The Bureau of Meteorology Audit Committee has responsibility for fostering the development and implementation within the Bureau of:

• an effective and efficient audit service;
• compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• reliable financial and management reporting;
• an appropriate fraud control plan, with supporting procedures; and
• risk identification and management processes.

The Audit Committee met three times during 2003-04, in August, January and April. The major focus of the Committee for the year was the oversight of:

• the annual audit program (including financial, program, Regional Office and IT-based audits);
• the approval of the Bureau's 2002-03 financial statements;
• the development of new procedures to support accountability at all levels within the 2003-04 financial statements process;
• the development of new fraud and risk management procedures;
• the development of a new asset management manual; and
• the Bureau's response to the Australian National Audit Office management letters.

Figure 34. The senior staff of the Bureau of Meteorology at 30 June 2004.