Page 1773 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 5 May 2010
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
So what they have got is good processes, so we are getting a well-established and robust selection of topics that are discussed. Mr Barr has now vacated the chamber, and, yes, on page 29 the independent performance auditor does look at the financial impacts of whether we get value for money. There is a discussion on page 29 where the independent auditor looks at the financial management of £9 for every £1 it costs to run the UK’s National Audit Office. I think what he is saying in this section—people need to read the section—is that auditors and audit offices that are well run, well received by government and acted upon by government actually do help the bottom line of the budget.
Often governments think auditors are out to get them—obviously the Chief Minister does. But at the bottom of page 29 the independent performance auditor says:
The fourth observation I would make is that I see no inherent or inappropriate bias in the ACT Audit Office against topics that might achieve savings.
He goes on to say:
Recent topics such as the Maintenance of Public Housing, Government Office Accommodation, Collection of Fees and Fines and Credit Card Use, Hospitality and Sponsorship all have elements that could result in savings through improved management practices.
So there we have the opportunity for the government to use the good work of the auditor. Instead of attacking the audit office, it should take on board what is said and make sure it gets the dividend, make sure it gets the return.
The Chief Minister was quite concerned that the Auditor-General was over-resourced and was mismanaging those resources, and we heard his attacks. So what does the independent performance auditor say? Over on page 31 under “Management and Resources” he says:
For a small organisation, I believe that the approach taken by the Audit Office demonstrates a sound commitment to strategic planning.
So it is well run, we are getting value for money, and it has got a strategic view, unlike this government. There is actually quite a nice section on page 33, and I am sure the Chief Minister will read this. The independent auditor talks about judging small jurisdictions against large jurisdictions and using the whole per capita thing. Under section 5.5, “Diseconomies of Small Size”, the finding is:
The ACT Audit Office’s relatively small size does not appear to have impacted significantly on its cost structure or the quality of services it provides.
It is a small office, but it provides good quality service. That is the judgement of the independent auditor. If you go across to page 34 there is a section—it needs to be read properly—that finishes with the paragraph:
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video