CHAIR (Ms Grierson) —Thank you for your attendance today. I open today’s public hearing which examines the Auditor-General’s role in scrutinising agencies’ compliance with guidelines on government advertising campaigns. In June 2008 the government announced new guidelines for its advertising, including a formal scrutiny role for the Auditor-General for all campaigns over $250,000 to help ensure that the guidelines are being met. Today, the committee will investigate how the Auditor-General is discharging this new responsibility and any issues that may be arising. I welcome Mr McPhee and other witnesses from the Audit Office, in addition to witnesses from the Department of Finance and Deregulation, and the Commonwealth Independent Auditor, Mr Wilson, of KPMG. I ask participants to remember that only members of the committee can put questions to witnesses if this hearing is to constitute formal proceedings of the parliament and attract parliamentary privilege. If other participants wish to raise issues for discussion, I would ask them to direct comments to the committee. It will not be possible, of course, for participants to directly respond to each other. Secondly, given the short time available today, statements and comments by witnesses should be relevant and succinct where possible. I do remind witnesses that the hearings today are legal proceedings of the parliament and warrant the same respect as proceedings in the House and the Senate. The giving of false or misleading evidence is a serious matter and may be regarded as contempt of parliament. The evidence given today will be recorded by Hansard and will attract parliamentary privilege. The committee has received a submission from the Auditor-General that has been circulated to members. I ask a member to move that the submission be authorised for publication.

Mr GEORGIOU —So moved.

[11.12 am]