❓ Dr Buti asks about the government's response to the Auditor General's report on local government procurement. The Minister outlines actions taken, including legislative reviews and partnerships with local government associations, to improve transparency and compliance.
AnsweredQoN 817Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT
817. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Auditor General's
report into local government procurement. What is this government doing to
raise the standards of procurement in the local government sector?
817. Dr A.D. BUTI to the Minister for Local Government:
I refer to the Auditor General's
report into local government procurement. What is this government doing to
raise the standards of procurement in the local government sector?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Armadale for
his forensic review of reports that is tabled in this place. They are very
important, and I thank him for that. He is far more forensic than many in this
place. Today the report for the inquiry into the Shire of Wiluna was tabled,
which has relevance to the Auditor General's report that was tabled in
this place on Thursday, 11 October. I want to make a couple of comments on the
Wiluna report tabled today. It outlines some contraventions of the Local
Government Act in the appointment of an acting CEO and authorisation of
payments in contravention of regulations. One of the important recommendations
is this whole issue around the need for greater understanding of compliance in
procurement by elected members and staff.
Then we go to the Auditor General's
report that was tabled last Thursday, which also specifically focused on
procurement. The Auditor General looked at the procurement practices of eight
local governments that were a mix of regional, metropolitan, larger and smaller
councils. It found that important improvements need to be made. This underpins
this government's achievement, which focused on giving the Auditor
General the powers to audit the finances and performance of local government.
The Auditor General's report highlighted a range of issues that need to
be improved upon. Pleasingly, it found no evidence of misconduct. Although it
found that local government policies broadly met regulatory requirements, there
is a need for these eight local governments to monitor more closely procurement
controls and effectiveness of processes.
This all underpins why this
government is focused on ensuring that local government has a very clear and
transparent template of operation. It is why we passed the Auditor General's
legislation in this place last year and why we are forensically reviewing the
Local Government Act. It is why we have passed in this chamber—it is
now to be considered in the upper house—legislation related to issues
around the suspension of dismissal of individuals. It is also why we are
currently drafting legislation focused on the first phase of the review of the
Local Government Act. As members know, we have commenced the process of the
second phase of the local government review, which, of course, will look at the
legislation that underpins the operation of local government in Western Australia.
Included in the second phase is this whole issue around procurement. Great
progress is being made by this government in the local government sector. We
have a very strong partnership agreement with the sector through the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the Local Government Professionals Australia
WA organisation. There is much greater confidence that there is a genuineness
about working together, unlike the other side when they were in power. I am
very confident that as we move forward, these will all assist in creating a much
more robust, effective, transparent and quality local government sector,
delivering for the people of Western Australia.
his forensic review of reports that is tabled in this place. They are very
important, and I thank him for that. He is far more forensic than many in this
place. Today the report for the inquiry into the Shire of Wiluna was tabled,
which has relevance to the Auditor General's report that was tabled in
this place on Thursday, 11 October. I want to make a couple of comments on the
Wiluna report tabled today. It outlines some contraventions of the Local
Government Act in the appointment of an acting CEO and authorisation of
payments in contravention of regulations. One of the important recommendations
is this whole issue around the need for greater understanding of compliance in
procurement by elected members and staff.
Then we go to the Auditor General's
report that was tabled last Thursday, which also specifically focused on
procurement. The Auditor General looked at the procurement practices of eight
local governments that were a mix of regional, metropolitan, larger and smaller
councils. It found that important improvements need to be made. This underpins
this government's achievement, which focused on giving the Auditor
General the powers to audit the finances and performance of local government.
The Auditor General's report highlighted a range of issues that need to
be improved upon. Pleasingly, it found no evidence of misconduct. Although it
found that local government policies broadly met regulatory requirements, there
is a need for these eight local governments to monitor more closely procurement
controls and effectiveness of processes.
This all underpins why this
government is focused on ensuring that local government has a very clear and
transparent template of operation. It is why we passed the Auditor General's
legislation in this place last year and why we are forensically reviewing the
Local Government Act. It is why we have passed in this chamber—it is
now to be considered in the upper house—legislation related to issues
around the suspension of dismissal of individuals. It is also why we are
currently drafting legislation focused on the first phase of the review of the
Local Government Act. As members know, we have commenced the process of the
second phase of the local government review, which, of course, will look at the
legislation that underpins the operation of local government in Western Australia.
Included in the second phase is this whole issue around procurement. Great
progress is being made by this government in the local government sector. We
have a very strong partnership agreement with the sector through the Western Australian
Local Government Association and the Local Government Professionals Australia
WA organisation. There is much greater confidence that there is a genuineness
about working together, unlike the other side when they were in power. I am
very confident that as we move forward, these will all assist in creating a much
more robust, effective, transparent and quality local government sector,
delivering for the people of Western Australia.
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