The Australian National Audit Office issued an unmodified opinion for the financial statements.

A summary of the department’s financial performance for departmental activities and activities administered on behalf of the Government is provided below.

Departmental activities

The departmental operating result for 2020–21 was a surplus of $7.351m compared to a deficit of $7.612m million in 2019–20. After adjustment for unfunded depreciation of $14.449 million, the underlying result is a surplus of $21.8 million primarily due to a strong performance by the Australian Government Solicitor over the financial year and lower than anticipated demand for major departmental demand driven programs.

Activities administered on behalf of the Australian Government

The total administered expenses for 2020–21 was $713.490 million compared to $897.952 million in 2019–20. The major expenses in 2020–21 include $289.294 million in grant payments, $139.610 million in special appropriation payments to the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation, and $104.889 million for the royal commissions including legal assistance for witnesses.

The total administered revenue for 2020–21 includes $139.610 million in levies collected by the Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation and personal benefit recoveries of $47.234 million under the Fair Entitlements Guarantee Act 2012.