Audit inquiry turns to health and welfare

Health and welfare groups are among the next round of witnesses to face a parliamentary inquiry into the federal government's commission of audit for commonwealth expenditure.

The Senate inquiry will hear from the Australian Health and Hospitals Association, and Australian Council of Social Services, among 10 groups in Canberra on Tuesday.

Final recommendations from the inquiry are expected to be released in March, before the coalition's first budget, due in May.

The commission has been instructed to only focus on the expenditure side of the budget.