The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit will hold a second hearing into the ANAO report on Hawkei tomorrow.
As ADM reported on the first hearing, the unusual move of redacting parts of the report at the behest of the Attorney General after receiving a request from Hawkei manufacturer Thales Australia for ‘commercial interests’ has set a precedent for such reports.
“During the course of the audit, the Attorney-General issued a certificate under section 37 of the Auditor-General Act 1997 (the Act) preventing the publication of certain material in the final audit report,” a statement from the committee said. “The Committee will continue its consideration of matters relating to the issuing of the certificate and the publication of the report.”
Many of the issues raised in the first hearing related to the timeline of the request to have the report amended.
ADM understands that both Defence and the ANAO followed their respective duties under the relevant ANAO legalisation, a well worn path for both parties, and the hearing will focus on the role of the Attorney General, the Defence Ministerial team and Thales Australia.
Stay tuned as the hearing comes together.