We asked the 64 agencies included in this review to provide information on how they monitor the implementation of performance audit recommendations.
This Part provides information on how agencies allocate responsibility for tracking proposed actions. We also considered what arrangements are in place for agencies to review progress and close off recommendations when complete.
This Part provides information on the extent to which agencies accept and implement our performance audit recommendations, including their timeliness.
Nothing has come to our attention to indicate that, overall, agencies are not effectively implementing past performance audit recommendations.
Most agencies accepted audit recommendations and have taken action to complete or progress their implementation. However, this action is not always timely, which all agencies can work to improve.
We published 71 performance audits between 2015–16 and 2017–18.
In this review, we examined progress made by agencies on recommendations from 44 of those audits—including the 17 performance audit reports we published in 2017–18, for which we assessed the status of recommendations for the first time. The other 27 are audits from earlier years that had recommendations outstanding.
Through our performance audits, we identify opportunities for public agencies to improve how they work. We do this by uncovering risks, weaknesses and poor performance, as well as by sharing examples of better practice. We then make recommendations to agencies to address areas for improvement.
| DEDJTR | Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources |
| DELWP | Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning |
| DET | Department of Education and Training |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
| DJCS | Department of Justice and Community Safety |
| DJPR | Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions |
Independent assurance report to Parliament
Ordered to be published
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER June 2020
PP No 137, Session 2018–20
Dear Presiding Officers
In our first Assurance Review, we looked at how public entities monitored and responded to performance audit recommendations made by VAGO between 2015-16 and 2017-18.
Nothing has come to our attention to indicate that overall, agencies are not effectively implementing past performance audit recommendations.
Most agencies report having governance arrangements that allow their senior management and audit committees to monitor progress in implementing our audit recommendations.
Figure B1
Compliance with police checks
Report references:
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DHHS |
DPC |
DTF |
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Data source |
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We have consulted with DELWP, DET, DHHS, DJCS, DJPR, DoT, DPC, DTF and VPSC and we considered their views when reaching our audit conclusions. As required by the Audit Act 1994, we gave a draft copy of this report, or relevant extracts, to those agencies and asked for their submissions and comments.
Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Responses were received as follows:
Contractors and consultants contribute significantly to the VPS. They provide a broad range of services, both onsite and remotely. Like VPS employees, they can hold positions of trust and, where necessary, should be subject to the same screening as employees.
The audited agencies do not have processes to make sure that contractors and consultants undergo risk-based screening prior to working in the VPS. This creates a significant risk that agencies are engaging unsuitable contractors and consultants.