Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee [Part 2]

Senate Estimates hearing,

Searchable transcript of the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee [Part 2], 26 Oct 2026 Senate Estimates hearing, with chapters: Invitation Process for COP31 Pre-COP Meeting, Confidentiality and Funding of Leader Invitations, Termination of KPMG Internal Audit Contract,…

Chapters

  1. Invitation Process for COP31 Pre-COP Meeting (0:03)

    Senator Hume questions officials from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet regarding the invitation process for the COP31 pre-COP meeting held in Fiji and Tuvalu, focusing on the number of world leaders invited.

  2. Confidentiality and Funding of Leader Invitations (7:35)

    Discussion continues regarding the confidentiality of the invitation list for the pre-COP event, with officials citing trilateral agreements between Australia, Fiji, and Tuvalu to keep details private despite Australian funding.

  3. Termination of KPMG Internal Audit Contract (12:55)

    Senator Charnowski inquires about the termination of a KPMG contract for internal audit services, exploring the grounds for termination including performance issues and the broader external environment.

  4. Review of Remaining KPMG Departmental Contracts (18:01)

    Officials detail the remaining contracts with KPMG, including FBT services and financial reporting tools, while discussing the department's view on the firm's ethical performance and broader corporate conduct.

  5. Administration of Local Community Infrastructure Grants (24:55)

    Senator Sharma asks about the department's role in collating and verifying election commitments for the Major Local Community Infrastructure (MLCI) program following the 2025 federal election.

  6. Marrickville Golf Club Project Funding Scope (30:16)

    The committee examines the specific grant for the Marrickville Golf Club, focusing on whether the department provided advice regarding the project's scope to address sewage overflows into the Cooks River.

  7. Inquiry into Reported Cabinet Leadership Group (35:37)

    Senator Hume questions the existence and status of a "leadership group" reported in the media, following an FOI request that returned no records of such a body within the cabinet structure.

  8. Cabinet Briefs and the Leadership Group (40:00)

    Senator Hume questions PM&C officials regarding cabinet briefs for the announced immigration policy and the role of a reported 'leadership group' in decision-making.

  9. Office of Impact Analysis Consultation Periods (45:31)

    Officials from the Office of Impact Analysis explain the 30-60 day best practice consultation period and how departments justify departures from this timeframe.

  10. Self-Assessment in Impact Analysis Framework (48:33)

    Discussion on the July 1st framework change where agencies now self-assess the quality of their impact analysis rather than receiving formal OIA assessments.

  11. Industry Concerns on Inadequate Consultation (52:10)

    Senator Hume tables a letter from industry associations raising concerns about 10-12 day consultation periods for complex legislative and regulatory reforms.

  12. Fuel Security Coordinator and Executive Appointments (1:07:03)

    Senator Sharma questions the appointment process for the Deputy Secretary role and the ongoing status of the Fuel Security Coordinator.

  13. ANAO Opening Statement and Annual Report (1:13:47)

    The Auditor-General provides an opening statement covering the ANAO's 2025-26 annual report, audit opinions, and financial sustainability challenges.

  14. Services Australia Cyber Security Audit (1:19:23)

    Senator Hume questions the ANAO regarding a 2024 performance audit into Services Australia's management of critical cyber security incidents.

  15. Legacy Systems and Incident Reporting Processes (1:26:45)

    Examination of legacy systems, the Medicare statistics portal breach, and the use of monitored email addresses for security disclosures.

  16. Strategic Commissioning Framework and External Labor (1:30:20)

    A review of the framework intended to reduce APS reliance on consultants and external labor hire, which the ANAO found only partly effective.

  17. Core Work Definitions and Agency Incentives (1:36:06)

    Discussion on inconsistent definitions of core work across agencies and the lack of incentives to bring work back in-house.

  18. Procurement Data and Contract Reporting Timelines (1:41:37)

    Updates on the timing and scope of upcoming ANAO information reports regarding government procurement and contract amendments.

  19. Climate and Green Economy Program Analysis (1:44:02)

    Inquiry into the number and monetary value of government programs related to climate change, energy, and the green economy.

  20. Performance Audit Capacity and Resource Constraints (1:51:23)

    The ANAO explains reductions in its performance audit targets due to resource constraints and the prioritization of climate-related audits.

  21. Climate Policy Challenges and Sustainability Reporting (1:53:30)

    Discussion on challenges in auditing climate policy, including Scope 3 emissions and sustainability reporting, followed by a committee break.

  22. Audit of Scope 3 Emissions Reporting (2:12:41)

    Senator McDonald questions the ANAO on the definition and auditing of scope 3 emissions for Commonwealth companies, noting the judgment required in reporting.

  23. Snowy 2.0 Cost and Timeline Revisions (2:15:10)

    The ANAO discusses the revised costings for Snowy 2.0, which increased from $6.1 billion to $12 billion, and the status of future performance audits.

  24. Strategic Commissioning and Labor Savings (2:20:59)

    Senator Kim examines the projected $14.8 billion in external labor savings and whether these savings have been realized through the Strategic Commissioning Framework.

  25. Services Australia Data Breach Compliance (2:25:13)

    The committee discusses ANAO findings that 123 of 170 notifiable data breaches at Services Australia were not assessed within the 30-day statutory requirement.

  26. Legacy Systems and IT Security Controls (2:29:07)

    Examination of Services Australia's reliance on aging legacy ICT systems and the slow pace of addressing audit findings related to IT governance and user access.

  27. Security Threats Against Parliamentarians (2:36:07)

    Minister Farrell addresses the attack on Dr. Helen Haines and the broader surge in threats against elected officials, outlining the independent review into parliamentary support.

  28. Electorate Office Physical Security Standards (2:43:16)

    The Department of Finance discusses the review of physical security standards for electorate offices and the process for upgrading security in response to threat assessments.

  29. Ministerial Discretion in Personal Staffing Allocations (2:51:51)

    Discussion regarding the Prime Minister's decision to grant additional staff to specific backbenchers and the lack of legal obligation for equitable processing.

  30. Senator Payman's Staffing Request and Grievances (2:55:41)

    Senator Payman questions the delay in her staffing request, highlighting psychosocial hazards and burnout while comparing her situation to other independent members.

  31. Technical Solutions for MOP(S) Act Employment (3:04:24)

    The department provides an update on resolving the "cease and recommence" issue for staff, involving complex technical fixes to the Parliamentary Expenses Management System.

  32. Confidentiality of Special Minister of State Meetings (3:08:53)

    The Special Minister of State declines to discuss the details of a meeting with Minister Wells, citing the need for privacy and confidentiality in his role.

  33. Progress Update on Staffing Classification Review (3:11:05)

    Officials discuss the completion of the staffing classification review, which considered issues raised during enterprise bargaining and involved surveys of electorate staff.

  34. AEC Implementation of Electoral Funding Reforms (3:16:04)

    The Australian Electoral Commission provides an update on the implementation of complex funding and disclosure reforms and the launch of a new IT system.

  35. Referendum Compliance Audits and Election Returns (3:24:58)

    The committee discusses the status of compliance audits following the referendum and the number of outstanding election returns from organizations and individuals.

  36. Progress of the Queensland Electoral Redistribution (3:26:31)

    The AEC Commissioner provides an update on the timeline for the Queensland redistribution, noting the committee's schedule and the impact of a potential early election on boundaries.