Senate asks Abbott's Commission of Audit to explain itself

Australian Parliament – Senate notice:

On 11 December 2013 a select committee, to be known as the Select Committee into the Abbott Government’s Commission of Audit, was established to inquire into the Commission of Audit established by the Commonwealth Government and, in particular, any report of that Commission to the Government, with interim reports as the committee sees fit and a final report on or before 13 May 2014.

Submissions should be received by 31 January 2014.

Today national audit commissioners are due to appear before this select committee and will be asked what instructions they have been given by ministers on everything from raising the GST to selling off Medibank Private and Australia Post. The proposed $6 Medicare levy and any changes to industrial relations laws will also be topics under scrutiny.

Will some or all of the commissioners attend or will they send their excuses?

The Commission's first phase report is due to be delivered to the Abbott Government by the end of January 2014.