Page 1187 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Government Service - Overtime and Redundancy Payments
MR LAMONT: My question is also directed to the Chief Minister. Can the Chief Minister tell the Assembly what action she proposes to take on recent allegations about improper overtime and redundancy payments in the ACT public service?
MS FOLLETT: I thank Mr Lamont for the question, Madam Speaker. I can say at the outset that I have absolutely no reservations whatsoever about the need for the very highest standards of personnel administration to be observed in all areas of the ACT public sector and for that to be seen to be the case. It is very important that people have confidence in our public sector, and, of course, the public right to scrutiny of government operations is part of my party's platform.
I am aware, through various reports, chiefly from the Auditor-General, of instances of possible overpayments and incorrect allowances paid to officers in some areas of the ACT public service. Specifically, Madam Speaker, the Government is addressing the issues that were raised by the Auditor-General in his report No. 6 which is entitled "Financial audits for the year ending 30 June 1992". That report was tabled in this Assembly in December of last year and it remains before the Public Accounts Committee. In no way am I pre-empting either the Public Accounts Committee's consideration or the Government's response to the PAC. The report does raise issues in relation to the general quality of financial systems, to management and accountability, and to the timeliness of some financial reports; but perhaps most pertinently today it also raises the issue of fraud control measures across the ACT Government Service. The steps that the Government is taking to respond to the Auditor-General's findings have been made public and they have been transmitted to the Public Accounts Committee. I have instructed my department to give every assistance to the PAC in their deliberations on these matters and I understand that there are hearings on Friday of this week to look at this report.
I am aware also, Madam Speaker, of recent allegations about overpayments which may have occurred in the past few years and, most recently, procedures for the handling of redundancies. The Head of Administration has recently appointed authorised officers under the Public Service Act to examine two specific instances. I have been concerned myself to take some action on this matter and, given that there has been extensive consideration of the approval procedures and related financial matters already undertaken by the Auditor-General, I have written to him asking him to follow up the work that he has already done by reviewing the approval and payment processes for overtime, for allowances and for redundancies. That would, of course, include any general findings on administrative weaknesses from the examinations of the two specific matters that are currently under review.
I regard the examination by the Auditor-General and his subsequent report to this Assembly, and consideration by the Public Accounts Committee, of course, as the appropriate course of action for me to take. It does parallel the approach taken in relation to fraud control in the Auditor-General's report No. 6, and there is no intention whatsoever to whitewash this matter. The report will be provided to this Assembly. I would like to table for the information of members a copy of my letter to the Auditor-General on this matter.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .