NDIA Board - Protocols Parliamentary Inquiries

Question

Senator STEELE-JOHN: Okay. So what does need board authorisation, Mr Head? Mr Head: Well, the board exercises its powers and its accountable authority role through placing requirements on the CEO, through accountable authority instructions which delegate things, but also those instructions and other policies of the board would determine what the agency needs to bring to either the board or a committee of the board. Those accountable authority instructions are detailed and lengthy. They are recently, and regularly, updated. So we can provide the committee with the accountable authority instructions to the CEO. Senator STEELE-JOHN: So those instructions have recently been updated-is that correct? Mr Head: They're routinely and regularly updated to deal with financial delegation issues and a whole host of things that are necessary for the proper administration of the agency's functions. Senator STEELE-JOHN: Okay. So that the committee is clear, am I correct, Mr Fearnley, that the authorisation of submissions to parliamentary inquiries is a power that the board has delegated to the CEO? Mr Head: The board effectively sets protocols about those things that require me to produce things for the board. I'd need to take on notice what specific comments, if any, are made in protocols about parliamentary inquiries. Since I started in the role, I believe that I've observed the protocols in submitting material to any and all of the parliamentary inquiries that we've provided material to.

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• NDIA SQ26-000282.pdf (opens in a new tab)