❓ Dr. Walker questions the Minister on unresolved adverse audit findings in local governments and the prioritisation of addressing them, given the Department's stated commitment. The Minister responds by highlighting local governments' responsibility and outlining support initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 653Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
METROPOLITAN CEMETERIES BOARD — DATA BREACH
653. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I refer the minister to the answer
she provided to my question without notice 630 of 30 May 2024, in which she
stated that the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
works to address audit findings as a matter of priority, and I note the release
last week of local government financial audit reports for the last year.
(1) How does the
minister balance this prioritised approach with the fact that 34 per cent of
the current year's adverse findings are, in fact, unresolved from the
previous year, with many classed by the Auditor General as significant and
requiring urgent action?
(2) What steps
are the minister and her department taking to ensure that the entities of which
it has oversight are working to prioritise solutions to these issues, and will
she accept responsibility as the responsible minister for the clear lack of
progress to date?
653. Hon Dr BRIAN WALKER to the minister representing the
Minister for Local Government:
I refer the minister to the answer
she provided to my question without notice 630 of 30 May 2024, in which she
stated that the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
works to address audit findings as a matter of priority, and I note the release
last week of local government financial audit reports for the last year.
(1) How does the
minister balance this prioritised approach with the fact that 34 per cent of
the current year's adverse findings are, in fact, unresolved from the
previous year, with many classed by the Auditor General as significant and
requiring urgent action?
(2) What steps
are the minister and her department taking to ensure that the entities of which
it has oversight are working to prioritise solutions to these issues, and will
she accept responsibility as the responsible minister for the clear lack of
progress to date?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Local Government.
(1) The
honourable member's previous question without notice 630 related to
information systems audits for state
government entities, with reference to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. This
question today appears to relate to the audit of local governments, with
particular reference to financial management controls. The Local Government Act 1995 and regulations establish that local
governments are generally responsible for their own financial
management, including responding to auditor's findings.
(2) Although
local governments are generally responsible for their own financial management,
the Cook government continues to work to
provide support to local governments. For instance, as part of the broader local government reforms, measures to standardise and simplify local government
financial reporting have already been implemented. The 2024–25 state
budget also contains funding for a pilot initiative to support smaller local
governments to respond to potential cybersecurity risks, such as those
identified through information systems audits. The Department of Local
Government, Sport and Cultural Industries also continues to provide general
support to the local government sector.
some notice of the question. The following response has been provided by the
Minister for Local Government.
(1) The
honourable member's previous question without notice 630 related to
information systems audits for state
government entities, with reference to the Metropolitan Cemeteries Board. This
question today appears to relate to the audit of local governments, with
particular reference to financial management controls. The Local Government Act 1995 and regulations establish that local
governments are generally responsible for their own financial
management, including responding to auditor's findings.
(2) Although
local governments are generally responsible for their own financial management,
the Cook government continues to work to
provide support to local governments. For instance, as part of the broader local government reforms, measures to standardise and simplify local government
financial reporting have already been implemented. The 2024–25 state
budget also contains funding for a pilot initiative to support smaller local
governments to respond to potential cybersecurity risks, such as those
identified through information systems audits. The Department of Local
Government, Sport and Cultural Industries also continues to provide general
support to the local government sector.
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