Page 2013 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 5 June 1990
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Ministerial Statement and Paper
MR KAINE (Chief Minister) (3.41): Since we have now courteously and decently allowed the Chief Minister to make a statement I will proceed to make it, despite Mr Berry's objections.
Mr Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on me to advise the Legislative Assembly concerning the arrangements which the ACT Government has recently agreed to on the appointment of an ACT Auditor-General and the operation of that office from 1 July 1990. This represents a further and very significant milestone in the development of the ACT Government's administrative independence from the Commonwealth.
In essence, the arrangements will mean that from 1 July 1990 the ACT Government will no longer have to rely on the Commonwealth Auditor-General's Office to undertake external audit responsibilities for the ACT Government. Instead, the establishment of an ACT Auditor-General's Office will ensure accountability to the Legislative Assembly and the ACT community on the financial management and administration of Government programs.
External audit services to the Australian Capital Territory are currently provided by the Australian National Audit Office with the Commonwealth Auditor-General undertaking the role of the Auditor-General of the Territory as provided for under section 14 of the Commonwealth's ACT Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988. The Commonwealth Auditor-General agreed to this arrangement on the understanding that an Auditor-General for the Territory would be appointed as a matter of priority - a priority, incidentally, that the former Government did not take any notice of.
The current ACT audit legislation is based to a large extent on the Commonwealth model. This was agreed to in large part in recognition of the Auditor-General's dual role and the perceived difficulties that he considered he would encounter in administering legislation that was significantly different from the Commonwealth Act, particularly as it would be for only a short duration. At the time, I am sure that he did not expect that it would be of one year's duration either.
Section 6(1) of the Act provides that there shall be an Auditor-General of the Territory. The position may be held on a permanent or acting basis. Section 6(2) of the Act provides that the Auditor-General shall be appointed by the Executive. Section 7(1) of the Act provides that a person appointed as Auditor-General holds office for a period not exceeding seven years but is eligible for reappointment. Section 14(1) of the Act allows the Executive to appoint a person to act as ACT Auditor-General during a vacancy in that office whether or not an appointment has previously been made to that office. A person who is appointed to act shall not continue to act for more than 12 months.
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