❓ Hon. Neil Thomson questions the Minister for Transport regarding the Auditor General's report on transparency and financial accountability of major projects. The Minister's response deflects by referencing past government practices.
AnsweredQoN 1218Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT; TREASURER — AUDITOR
GENERAL REPORT
1218. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the recent report by the
Auditor General that states —
Despite Western Australia's
(WA) significant investment of public money in major projects, Parliament and
the public cannot easily access information on their progress. Our previous
reports have highlighted the need for greater transparency in this area of
significant public interest.
It also states —
� there has been no progress on our
recommendation for regular and accessible public reporting on the status, and
cost and time performance of major projects.
(1) Has the
minister also formally referred the Auditor General's report to the
Treasurer to seek advice on how to establish better financial accountability of
major projects; and, if yes, please table correspondence?
(2) If not, has
the Treasurer formally advised the minister on whether new mechanisms of
improved financial accountability are being established by the Treasury
portfolio to manage the minister's massive capital spending as Minister
for Transport; and, if yes, please table correspondence.
GENERAL REPORT
1218. Hon NEIL THOMSON to the minister representing the
Minister for Transport:
I refer to the recent report by the
Auditor General that states —
Despite Western Australia's
(WA) significant investment of public money in major projects, Parliament and
the public cannot easily access information on their progress. Our previous
reports have highlighted the need for greater transparency in this area of
significant public interest.
It also states —
� there has been no progress on our
recommendation for regular and accessible public reporting on the status, and
cost and time performance of major projects.
(1) Has the
minister also formally referred the Auditor General's report to the
Treasurer to seek advice on how to establish better financial accountability of
major projects; and, if yes, please table correspondence?
(2) If not, has
the Treasurer formally advised the minister on whether new mechanisms of
improved financial accountability are being established by the Treasury
portfolio to manage the minister's massive capital spending as Minister
for Transport; and, if yes, please table correspondence.
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1)–(2) The
honourable member was a senior staffer of the Barnett Liberal–National
government while, as outlined by the Langoulant special inquiry, ''Too
many major projects have been undertaken on an ad hoc basis and without
adequate planning'', when information was withheld from the public, in
addition to a shadow budget process for royalties for regions, and when many
projects had inadequate or no business cases. Updates on projects are provided
through the state budget and midyear review processes, as well as at major
project milestones.
some notice of this question.
(1)–(2) The
honourable member was a senior staffer of the Barnett Liberal–National
government while, as outlined by the Langoulant special inquiry, ''Too
many major projects have been undertaken on an ad hoc basis and without
adequate planning'', when information was withheld from the public, in
addition to a shadow budget process for royalties for regions, and when many
projects had inadequate or no business cases. Updates on projects are provided
through the state budget and midyear review processes, as well as at major
project milestones.
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