Page 4068 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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PUBLIC ACCOUNTS - STANDING COMMITTEE
Report on Review of Auditor-General's Reports Nos 8 and 9 of 1993 -
Government Response
MS FOLLETT (Chief Minister and Treasurer): Madam Speaker, I seek leave of the Assembly to make a ministerial statement on the Government's response to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts report No. 10, which is entitled "Review of Auditor-General's Reports: No. 8, 1993 Redundancies; No. 9, 1993 Overtime and Allowances".
Leave granted.
MS FOLLETT: I thank members. Madam Speaker, the Auditor-General presented report No. 8, Redundancies, and report No. 9, Overtime and Allowances, to the Legislative Assembly in October and November 1993 respectively. Report No. 8 addressed the effectiveness of redundancies in reducing future costs to the ACT Government, and the appropriateness of payments made for redundancies. Report No. 9 examined the overall effectiveness of management in ensuring that overtime and allowances are paid only when necessary for the economic performance of an agency's functions, and the appropriateness of payments in terms of the various awards and determinations under which the payments of overtime and allowances are made.
The Chief Minister's Department met with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Monday, 7 March 1994, in relation to the Auditor-General's report No. 8, Redundancies. At this meeting three requests for further information were taken on notice. Responses to those questions were provided by letter on 15 March 1994. The committee sought comment from the Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning and the Minister for Urban Services on matters relating to the Auditor-General's report No. 9, Overtime and Allowances. The Minister for the Environment, Land and Planning responded to the committee by letter dated 14 February 1994. The Minister for Urban Services responded to the committee by letter dated 17 March 1994.
Following consideration of the Auditor-General's reports, the committee's report reviewing both redundancies and overtime and allowances was tabled in August 1994, and it provides a comprehensive coverage of the issues raised in the Auditor-General's reports. The Department of Public Administration and Treasury have noted the conclusions and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee, and, where required, action will be taken to put the recommendations into place.
The Government notes that the Auditor-General's report No. 8, Redundancies, found that the use of redundancies has been effective in reducing future costs to the ACT Government, that approval and payment processes in relation to the payment of voluntary redundancies have operated effectively, and that payments have been made in accordance with relevant awards and agreements. I table the Government's response to the Public Accounts Committee's report.
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