Dear Minister,
We present the Department of Defence Annual Report 2019–20 for the year ended 30 June 2020. The report has been prepared for the purposes of section 46 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). Subsection 46(1) of the PGPA Act requires that an annual report be provided to the responsible Minister for presentation to the Parliament.

The report reflects the mandatory requirements as prescribed by the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014 (PGPA Rule). It includes Defence’s audited financial statements, as required by subsection 43(4) of the PGPA Act, and Defence’s annual performance statements, as required by section 39 of the PGPA Act.

Consistent with the requirements set out in Section 10 of the PGPA Rule, we certify that Defence has conducted whole-of-Defence fraud risk assessments as part of its biennial fraud and corruption control planning cycle. We also certify that Defence has in place reasonable and appropriate measures, mechanisms and programs to prevent, detect, investigate, record and confidentially report suspected fraud and corruption.

Yours sincerely,

cc the Hon Darren Chester MP, the Hon Alex Hawke MP, the Hon Melissa Price MP