Page 354 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
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The committee notes that the Seventh Assembly public accounts committee resolved to inquire further into this report on 10 July 2012 and tabled an interim report on 21 August 2012. The government response to that report was tabled on 16 May 2013.
Given the significance of, and public interest in, the matter central to this report, the committee has actively followed up on progress regarding implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations. The committee has recently received a progress update for each of the recommendations, reflecting their status at the end of January 2014.
The committee notes that significant work against each of the recommendations has taken place, and progress has been achieved in relation to each, with work complete, close to completion or well underway. The committee emphasises that it is the action taken by applicable agencies to implement audit recommendations that is all important in helping achieve better efficiency and improving accountability of the government, not the recommendations per se.
The committee has resolved to make no further inquiries into the audit report. However, the committee has written to the heath minister requesting that a further update on the implementation of recommendations be provided to reflect their status at the end of the 2013-14 financial year.
The last report is Auditor-General’s report No 8 of 2012, Australian Capital Territory public service recruitment practices. On 25 October 2012, Auditor-General’s report No 8 of 2012 was referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry. This report presented the results of a performance audit of the recruitment practices of four ACT public service agencies—the Health Directorate, the Education and Training Directorate, the Justice and Community Safety Directorate and CIT. The audit report reviewed these agencies’ compliance with the Public Sector Management Act 1994, relevant standards, policies and guidelines.
At 6 pm, in accordance with standing order 34, the debate was interrupted. The motion for the adjournment of the Assembly having been put and negatived, the debate was resumed.
MR SMYTH: The report contained seven recommendations. I know members are hanging out to find out what they were. The committee received a briefing from the Auditor-General in relation to the audit report on 5 February 2013, and a submission from the government dated 7 May 2013. In its submission, the government agreed to all seven recommendations.
Given the significance of recruitment action and practice to the territory budget, in the form of recurrent liabilities, the committee has actively followed up on progress regarding implementation of the audit report recommendations. The committee has received a progress update for each of the recommendations reflecting their status—in February 2014. The committee notes that significant work against each of the recommendations has taken place, and progress has been achieved in relation to each, with work complete, close to completion or well underway.
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