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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 10 Hansard (12 October) . . Page.. 2980 ..
MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):
Gungahlin Development Authority - Report and financial statements, including the Auditor-General's report, for 1998-99
Legal Aid Commission (ACT) - Report and financial statements, including the Auditor-General's report, for 1998-99
Milk Authority of the ACT - Report and financial statements, including the Auditor-General's report, for 1998-99, pursuant to subsection 59(1) of the Financial Management Act 1996
MR STEFANIAK (Minister for Education) (3.37): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to the Standing Committee for the Chief Minister's Portfolio Public Accounts Committee Report No. 19, entitled "Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 10, 1998 - Management of school repairs and maintenance". The report was presented to the Assembly on 1 July of this year. I move:
That the Assembly takes note of the papers.
Mr Speaker, I am pleased to table the Government's response to the report. I am also pleased to point out that the Auditor-General found that repair and maintenance services in government schools were provided efficiently, economically and generally effectively. Whilst the Auditor-General did not identify any significant weaknesses, he did make a number of sensible suggestions which my department is in the process of implementing.
The tenor of this favourable report card from the Auditor-General is reflected in the findings of the public accounts committee, which made three recommendations. Firstly, the committee recommended that the Government ensure that school repairs and maintenance are provided efficiently. The Government supports that recommendation. As the Auditor-General found, we are already doing so. The sensible suggestions made by the Auditor-General, which are being implemented, can only improve my department's and schools' performance in this regard.
Secondly, the committee recommended that the Government ensure that schools have the necessary resources and training to adequately manage their repairs and maintenance responsibilities. Again, the Government supports that recommendation. I refer at this point to the very favourable comments made by the Auditor-General about my department's school management manual. The Auditor-General commented that the manual was:
... a comprehensive and informative guide for schools. It is at least comparable to and probably superior to others seen by the audit team.
Mr Speaker, my department will continue to provide in-service training for and support to school staff in facilities management.
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