Page 5409 - Week 15 - Tuesday, 8 December 2009

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will be keeping an eye on, particularly when, as you look at the other recommendations, it is quite clear that this is an important contract. For instance, it is quite clear that maintenance is not being adequately funded by this government and recommendation 5 calls on the government to tell the Assembly, by the last sitting day in March, how it will adequately fund the maintenance of all its public housing dwellings. It is important, as the government is the largest single landlord in the territory.

The acceptance of recommendations from the auditor and the way in which the government responds to them is very important, and the first recommendation goes to that in some detail. It states:

The Committee recommends that the Government report to the Assembly by the last sitting day in March 2010 on the progress and effectiveness of the Government’s implementation of the Auditor-General’s recommendations.

I look forward to the minister standing up and telling us that they will do that. It is easy on the one hand to say, “Yes, we accept,” or “Yes, we will,” but on the other hand the proof of the pudding is always in whether or not it is carried out. I think it is quite clear that often governments accept but then fail to follow through. So the committee will certainly be keeping an eye on that matter as well.

I would like to mirror the chair’s thanks to the members of the secretariat for the great work they do. As always, we were well supported and the report got to us in double-quick time. And it was passed in double-quick time, mainly because it was well and clearly presented. So I say to the new secretary of the committee: congratulations on the tabling of your first report.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Public Accounts—Standing Committee

Statement by chair

MS LE COUTEUR (Molonglo) (10.17): Pursuant to standing order 246A, I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts relating to two Auditor-General’s reports currently before the committee.

On 26 June 2008, Auditor-General’s report No 3 of 2008 entitled Records management in ACT government agencies was referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry. This report presents the results of a performance audit that reviewed compliance with records management requirements in selected ACT government agencies. The committee received a briefing from the Auditor-General in relation to the report on 19 March 2009 and a submission from the government on 2 November 2009. The committee has resolved to inquire further into the report and is expecting to report to the Assembly as soon as practicable.

I would also like to update the Assembly in relation to the committee’s review of the Auditor-General’s report No 3 of 2009, Management of respite care services. On 19 May 2009, Auditor-General’s report No 3 of 2009 entitled Management of respite care services was referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry.


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