Audit Committee

The Safe Work Australia Audit Committee operates in accordance with the requirements of the PGPA Act and PGPA Rule 17 – Audit Committee for Commonwealth Entities.

The Audit Committee provides independent assurance and assistance to the CEO on the integrity of Safe Work Australia’s:

• financial data and processes
• risks, controls and compliance framework, and
• external accountability responsibilities.

Further detail on the Audit Committee’s functions can be found in the Safe Work Australia Audit Committee Charter: https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/doc/safe-work-australia-audit-committee-charter-2019

The Audit Committee members during the period were:

Mathew Ford, Chair

Mathew Ford is a Certified Practising Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Business degree. Mathew is currently working in the Commonwealth Public Service, where he has held several senior positions, across various portfolios, in the areas of finance, human resources, governance, risk, audit and assurance and strategy. Mathew has also worked in the Victorian Public Service in logistics and emergency management roles.

Alfred Bongi

Alfred Bongi holds formal accounting, economics and mediator qualifications and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Alfred’s career included 36 years’ experience in the Australian Public Service, 13 of which were at the Senior Executive level. Alfred also has over 10 years’ experience in Commonwealth governance, fraud, audit and risk committees.

Maria Storti

Maria Storti is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Australian Institute of Internal Auditors, and holds a Masters in Business Administration and a degree in economics. Maria serves as an independent chair and member of Commonwealth audit committees and is a non-executive director. She is a former Ernst & Young performance advisory partner and early in her career had over 10 years’ experience with PwC in their audit and consultancy practices. She has also held senior executive roles in various industries and government.

Anthea Raven

Anthea Raven was an internal Audit Committee member until June 2020. Further information on Anthea’s skills, experience and qualifications is included in ‘The Executive Leadership team’ in Part 5.

Remuneration

Remuneration paid to Audit Committee members for the period is set out below:

The Audit Committee met 5 times during 2019–20, including a September 2019 meeting at which it endorsed Safe Work Australia’s 2018–19 financial statements and annual performance statement.

A number of observers regularly attended these meetings, including members of Safe Work Australia’s Executive team and the Chief Financial Officer, as well as representatives of the internal audit provider, KPMG, and the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO).

Internal audit

The internal audit program provides assurance to the Audit Committee and the CEO in relation to the efficiency and effectiveness of the policies and procedures of Safe Work Australia.

In 2019–20 the internal audit function was provided by KPMG.