- 2023-24 Annual Reports
- The New Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework has commenced
- Updates to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, and introduction of the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct effective 1 July 2024
- Risk and Insurance – Education
- Risk and Insurance – Communities of Practice
- Greenhouse gas emissions reporting for 2023-24
- Tip of the Month
2023-24 Annual Reports
Invitations have been sent to pre-registered users to log into the DART to commence the process.
RMG-135 Annual reports for non-corporate Commonwealth entities, RMG-136 Annual reports for corporate Commonwealth entities and RMG-137 Annual reports for Commonwealth companies are available on the Finance website to support you in the development of your annual report. In addition, there are a series of short training videos demonstrating some of the most common functions of the DART.
These include:
- How to navigate through your annual report,
- What to do when you first access the DART,
- How to create chapters, sections; and upload a PDF of the Independent Auditor’s Statement.
In addition, a zip file containing all of the annual report data templates in excel format that require completion has been issued to registered users. These templates are also available (in Word), under Tools and templates within the RMGs.
Need further assistance? Contact dar@finance.gov.au for any queries on accessing the GovTEAMs community, the use of the DART or any annual report matters.
The New Commonwealth Fraud and Corruption Control Framework has commenced
The new framework is an important part of the government’s reforms to improve the standards of integrity across the public sector and trust in government.
The framework consists of the:
- Fraud and Corruption Rule (section 10 of the PGPA Rule). The Rule sets out the minimum standards for accountable authorities in relation to managing the risk and incidents of fraud and corruption.
- Fraud and Corruption Policy - an Australian Government Policy which is binding for all non-corporate Commonwealth entities. Corporate Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth Companies are encouraged to adopt the Fraud and Corruption Policy as better practice.
- Fraud and Corruption Guidance (RMG-201 Preventing, detecting and dealing with fraud and corruption) - provides further guidance on the Australian Government’s expectations for fraud and corruption control arrangements for all Commonwealth entities.
The new framework is focused on prevention, which helps us to avoid the serious harms fraud and corruption causes for the community and the public sector.
The most significant change in the new framework is the expansion of its application to corruption. The new requirements will improve Commonwealth entities’ ability to manage fraud and corruption effectively through appropriate governance structures and oversight, effective risk management processes, and regular reviews and reporting on risks, controls and incidents.
To learn more about the new framework or the support available, go to Counterfraud.gov.au or reach out to the Commonwealth Fraud Prevention Centre at info@counterfraud.gov.au.
Updates to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, and introduction of the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct effective 1 July 2024
On 17 June 2024 the Minister for Finance, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, published a Media Release announcing updates to the Commonwealth Procurement Rules (CPRs), and the introduction of the Commonwealth Supplier Code of Conduct (Code).
The CPRs and the Code are effective as of 1 July 2024.
The updated CPRs and the Code can be found on the Department of Finance Procurement Policy website.
RMG-423 Procurement Publishing and Reporting Obligations, will be updated on the Finance website shortly to reflect the updates to the CPRs.
If you have questions regarding either the CPRs or the Code, please contact procurementagencyadvice@finance.gov.au.
Risk and Insurance – Education
Risk education
Finance offers risk education across four different pathways:
- Foundation level: to support Commonwealth officials (in any role) understand basic risk management concepts. This pathway comprises two eLearning courses available through the Comcover Learning Centre
- Generalist level: to support Commonwealth officials (in any role) who are required to engage with and apply their entity’s risks management framework.
- Specialist level: to support Commonwealth officials (in a risk management role) who are required to design, implement and embed their entity’s risk management framework.
- SES level: to support SES officials (in any role) understand and manage risk from a strategic perspective.
Upcoming training sessions for the General, Specialist and SES levels are provided below:
| Generalist level: Practical risk management | Specialist level: Embedding risk management | SES level: A strategic perspective to managing risk |
| 24 July (Virtual) | 22 July (Day 1) and 29 August (Day 2) (F2F) | 28 August (Virtual) |
| 13 August (F2F) | 19 September (Day 1) and 20 September (Day 2) (Virtual) | 26 September (F2F) |
| 27 September (Virtual) | 22 July (Day 1) and 29 August (Day 2) (F2F) | 19 November (Virtual) |
For more information on these training sessions please visit Education or call 1800 651 540 (Option 2).
Insurance education
Finance is responsible for managing Comcover, the Australian Government’s self-managed insurance fund. All Commonwealth entities that are subject to the PGPA Act and classified to the General Government Sector are members of the Comcover Fund.
Finance offers induction training to Commonwealth officials who have a role in administering the Comcover insurance arrangements for their entity. This induction training provides an overview of what insurable risks are covered by Comcover, the claims process run reports and how to navigate Comcover’s online portal.
Upcoming face-to-face training sessions in Canberra are provided below:
| Comcover Insurance – Induction Training |
| 14 August, 10.30am to 3:30pm |
| 24 September, 10.30am to 3:30pm |
To register please email comcover@comcover.com.au or call 1800 651 540 (option 2).
Risk and Insurance – Communities of Practice
Finance hosts a number of Communities of Practice to support Commonwealth officials, in risk and insurance roles, share knowledge and network with counterparts from other Commonwealth entities. Noting the geographical spread of attendees, these community of practice meetings are hosted online.
Upcoming Communities of Practice meetings include:
| Meeting | Time and Date | Location | RSVP |
| Commonwealth RIsk Managers Forum | 10:30am, Wed 31 July 2024 | Virtual via GovTeams | comcover@comcover.com.au |
| Comcover Insurance Community of Practice | 10:00am, Wed 21 August 2024 | Virtual via GovTeams | comcover@comcover.com.au |
Greenhouse gas emissions reporting for 2023-24
RMG-135 Annual reports for non-corporate Commonwealth entities, RMG-136 Annual reports for corporate Commonwealth entities and RMG-137 Annual reports for Commonwealth companies were updated and point to the Australian Government Emissions Reporting web page for current advice on emissions reporting requirements. The Australian Government Emissions Reporting website will be updated soon to include additional guidance on emissions reporting in 2023-24 annual reports.
A copy of the additional guidance on emission reporting in 2023-24 annual reports was communicated to emissions reporting contacts at Commonwealth entities and companies via email is also available on the Climate Action GovTEAMS community. The additional guidance on emission reporting provides a template of the Emissions Inventory Tables that will need to be included in 2023-24 Annual Reports. Please reach out to your internal emissions reporting team for a copy of the additional guidance, or you may request a copy by emailing us at climateaction@finance.gov.au. Please note, data for Emissions Inventory Tables will not be available until August due to full financial year utilities data not being available until mid to late July.
Amendments to 2022-23 data is not required to be published directly within Annual Reports and should instead be published on entity websites with a link to the relevant page included in Annual Reports.
Please visit Climate Action in Government Operations or contact us at climateaction@finance.gov.au for further information.
Tip of the Month
Did you know that the Flipchart of PGPA Act Commonwealth entities and companies is accompanied by an interactive PGPA bodies list?
The PGPA bodies list provides additional information in relation to enabling legislation and governance related information.
Flipchart and List of PGPA Act Commonwealth entities and companies
