New watchdog for federal grants

Dr Caralee McLiesh, an award-winning Australian economist, will take the post vacated by Grant Hehir, who stepped down from the role in February after nine years, a year before the end of his 10-year appointment. Acting auditor-general Rona Mellor has performed the role since then.

Dr McLiesh will begin as the chief of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) in early November, having acted as chief executive and secretary to the NZ Treasury for the past five years, a stint that included overseeing that country’s economic response to covid-19.

This followed roles with NSW TAFE, NSW Treasury, the World Bank, Red Cross and Boston Consulting. Dr McLiesh was awarded the Public Service Medal of Australia (PSM) in 2017 for her pioneering role in the creation of Australia’s first social impact bond.

Dr McLiesh has been given a 10-year term at the ANAO, with the post announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Mr Albanese said the role was important “in upholding accountability and transparency”.

The ANAO has overseen a string of significant investigations into grants management in recent years; one of its recent reports found that none of the grants programs it had investigated in the four years to June 2024 was “fully effective”.

That report showed the ANAO had made 57 recommendations relating to the 16 grants programs it had audited, prompting it to issue new guidance to grantmakers to help them comply with federal grants rules and guidelines.