Page 761 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 1 May 2007
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In closing, it is of serious concern that we now have a government that no longer issues what would be deemed regular financial update reporting. Why? Because the ACT Treasury do not believe the information to be of any use.
I commend this MPI to the Assembly today. I ask the government to reconsider their position on these reports. It does look suspicious—it looks a bit shady—and I am sure that it is not the image that they want to portray.
MR STANHOPE (Ginninderra—Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Business and Economic Development, Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Minister for the Environment, Water and Climate Change, Minister for the Arts) (4.27): I thank the member for raising this important matter of public importance today. Accountability for the use of public funds is a central tenet of our democratic system of government. While it is important that the executive arm of government is able to implement its policies and make decisions, it is equally important that it is accountable to the people for the use of public moneys.
I think it is fair to say that improvement in accountability and transparency in Australia, and more broadly in the Western world, is an ongoing process that has been going on now for well over 100 years. In Australia these principles have been at the forefront of administrative law reform. It is also fair to say that in its brief history since self-government the ACT has often led other jurisdictions in improving accountability and transparency to the Assembly and to the general community.
My government takes the question of accountability very seriously. It is not just an esoteric principle; it goes to the heart of having a functioning democracy. It goes to the heart of giving confidence to the community in their system of government and in the decisions their elective representatives make. We have introduced substantial reforms, since coming into government, to enhance accountability. Before coming to those, for the benefit of members it would be helpful if I outline some of the key elements of the accountability framework in the ACT.
Members would be well aware that the ACT operates under an appropriation framework similar to other jurisdictions. All expenditures of public moneys are to be subject to an appropriation. This is the overarching control of the Legislative Assembly on the expenditure of public moneys. The Financial Management Act 1996 supports this framework and regulates the conduct of government and its instrumentalities.
What is important to note is that the act requires specification of outputs as well as inputs relating to appropriations; production of a range of accountability documents, notable amongst which are the budget papers and the annual reports; audited financial statements of government agencies and the overall territory accounts by the Auditor-General; and regular reporting by the Legislative Assembly on outputs and financial performance. A range of regulations and administrative procedures ensure accountability at the operational level for the public sector. Members will be well aware that such procedures are subject to independent review by the Auditor-General.
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