❓ Opposition MP questions the Premier regarding the Auditor General's adverse opinion on state government financial management, linking it to machinery-of-government initiatives. The Premier denies any negative impact, citing improved performance compared to the previous government.
AnsweredQoN 31Legislative Council
Asked
28 February 2024
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier
QuestionView source ↗
AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT — ADVERSE OPINION
31. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the Treasurer's
response to question without notice 3 regarding the Auditor General's
adverse opinion and findings set out in the Financial audit results—state
government 2022–23 .
(1) Given the measures outlined by the Treasurer to
address the Auditor General's findings and to lift financial management capability in the public sector, does the Premier admit that the
machinery-of-government initiatives implemented by the Labor government have
directly compromised financial management and accountability in the public
sector?
(2) Given that the adverse finding and concerns
expressed by the Auditor General specifically relate to repeated failures by
state government entities to address serious qualifications to their financial
reports and controls, why has it taken until 2023–24 to address
this issue?
31. Hon COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to the Treasurer's
response to question without notice 3 regarding the Auditor General's
adverse opinion and findings set out in the Financial audit results—state
government 2022–23 .
(1) Given the measures outlined by the Treasurer to
address the Auditor General's findings and to lift financial management capability in the public sector, does the Premier admit that the
machinery-of-government initiatives implemented by the Labor government have
directly compromised financial management and accountability in the public
sector?
(2) Given that the adverse finding and concerns
expressed by the Auditor General specifically relate to repeated failures by
state government entities to address serious qualifications to their financial
reports and controls, why has it taken until 2023–24 to address
this issue?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House. The
following response has been provided by Premier.
(1) No.
(2) The premise
of the question is entirely incorrect. This government's longstanding
investment in boosting capability in the
public sector is having a differential impact. This is demonstrated by the fact
that the number of financial and
management weaknesses identified by the Auditor General in 2022–23, in
the report referred to by the member, is lower than the number of weaknesses
identified by the Auditor General during every single year of the
previous Liberal–National government.
some notice of the question. I answer on behalf of the Leader of the House. The
following response has been provided by Premier.
(1) No.
(2) The premise
of the question is entirely incorrect. This government's longstanding
investment in boosting capability in the
public sector is having a differential impact. This is demonstrated by the fact
that the number of financial and
management weaknesses identified by the Auditor General in 2022–23, in
the report referred to by the member, is lower than the number of weaknesses
identified by the Auditor General during every single year of the
previous Liberal–National government.
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