Page 2917 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 August 1991
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I would expect that later reports from the Auditor-General will reflect much improved performance from the relevant officers of the public service, who, I know, are as concerned as we are about some of the comments that were made.
In concluding the presentation of the committee's report I would like to strongly reiterate the committee's view that the establishment and operation of an independent ACT Government Audit Office is an essential and integral element of self-government. The committee views freedom for the Auditor-General to express such opinions as he considers necessary as being fundamental. Without this freedom the ability of the Auditor-General to fully discharge his duties to the members of the Legislative Assembly is limited. The Legislative Assembly can provide the necessary protection to the Auditor-General for him to report freely. Accountability measures will be helpful in the evolution of an effective and responsible Government Service that can discharge its duties to the community.
MR MOORE (4.16): It is with great pleasure that I rise to speak to this report. As a recently arrived member of the Public Accounts Committee, it has been very interesting for me to begin to learn the operations of a public accounts committee. It is also interesting to observe the work of the Auditor-General and the impact that it is having on the ACT public service.
I think it is very important for the public service to realise that the old days of being a minor part of a government department in which the auditing was not done in such detail have long gone and that not only will the Auditor-General seek accountability but also that will be followed up by the Public Accounts Committee and then followed up again by the government of the day. It is a very important function, and one which I think will bring about appropriate accountability.
Since I have come into this Assembly it seems to me that we have received a number of wide-ranging annual reports, with their audited statements, that are two years or 18 months overdue. It is quite clear that if we are going to have any sense of accountability we cannot possibly allow that sort of thing to continue. The issue has been highlighted by the Auditor-General, particularly in his reference to those audited statements.
It is a major step forward to have the Auditor-General produce his reports and then the Public Accounts Committee review each of them, and, of course, to give people the opportunity to respond. One thing that has been of great interest to me is to watch how different departments respond. One example that Mr Kaine drew attention to was the Casino Surveillance Authority. The Auditor had pointed out a fault in vehicle use and it was immediately rectified. It is not surprising that in complicated
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