Inquiry to dissect government’s COVID response including ATO’s performance

The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has commenced an inquiry into the Commonwealth’s COVID-19 response to look, among other things, into whether the ATO and Services Australia had effectively managed risks related to the rapid implementation of COVID-19 economic response measures.

Also on the committee’s agenda is a thorough look into the management of the Australian public service’s workforce in implementing the Australian government’s COVID-19 priorities, and a deep dive into the governance of COVID-19 procurements to increase the national medical stockpile.

The inquiry was born out of a series of reports put together by the Auditor-General (A-G) to examine administrative measures undertaken by the Commonwealth in managing the COVID-19 response.

The A-G’s reports mostly conclude that the Commonwealth’s response on all fronts was “effective”.

The report into the ATO’s performance reveals that, according to the A-G findings, the tax authority “undertook appropriate planning to support the rapid implementation of the six economic response measures — predominantly using its existing systems and processes to support governance, resourcing and consultation”.

“The ATO’s risk documentation evidences its priority of implementing the measures in a timely manner, while also managing fraud and other integrity risks on a progressive basis,” the A-G said.

Similarly, Services Australia was found to have been “largely effective” in managing the risks related to the rapid preparation for and delivery of COVID-19 economic response measures.

“The agency developed fit-for-purpose governance arrangements and scaled-up resourcing to meet increased demand,” the A-G found.

Committee chair Lucy Wicks MP welcomed the inquiry, noting its importance to future adversities.  

“The examination of the government’s COVID response [is] an important opportunity for the Parliament to review the success of the Commonwealth’s administrative arrangements in the face of the COVID emergency,” Ms Wicks said.

The committee invites submissions to the inquiry by Friday, 8 October 2021.