Page 1969 - Week 06 - Thursday, 9 June 2016
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A range of other issues pertaining to Australasian public accounts committees was also discussed. These included (i) the role of public accounts committees in ex-post scrutiny of public works projects; (ii) external reviews of audit offices, with an update on contemporary legislation, this item being led by the ACT Standing Committee on Public Accounts; (iii) ACPAC’s representation on the Australian Accounting Standards Board; (iv) updating of financial accountability legislation as it relates to reviews of audit, financial management and public accounts committees statutory frameworks; (v) reporting service information, the Australian Accounting Standards Board’s exposure draft ED 270, the objective of the proposed standard being to establish principles and requirements for not-for-profit entities to report service performance information that is useful for accountability and decision-making purposes, and the standard being expected to apply to not-for-profit entities in the private and public sectors that prepare general purpose financial statements; and (vi) highlights from jurisdiction reports—innovations, opportunities and emerging issues.
The Northern Territory Auditor-General, Ms Julie Crisp, presented to the meeting on the AASB’s exposure draft, reporting service information. The Northern Territory’s deputy administrator, Mrs Patricia Miller AO, shared with delegates her personal reflections as an Indigenous leader in the territory. Mrs Miller was appointed as deputy administrator of the Northern Territory in 2002. She is the first female Indigenous Australian to hold such a position, and as a member of the Arrernte people she is also the first Northern Territory native title holder to hold such a position.
As an adjunct to the meeting, the evening before the official opening, delegates were privileged to be invited to attend an exhibition of artwork from prisoners at the Alice Springs Correctional Centre. The exhibition formed part of an active art program at the correctional centre, in conjunction with Art Escape at the Art Shed in Alice Springs, which enables inmates to develop art and business skills. All proceeds from the sale of artworks go to victims of crime and support prison programs. In addition to paintings, sculptures and woodwork, the exhibition featured traditional carvings from mulga trees, which are central to an Indigenous peer mentoring program within the correctional centre that is focused on encouraging older men to pass on knowledge to their younger peers. As to the effectiveness of the art program, delegates were told that it was therapeutic for the inmates involved and that the correctional centre was seeing an improvement in behaviour and better prospects for rehabilitation.
The committee sincerely thanks the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee and its secretariat for its warm welcome and efforts in hosting and arranging the 2016 ACPAC mid-term meeting.
Public Accounts—Standing Committee
Statement by chair
MR SMYTH (Brindabella): Pursuant to standing order 246A I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts in relation to reportable contracts under section 39 of the Government Procurement Act 2001.
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