on critical non-health factors including transport and logistics, industry coordination, labour and workforce planning, delivery of essential services and support to vulnerable Australians — areas which are of key public concern.
In recent months, concerns have been raised about the NCCC's governance structures, transparency and accountability. For example, groups have raised questions about the adequacy of the NCCC's process for managing real or perceived conflict of interests of Commissioners. There are also concerns about the NCCC's lack of integrity and transparency safeguards compared to other commissions.
Australian Greens believe there are strong reasons to examine the NCCC as part of the ANAO's audit program of the Government's Covid-19 response given its critical role and level of influence.
Yours sincerely
Rachel Siewert
Senator for Western Australia