23 September 2015

The Hon Julie Collins MP
Member for Franklin
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Ms Collins

Request regarding allegations of misuse of Parliamentarians’ printing entitlement

Thank you for your letter of 1 September 2015 in which you referred to correspondence dated 28 August 2015 from Mr Tim Watts MP, Member for Gellibrand, asking that I conduct an audit of printing entitlements paid to Victorian Liberal Parliamentarians during the tenure of the former Director of the Victorian Liberal Party in response to allegations of misappropriation of funds. In your letter you asked that I extend any such audit to include printing entitlements payments made in relation to Tasmanian Liberal Parliamentarians during the former Director ‘s earlier tenure as Director of the Tasmanian Liberal Party.

The role of the ANAO is to undertake performance and financial statement audits of Commonwealth public sector bodies with the aim of improving Commonwealth public sector administration and accountability. Matters involving specific allegations of fraudulent or other potentially criminal activity are more appropriately referred to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for possible investigation. That is also the approach to be followed in relation to any such matters that may be identified in the course of the ANAO’s audit work. Similarly, a process for considering whether a particular matter warrants referral to the AFP for possible investigation is set out in the administrative protocol for responding to allegations of potential misuse of Parliamentarians’ entitlements that is administered by the Department of Finance.

On this basis, the ANAO does not propose to undertake an audit of the matters requested by you at this time.

Yours sincerely

Rona Mellor PSM
Acting Auditor-General