3.6 As noted in paragraph 2.3, at the start of each year, Defence provides Finance with a list of all the projects it expects to refer to the Committee in that year. Finance also reviews the department's Portfolio Budget Statements, and has a staff member on the Defence Infrastructure Sub-committee. In this way, Defence and Finance both make sure all required projects are identified and referred to the Committee.
3.7 All 13 projects reviewed were at or above the threshold amount in the Act at the time of referral (noting the change in threshold level in November 2006 from $6 million to $15 million). Defence advised the ANAO that if a project is close to the level of the threshold, given the accuracy margin of +/- 10 per cent for costs around the time of referral, Finance or the Committee Secretariat is contacted for advice.
3.8 Once a project is identified as requiring referral, there is a step by step task list on the Infrastructure Management System to guide project officers working on direct procurement projects through the various tasks involved in completing all the paperwork and processes associated with the referral.