The nation’s top audit institution has turned down a request to investigate the use of public funds allocated towards the Exclusive Brethren’s OneSchool Global schools.
In a letter to Senator David Shoebridge, and published on its website, the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) said it would not include an audit of OneSchool Global schools as part of its 2024-25 work program.
In late July, Senator Shoebridge (pictured) asked the ANAO to conduct a “follow the money investigation” to “provide public certainty about these funding allocations”.
The request followed claims, reported by The Guardian, that the schools had awarded lucrative building contracts to members of the Exclusive Brethren. OneSchool Global schools, which are registered charities and exempt from income tax, have received more than $130 million in taxpayer funds over the past five years.
The ANAO’s Acting Auditor-General, Rona Mellor, told Senator Shoebridge the timing of his request meant the ANAO could not include an audit in its work program.
“I have considered your request and decided that the matter referred should not replace other areas of audit focus identified in the 2024–25 work program in relation to the Education portfolio,” she said.
“The timing of your request for an audit of Brethren’s OneSchool Global schools means that the ANAO was not able to consider this topic in its planning for the work program.”
In his request, Senator Shoebridge said the ANAO had the power to investigate and provide “much needed transparency and accountability” in regards to the expenditure of public funds.
“If a donation or a public grant is given to a school building fund and then spent on a construction contract to a related entity without a value for money tender process that would be a serious matter and worthy of review by your office,” he said.
According to The Guardian, the parliament passed laws in 2011 to give the Auditor-General extra powers to examine the flow of federal funds in order to address concerns about how government grants were being spent.
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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.
Image: David Shoebridge (Facebook)