Annual report
Our annual report summarises our performance, operations, and business highlights for 2024–25. It contains our financial statements, including the opinion of the independent external auditor. It complies with the Financial Accountability Act 2009, Financial and Performance Management Standard 2019, and the detailed requirements set out in the Annual report requirements for Queensland Government agencies. We also recognise our peoples' achievements, and thank our clients and stakeholders for their work with us this year.
Transparency report
Our focus is to deliver quality audits with insightful impacts that meet the expectations and regulatory requirements of our clients. To demonstrate our commitment to audit quality, we have prepared a transparency report for 2024‒25 to provide insights into the way we audit and apply our internal practices. This transparency report covers the audits we delivered in the financial year ended 30 June 2025. It explains our quality program and results, how we seek to improve our audit and assurance practices, and describes our systems of quality management.
View transparency reports archive
Performance statement
Our strategic plan includes indicators of achievement that help us identify to what extent we are achieving our strategic objectives.
Each year we review and refine our performance measures and targets, challenging ourselves to improve the way we engage with our clients and deliver our services.
We also monitor our progress on an ongoing basis and report on our key performance measures in our annual report.
Financial statements
Our certified financial statements are included in our annual report. Our financial statements provide details of our financial position and performance. This statement reports against the budget and target information contained in our Service Delivery Statement.
Service Delivery Statement
Our Service Delivery Statement describes our role, the services we provide, and details of our financial budget and operational performance measures and targets. It is available through the Queensland Government Budget website under the portfolio for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
Charge out rates
The Governance, Energy and Finance Committee has approved the following charge out rates for QAO:
| Position | Approved rate per hour from 1 October 2024 ($) | Approved rate per hour from 1 October 2025 ($) |
|---|---|---|
| Deputy/Assistant Auditor-General (Executive) | 286 | 286 |
| Director/Senior Director (Senior Leader/Leader) | 254 | 254 |
| Director (Leader) | 244 | 244 |
| Senior Manager (AO8/PO6) | 234 | 234 |
| Audit Manager (AO7/PO5) | 211 | 211 |
| Assistant Manager (AO6/PO4) | 194 | 194 |
| Audit Senior (AO5) | 169 | 169 |
| Auditor (AO4) | 151 | 151 |
| Auditor (AO3) | 129 | 129 |
| Auditor (AO2) | 112 | 112 |
The audit fee we charge our clients for audits conducted by QAO staff is based on recovering the operating costs associated with performing the audit.
Strategic and other reviews of the Queensland Audit Office
External reviews of our organisation are an important part of our governance framework. They provide for an independent understanding of our organisation, hold us accountable for how we discharge our mandate, and recommend opportunities for improvement.
Strategic reviews
The Auditor-General Act 2009 provides the mandate for QAO's role. A key accountability measure contained within the legislation is an independent review of our organisation to be conducted at least every 5 years. The Governor in Council appoints the independent reviewers from outside of our organisation, and provides them with the terms of reference. The reviewers then engage with us, our clients, and other key stakeholders to understand how well we are operating and fulfilling our mandate.
2023 strategic review
The 2023 strategic review of the Queensland Audit Office commenced in July 2023. Her Excellency the Governor of Queensland appointed Emeritus Professor Ian O’Connor AC and Moore Australia Audit as the reviewers. The reviewers provided the final report to the Queensland Premier for tabling in parliament on 4 December 2023. The report was tabled in parliament on 15 February 2024.
We welcome the report as an opportunity to have our position and performance independently evaluated and improve our services into the future. We have commenced action on the review recommendations and will report on our progress to the relevant parliamentary committee and to our governance bodies.
2023 Strategic Review of the Queensland Audit Office report