IBA includes scrutiny by the Australian National Audit Office, the Commonwealth Ombudsman, courts or administrative tribunals, and parliamentary and ministerial oversight.
We are also required to report on a number of obligations including compliance with legislation such as the PGPA Act, Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act), Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 and the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006.
EXTERNAL AUDIT, JUDICIAL DECISIONS AND REVIEWS BY EXTERNAL BODIES
IBA’s external auditor is the Auditor-General through the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO). The audit of IBA’s financial statements is conducted in accordance with an audit strategy agreed to by the Auditor-General and IBA.
During 2017–18, the ANAO commenced an audit of the Implementation of the Australian Government Workplace Bargaining Framework. IBA was one of seven audited entities and the report is expected to be tabled in Parliament in November 2018.
There were no judicial decisions or decisions of parliamentary committees, administrative tribunals or the Australian Information Commissioner that had a significant effect on IBA’s operations this year.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman notified IBA of two complaints made against it during 2017–18. One is currently being investigated and the other was closed by the Ombudsman without findings against IBA.
PARLIAMENTARY AND MINISTERIAL OVERSIGHT
Under section 19 of the PGPA Act, IBA is required to inform the Minister of any significant decisions or issues. This year, IBA provided reports to and advised the Minister on a number of significant decisions and issues.
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Under Part II of the FOI Act, IBA is required to publish information for the public as part of the Information Publication Scheme. IBA’s Information Publication Scheme plan is available on the IBA website (iba.gov.au) as is the information that IBA has published in accordance with the scheme’s requirements.
IBA received 21 requests for information under the FOI Act in 2017–18.