Commonwealth Auditor-General Grant Hehir will conduct a second investigation into the federal government’s use of contractors, consultants and labour-hire firms. His first probe indicated that the government was spending so much in this area that Parliament’s joint committee of public accounts and audit ordered an inquiry into its use of external firms. Hehir’s second investigation comes at a time when the government has indicated that it will impose an additional $1.5 billion in cuts on federal departments and agencies. From The AFR:
Mr Hehir’s original report… showed the government had entered into contracts worth $47.4 billion in the 2017 financial year alone…
Separate data revealed by the Financial Review last year showed the big four firms earned $1.7 billion from the federal government between 2012-13 and 2016-17. During this time, the big four have also emerged as major political donors…
