The audit office could investigate the delayed and over budget security upgrade on Parliament House, with the project mired in claims around cocaine, escorts and unpaid bills.
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More than a year overdue, the $75 million project included upgrades to protect the parliament from terrorism, but the entrances remained unfinished and 400 businesses across the country are owed $21 million by one company involved.
Auditor General Grant Hehir released his office's work plan for 2019-20 this week, including a potential audit on the security works, which would assess "the effectiveness of the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) in planning and delivering security works at Parliament House".
"The audit would examine effectiveness in delivering planned security improvements, and also consider costs, benefits and the design integrity of the building."
According to reports, Victorian company Steelvision went into liquidation in March over cashflow issues, but allegations have also been made regarding cociane use, an escort app and a loan from Russian friends.
The upgrades are now set to be finished in October.
Parliament House's still unfinished security works aren't the only thing on the auditor's agenda, with a probe into payments made to encourage senior public servants to resign also listed as a potential audit.
At the same time as the head of Prime Minister and Cabinet Martin Parkinson is set to examine whether former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop are abiding my the ministerial standards, the auditor has flagged the management of the lobbyist register as a potential audit.
Promises made by the government in the lead up to the election will also face scrutiny with the community grants program and the community sport infrastructure program also slated for audit.
Defence spending, an area in which the auditor has taken the department to task, is set to be further audited, including the procurement of the offshore patrol vessels worth $3.6 billion, and the LAND 400 phase two project, worth $5.2 billion.
Auditor-general Hehir could also run the ruler over whether Defence got value for money on the $35 billion Hunter class frigates, to be built in South Australia and delivered by the late 2020s.
Sally Whyte
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
I report on a range of issues in federal politics and the public service, with a real passion for how decisions made in Canberra affect the lives of Australians.
