Page 2992 - Week 10 - Thursday, 15 September 1994
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We are not satisfied, given the standards of the database, that the Auditor-General's conclusions can be substantiated. We are not saying that he was wrong in principle. We are not saying that, if you examined the data, you could not reasonably come to the conclusions that the Auditor-General has come to. But we suggest that, before the Government acts on them, there are certain things that need to be done. They include such things as creating the capability to develop a proper database that will allow comparisons of the kind attempted by the Auditor-General to be properly done and so that you can argue afterwards that your conclusions are soundly based.
We also dealt with the question of developing performance indicators. There was some criticism of performance within the education system; but, once again, when you examine the situation, you discover that the performance indicators have not been defined and there is not enough information to be able to determine whether or not performance indicators had been met. So, while we believe that the Auditor-General had some valid things to say about the department and the schooling system, the committee does not feel that it can stand solidly behind the Auditor-General's comments in this case. We do believe that action needs to be taken by the Minister to create the kind of database that is necessary to allow a useful comparison to be done in the future. I commend the report to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Moore) adjourned.
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 5 of 1994
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, I present report No. 12 of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts entitled "Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 5, 1994 - Annual Management Report for the Year ended 30 June 1994". I seek leave to make a brief statement in relation to that report.
Leave granted.
MR KAINE: The resolution of appointment of the Public Accounts Committee provides, inter alia, for the committee to examine all reports of the Auditor-General that have been laid before the Assembly. Auditor-General's report No. 5 of 1994 was presented to the Assembly by the Speaker on 23 August this year and, as a consequence, has come before this committee for its consideration. The report is, in effect, the annual report of the Audit Office. While there is no legislative requirement for the Auditor-General to provide such a report, he has prepared this report in the form of an annual report in the interests of accountability. The report complies with the Chief Minister's directions relating to annual management reports and the requirements of the Estimates Committee of this Assembly.
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