COMMITTEES

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (17:34): I present two government responses to committee reports as listed on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard. Leave granted.

The documents read as follows— Australian Government response to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit report: Report 477: Commonwealth Financial Statements—Second Report July 2026 Response Recommendation 1 2.9 The Committee recommends that: x the Northern Land Council report back to the Committee on progress in responding to the two significant legislative breaches reported by the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in Audit Report No. 24 (2017-18) x should the ANAO audit of the financial statements of the Council for the period ended 30 June 2018 result in any significant legislative breaches being reported, whether new or unresolved from 2016-17, the Council promptly report back to the Committee on progress in responding to such findings.

Response The Northern Land Council (NLC) notes the recommendations. The NLC has provided responses to later audit reports (specifically Report 488 in 2022) that provides the necessary update to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit on the NLCs actions to address recommendation 477 of report No. 24. _____ Australian Government response to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit report Report 488 Commonwealth Financial Statements 2019-20 OVERVIEW On 31 March 2022, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (the Committee) tabled Report 488—Commonwealth Financial Statements 2019-20 (Report 488).

Report 488 made recommendations to Commonwealth entities, including one recommendation directed to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, relevant to matters within the National Indigenous Australians Agency's portfolio responsibilities. The Committee recommends that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet investigate potential amendment to the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 to accommodate for situations where payments cannot be distributed to traditional owners within the timeframe nominated due to the absence of identifiable traditional owners.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE The Government notes the recommendation. Given the passage of time since the report, the Government provides the following update: In relation to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 (Cth), the Commonwealth works in consultation with the Northern Territory Land Councils. The National Indigenous Australians Agency meets regularly with the sector.