Page 3627 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 2011
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committee in a former entity, and that the planning, public works and territory and municipal services committee has a particular expertise in transport-related matters. The committee therefore believes that the Standing Committee on Planning, Public Works and Territory and Municipal Services would be the most appropriate standing committee to consider such an inquiry and has written to that committee to convey its views on this matter.
In relation to the Review of Auditor-General’s performance audit report No 10 of 2010: 2009-10 financial audits, on 21 December 2010 Auditor-General’s report No 10 of 2010 was referred to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts for inquiry. The audit report presented a summary of the results of the audits of financial statements and reviews of statements of performance of the territory and its agencies during 2009-10. The committee received a briefing from the Auditor-General in relation to the audit report on 22 February 2011, and a submission from the government dated 3 March 2011.
In relation to the results of the audits of financial statements, the committee emphasises that, for the first time since self-government, no qualified audit reports were issued for the period 2009-10, indicating that the audit office was satisfied that the financial statements fairly presented the agencies’ financial results.
The committee congratulates the audit office’s financial audit team on the work behind the scenes that has contributed to this result. Furthermore, the committee also commends the work of chief financial officers, along with their respective finance staff, and departmental and agency heads for taking on board the Auditor-General’s suggestions and following through with implementation.
When this outcome was discussed as part of the committee’s inquiry into the 2009-10 annual and financial reports, the Auditor-General at the time responded:
I think it is a reflection of the work behind the scenes of the whole financial audit team. There are a number of issues raised during the financial audit process and we work with agencies to make sure that they correct these deficiencies to get their financial statements to the stage where an unqualified audit opinion can be given. But agencies are also very good at taking on board a lot of our recommendations. As we have reported, we make some 500 recommendations throughout the financial audit process and 92 or 93 per cent are accepted. So that is a reflection of the hard work behind the scenes to get to the stage where every single agency gets an unqualified audit opinion.
The committee is of the view that this annual audit report on the results of the financial statements and statements of performance of the territory and its agencies makes an important oversight and scrutiny contribution.
The committee has resolved to make no further inquiries into the audit report.
Law Officers Bill 2011
Debate resumed from 23 June 2011, on motion by Mr Corbell:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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