This was one of several government reviews of the ABC carried out throughout its history.

It found that while there was no evidence to indicate that the ABC did not comply with its Charter requirements, there was significant scope for the ABC to improve its strategic planning and measurement so that the Corporation could demonstrate just how well it is performing against its Charter requirements.

Overview

The audit was undertaken following advice from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) to the Auditor-General that assurance that ABC programming adequately reflects the ABC\u27s Charter was an audit priority of Parliament. The objective of the audit is to provide Parliament with this assurance. The focus of the audit was on the governance arrangements of the ABC Board and management that enable the ABC to demonstrate the extent to which it is achieving its\u27 Charter obligations, and other related statutory requirements, efficiently and effectively.

The scope of the audit was as follows:


	Review the ABC\u27s corporate governance framework against better practice models. The ANAO had regard to the ABC\u27s unique role as a national public broadcaster established as a budget funded Commonwealth statutory authority subject to the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997.
	Examine the ABC Board\u27s approach to the interpretation of the Charter requirements of the ABC and the setting of strategic directions, and management\u27s administrative arrangements for implementing the strategic directions established by the Board.
	Examine the ABC\u27s performance information framework, the development, documentation and use of performance measures in relation to targets and/or objectives, the monitoring and reporting of performance and its\u27 inter-relationship with the corporate planning and budgetary processes, particularly in relation to the strategic directions set by the Board.


The audit did not examine the overall management of the ABC. In keeping with the audit scope, the audit examined ways in which the ABC aligns its\u27 strategic directions with its\u27 Charter requirements for programs broadcast on radio, television and on-line and assures itself, and Parliament, about the achievement of its\u27 Charter obligations. Further, the audit did not examine the operations of ABC Enterprises or symphony orchestras that operate as ABC-owned subsidiary companies.

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Part of the Policy History Collection