The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit has released its report on its inquiry into the Attorney-General Department’s (AGD’s) procurement of mandated national support and advocacy services for victims of child sexual abuse.
The delivery of these services was in response to the recommendations of the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse. The inquiry reviewed and further investigated the 2025 report of the Auditor-General on these procurements.
The Chair of the Committee, Josh Burns MP, stated that ‘the audit findings were serious. AGD did not ensure open and effective competition, there were substantial delays in the processes, non-compliant tenders were accepted for evaluation, ethical and probity standards were not met, and value for money could not be demonstrated.’
Mr Burns further remarked that ‘the inquiry evidence was consistent with these audit findings. Although funding was allocated in the 2021-22 Budget for these services, the market was not approached until late 2023. Of particular concern to the Committee is that although a contract for the national offending prevention service was eventually executed in July 2025, negotiations for the other service to support non-offending family members collapsed in October 2024. It remains uncertain as to when, or how, it will now be delivered.’
The Committee had made two recommendations to AGD. An immediate update on the status of these services in required in the first instance. Second, AGD must report again in six months on its implementation of the audit recommendations, including concrete examples drawn from ongoing and planned procurement activity.
The report is available for download on the inquiry website.
Media inquiries
Kitty Middleton, Office of Josh Burns MP
0429 044 218
For background information
Committee Secretariat
jcpaa@aph.gov.au
