House debates Questions without Notice

Australian National Audit Office

Wednesday, 7 October 2020 House of Representatives

Zali Steggall

Zali Steggall Warringah, Independent

2:16 pm

To the Treasurer: we have no national integrity commission and the only department shining a light on outrageous misuse of public funds like the Leppington land sale is the Australian National Audit Office. With their number of performance audits already down last financial year due to insufficient funding, and now, in last night's budget, a further 12 per cent cut to funding for performance audits, how can the Australian people have confidence that your record-breaking spending doesn't lead to record-breaking pork-barrelling and mismanagement of taxpayer dollars?

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

I think the question is probably best directed to me, so I'd be happy to provide the response. There is a 10-year review currently underway into the ANAO and what their resourcing requirements are. Like the many reviews currently before the government—

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Hon. Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The Prime Minister will pause. The member for Barton and others prevent me from hearing the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has the call.

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

There is a 10-year review currently underway, and, when the government receives the outcomes of that 10-year review, we will consider the resourcing for the ANAO. A number of other reviews are currently before the government—of course, royal commissions that are still to hand down reports—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

Tony Smith

Tony Smith Speaker

The member for Shortland is warned.

Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister

and, as the Treasurer indicated last night, when those reports have been received, the government will be providing a fulsome response. So, when we receive that report, the government will make its response in terms of their ongoing resourcing.