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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (22 April) . . Page.. 1139 ..

MR QUINLAN (11.19): Mr Speaker, I present Public Accounts Committee Report No. 17 of the Standing Committee for the Chief Minister's Portfolio, entitled "Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 9 of 1998 - Financial Audits With Years Ending to June 1998", together with a copy of the extracts of the minutes of proceedings. I move:

Mr Speaker, taken together, the bottom lines of the reports do not represent all that much of a pretty sight, and I do recommend to members that they peruse the summary that was prepared by our secretary and adopted by the committee. I guess the primary function of the public accounts committee in this regard is to review the preparation of the reports, and we will have a whole new system next year for examining the content thereof.

The committee did note some shortcomings. The auditor pointed up some shortcomings in relation to accountability within certain agencies and some failures to meet budget. The committee accepts that some of the smaller agencies which are less resourced than others may have experienced difficulties in coming to grips with the imperatives of new financial initiatives, but it expects these problems will be rectified.

Again, this is one of those audit reports that get a government response that says, "We are looking at that and it will all be right next time". I do commend the recommendations of the report and, in particular, recommendation No. 2 - that the Government inform the Assembly on the specific measures to be applied ensuring that agencies address the accounting and budgetary failings identified by the audit. I commend the committee's report to the Assembly.

Debate (on motion by Ms Carnell ) adjourned.

MR HIRD: Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to inform the parliament that on 16 April this year the Standing Committee on Urban Services resolved that the following statement be made on planning for community facilities at Kippax:

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the Standing Committee on Urban Services, I would like to inform the parliament about the committee's activity in relation to the issue of planning for community facilities at Kippax. This matter came to the committee's attention earlier this year when local residents requested that certain blocks at Kippax shopping centre be permanently set aside for community purposes only. At present, the Territory Plan shows this land as "commercial", which permits community use as well as cultural facilities, health facilities, indoor recreation facilities, offices, restaurants and residential use.

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