Page 3995 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 30 October 2013
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I think it would be fair to say, though, and I cannot recall the exact text, that I do not think the Auditor-General concluded that there were substantial issues of concern about the disappearance of money. I think that the findings were of the nature that suggested that there were trail of document questions that needed to be resolved rather than substantial concerns.
The other thing I would note here is, of course, that that whole program, the national partnership agreement on housing, is up in the air at the moment. Members may be interested to know that at this point that agreement is due to expire on 30 June next year and there is no indication from the incoming federal government as to whether the program will be continued, a point of considerable concern both for the ACT government and for the organisations that are conducting those programs.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Lawder.
MS LAWDER: Minister, how is it that the ACT government misreported the number of houses built under this scheme to the federal government, claiming 21 houses were built when in fact it was only 20, according to the Auditor-General’s report?
MR RATTENBURY: I will take the details of that question on notice. I just cannot recall the exact circumstances around that matter, and I would prefer to give a full and accurate answer.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, when did you become aware of the poor record keeping within the program?
MR RATTENBURY: I became aware when I received a copy of the Auditor-General’s report.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, what have you done to rectify the problems identified by the Auditor-General, and are you aware of any other instances in the directorate that involve the disappearance of money?
MR RATTENBURY: As members might expect, when I received the Auditor-General’s report I specifically discussed it with my director-general responsible for that agency. The agency, as I noted in my earlier answer to Ms Lawder, has agreed to all of the recommendations and is implementing changes. As with all of my agencies, I have an expectation, and I have made it clear to them, that when there are reports from the Auditor-General, I expect those recommendations to be implemented and also to be given updates on that implementation. I will be ensuring that those matters are followed through.
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