14 February 2014
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The Hon Tony Abbott MP |
The Hon Joe Hockey MP |
Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann |
Dear Prime Minister, Treasurer and Minister
In accordance with the Terms of Reference we are pleased to present the First Report of the National Commission of Audit.
This Report – Towards Responsible Government – examines the Commonwealth’s finances. We provide advice and recommendations on what we believe should be done now to ensure that spending is placed on a sustainable long-term footing. Our
recommendations will help to achieve savings sufficient to deliver a surplus of 1 per cent of GDP by 2023-24. We have not considered taxation in detail which is to be reviewed through another process.
The Commission received more than 300 submissions and met with many people within Commonwealth, State and Territory governments and from the broader community. As well as these submissions and the work undertaken by the Commission itself, our Report drew
on material and analysis that was in the public domain. This material is referenced in the Appendix to our Report.
The Commission has focused on the fifteen largest and fastest growing programmes which have driven the unsustainable increases in expenditure commitments.
The Commission will comment further on public sector performance, efficiency and accountability in Phase Two of our Report. However, the Commission believes that there would be further significant savings from an independent in depth review on a portfolio-by-portfolio
basis.
In undertaking its review of the size and scope of government, the Commission concludes that reforming the Federation is a matter of fundamental importance. We have made recommendations to this effect which will strengthen the Federation which has served
us so well.
The Commission has been assisted by a highly professional Secretariat led by Mr Peter Crone. We record our appreciation for the efforts of the talented and motivated women and men drawn from your departments who helped us prepare this Report.
We also record our appreciation for those who have made submissions and given us advice.
Yours faithfully
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| A.F (Tony) Shepherd AO Chairman |
Peter Boxall AO | Tony Cole AO | Robert Fisher AM | The Hon Amanda Vanstone |