Meeting of Audit & Risk Committee
The contents of this document are OFFICIAL: SENSITIVE
Minutes
24 April 2024 (out of session) 10:00am – 10:45am AEST Virtual (MS Teams)
Attendance
Committee members:
- Dr Graeme Innes AM, Chair
- Ms Maryanne Diamond AO, Deputy Chair
- Ms Meredith Allan
- Mr Mark Darras
- Dr Denis Napthine AO
Board members:
- Mr Kurt Fearnley AO
- Dr Richard Fejo
- Ms Estelle Pearson
- Dr Peta Seaton AM
Apologies:
Nil
Management representatives:
- Ms Rebecca Falkingham, Chief Executive Officer
- Mr Ajay Satyan PSM, A/g DCEO Enabling Services / Chief Operating Officer
- Mr Matthew Swainson, A/g DCEO Governance, Risk & Legal
- Mr Mark Sullivan, GM Risk, Audit and Resilience Division & Chief Risk Officer
Other attendees:
- Dr Ian Watt AC, Specialist Advisor (Non-Board Member)
- Mr Matt Curtis, BM Ecosystem Reform & Governance (Secretariat)
The Minutes are presented in the order that items were discussed.
Minutes – Audit & Risk Committee 24 April 2024
Minutes
- Meeting open
1.1 Chair’s welcome and apologies
The Chair opened the meeting at 10.05am and welcomed members and management to the meeting.
On behalf of the Committee, the Chair acknowledged the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the Country throughout Australia, in particular the Bundjalung people on whose lands the Chair was meeting in Northern New South Wales.
The Chair provided an update on activities since the last meeting, in particular:
- The Chair had a positive meeting with the acting Auditor-General, Ms Rona Mellor PSM, and acting Deputy Auditor-General, Ms Carla Jago, in late March. The discussion centred on the current Board governance audit, accessibility and the mutual desire to continue to strengthen the relationship.
- The Agency met with the ANAO to provide a briefing on accessibility.
- The Chief Internal Auditor, Mr Geoff Campbell, resigned on 19 April 2024 with immediate effect. Ms Analyn Vasquez will act as the Chief Internal Auditor pending permanent recruitment.
The Committee discussed the ANAO audit of Board governance and noted that the ANAO will be observing the May Board meeting in Townsville. Mr Fearnley noted that he is meeting with the acting Auditor-General on 7 May 2024.
2. ANAO proposed audit report on Compliance with corporate credit card requirements in the NDIA
Mr Swainson introduced the paper and apologised for the lateness of the paper, noting the requirement to liaise with Services Australia on recommendation 4.
Mr Sullivan outlined the audit scope, including the extension to include the shared services travel arrangements given the limited number of credit cards in the Agency. Mr Sullivan explained the Agency’s response to the 9 recommendations and approach to collaborating with Services Australia on joint recommendations.
The Committee discussed the audit report and the proposed response, the Agency’s risk register and the current work underway to update the risk management framework.
Overall, the Committee found proposed audit report, and the Agency’s response to the report, to be measured and appropriate.
Mr Sullivan undertook to ensure outstanding matters in the draft report have been actioned.
The Committee also noted the Management of Complaints by the NDIA Audit report had been tabled in parliament.
Resolution:
The Committee noted the ANAO proposed performance audit report on the Compliance with corporate credit card requirements in the NDIA.
The Committee endorsed the proposed response to the Acting Auditor-General for submission to the NDIA Board Chair.
The Committee noted the NDIA will engage with the ANAO on editorial matters.
Meeting Close
The Chair closed the meeting at 10.49am.
3.1 Next meeting
The next Committee meeting will be held on 6 June 2024.