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Request for audit
Review of public funds allocated towards the OneSchool Global schools
Response provided
Responded: Wednesday 14 August 2024
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The acting Auditor-General responded on 14 August 2024 to correspondence from Senator David Shoebridge dated 26 July 2024, requesting that the Auditor-General conduct an investigation to the use of public funds allocated towards the OneSchool Global schools.
Acting Auditor-General's response
14 August 2024
Senator David Shoebridge
Senator for New South Wales
By email: Senator.Shoebridge@aph.gov.au
Dear Senator
Brethren’s OneSchool Global schools
I am writing in response to your letter dated 19 July 2024 requesting that the Auditor-General consider an audit of the public funds allocated towards the OneSchools Global schools.
My office has made preliminary enquiries with the Department of Education in relation to the issues raised in your letter. The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) published its 2024–25 Annual Audit Work Program (the work program) on 8 July 2024. The work program 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 timing of your request for an audit of Brethren’s OneSchool Global schools means that the ANAO was not able to consider this topic in its planning for the work program. I have considered your request and decided that the matter referred should not replace other areas of audit focus identified in the 2024–25 work program in relation to the Education portfolio.
To view the current list of potential and in-progress audits and assurance reviews across the work program, categorised by portfolio, please see the ANAO website: Work program | Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).
Yours sincerely
Rona Mellor PSM
Acting Auditor-General
Correspondence from Senator David Shoebridge
Transcript of letter from Senator the Hon David Shoebridge
Acting Auditor General
Ms Rona Mellor PSM
Australian National Audit Office
GPO Box 707
Canberra ACT 2601
AUSTRALIA
26 July 2024
Dear Auditor General,
Re Brethren’s OneSchool Global schools
I write to urge an audit and investigation about the use of public funds allocated towards the OneSchool Global schools and in particular claims that these funds have been allocated inappropriately to private contractors. These matters have been publicly reported including in articles published by the Guardian here.
A follow the money investigation, for which you have the statutory powers, would allow a comprehensive examination of these claims and provide public certainty about these funding allocations.
If a donation or a public grant is given to a school building fund and then spent on a construction contract to a related entity without a value for money tender process that would be a serious matter and worthy of review by your office.
The Office of the Auditor General uniquely has the power to investigate this matter and through that provide much needed transparency and accountability for the expenditure of public funds.
I am of course available to discuss this matter further.
Kind regards,
David Shoebridge
Greens Senator and Justice Spokesperson