Managing the Australian Government's Intellectual Property: The Management and Accrual Budgeting Frameworks for FMA Act Agencies

摘要

The Auditor-General's performance audit report entitled Intellectual Property Policies and Practices in Commonwealth Agencies is the first dedicated audit of the Australian government's intellectual property policies and management practices. This article argues that, in conducting the performance audit, the Auditor-General failed to properly consider the management and accrual budgeting frameworks applying to parts of the Australian government under the financial framework set out in the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth). The article concludes that the proper place for the Australian government's intellectual property policy and practice to be addressed is through the existing management framework, with the Chief Executive Instructions setting out the detailed policies and practices, and the existing accrual budgeting framework, where the Finance Minister's Orders already require the identifying, recording and valuing of intellectual property.