Gun Buy Back Scheme - The Australian National Audit Office

Management of the surrender process in the
ACT by the AFP
4. The ANAO found that management of the surrender
process by the AFP in the ACT was generally effective.
The ANAO found adequate evidence of disposal of all
weapons in the sample tested. The ANAO found no
evidence of fraud or mismanagement. However, the
ANAO considers that there was scope for improving the
processes relating to ensuring the accuracy of
surrender records. Greater accuracy would have
enabled greater efficiency in management and
monitoring of transactions. Identified shortcomings
were due to:
• limitations in the design of the existing computer
database; and
• a lack of effective procedural checks to maintain the
quality of records management.
5. During the course of the audit, the ANAO suggested
that the AFP should validate all existing computer
records through manual reconciliation of surrender
forms with destruction schedules before the
computerised weapons register could be relied upon as
a primary management information system. The AFP
advised that about 90 per cent of records had been
validated by the conclusion of the ANAO’s audit
fieldwork.
6. The ACT Auditor-General found that procedures
and controls in the ACT Attorney-General's Department
in relation to payment of compensation on the basis of
surrender schedules provided by the AFP were sound.
The Gun Buy-Back Scheme 15