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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 14 Hansard (12 December) . . Page.. 5113 ..

Mr Speaker, today I wish to table the Government's Response to the Assembly's Standing Committee on Public Accounts' Report No. 4 on the Auditor General's Report No 4 1996 - Land Joint Ventures.

During 1995 the Auditor General conducted a performance audit on land joint ventures. The Auditor General conducted his audit by investigating two of the current nine joint ventures, Harcourt Hill and Dunlop Hills Estate. He tabled his report in the Assembly on 28 March 1996.

The audit's major objectives were to develop an independent opinion on whether the Land Development Joint Venture Agreements were being managed effectively and that the ACT's financial interests were appropriately protected.

The Auditor General's overall opinion was that the joint venture arrangements are being managed effectively and that the ACT's financial interests are appropriately protected.

The Auditor General made five recommendations for action.

At the request of Mr Bill Wood, MLA, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, I forwarded to the Committee the Government's proposed Action Plan in response to the Auditor General's recommendations for action. In the proposed Action Plan we agreed to adopt the first four of the Auditor General's recommendations. In accordance with the fifth recommendation, we also agreed to appoint the Auditor General as auditor for all future joint ventures. In respect of current joint ventures, agreement would be subject to concurrent agreement of our joint venture partners in each case.

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts supported the Government's adoption of the first four recommendations for action. It also recommended that the Government inform the Assembly on progress in appointing the Auditor General as auditor to the current joint ventures in accordance with the fifth recommendation.

I am happy to inform the Assembly that all our joint venture partners have since agreed in principle to appoint the Auditor General. I am advised that the resignation of the existing auditors, and the appointment of the Auditor General will be finalised shortly.

I can now state that the Government has agreed to implement all of the Auditor General's recommendations for action concerning land joint ventures.

Mr Speaker, I now table the Government's Response.

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