❓ Mr. Barnett questions Premier Gallop about Auditor-General funding, citing potential shortfalls and concerns raised by the Auditor-General. Premier Gallop defends his government's record, highlighting past underfunding and future increases.
AnsweredQoN 1053Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to his election policy on accountability which states - The Office of Auditor-General is one of the most important institutional ‘checks’ on misuse of public resources by government . . . The Office of Auditor-General must be independent, strong and properly resourced to ensure it has the power to protect the public interest. (1) Is the Premier aware that this Government’s allocation to the budget of the Office of the Auditor General will fall short of covering increased costs by an estimated $400 000 in 2003-04? (2) Is the Premier aware that the Auditor General has publicly expressed concern that his work may be hampered by a lack of funding and resources? (3) Does the Premier concede that his failure to properly resource the Office of the Auditor General severely undermines his claim of accountable government? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
The Office of Auditor-General must be independent, strong and properly resourced to ensure it has the power to protect the public interest.
(2) Is the Premier aware that the Auditor General has publicly expressed concern that his work may be hampered by a lack of funding and resources? (3) Does the Premier concede that his failure to properly resource the Office of the Auditor General severely undermines his claim of accountable government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
(3) Does the Premier concede that his failure to properly resource the Office of the Auditor General severely undermines his claim of accountable government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
(1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
The Office of Auditor-General must be independent, strong and properly resourced to ensure it has the power to protect the public interest.
(2) Is the Premier aware that the Auditor General has publicly expressed concern that his work may be hampered by a lack of funding and resources? (3) Does the Premier concede that his failure to properly resource the Office of the Auditor General severely undermines his claim of accountable government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
(3) Does the Premier concede that his failure to properly resource the Office of the Auditor General severely undermines his claim of accountable government? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
(1)-(3) I am aware of the report of the Auditor General presented today. I have regular discussions with the Auditor General about his requirements to make sure that he can fulfil his statutory duties on behalf of the people of Western Australia. I note that he stated in his annual report that although the Office of Auditor General’s nominal expenditure had increased by 16 per cent between 1993-94 and 2001-02, this had not kept pace with the corresponding 23 per cent increase in the consumer price index. It is interesting to note that only one of those years applies to the Labor Government. During the years of the coalition Government, the funding of the Auditor General’s office was not commensurate with the rate of inflation. In our first budget, it is true, the Office of the Auditor General did receive a decrease as part of this Government’s priority and insurance dividend policy. All of my ministers would remember that only too well. We made a commitment during the election to make a cut across government to the expenditure that we regarded as non-core. That happened in every agency across the Government. Mr C.J. Barnett: The Auditor General is non-core, is he? Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: When it came to issues like travel, advertising and consultancies, we applied that commitment to the Auditor General’s office. There has been a real increase in the Auditor General’s budget this year. The budget through to 2006-07 shows a real increase in the funds that will be made available to the Auditor General. That commitment has been made and we are delivering on it. There will be a real increase in the money made available to the Auditor General. This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
This is an interesting opportunity to indicate that one aspect of the Auditor General’s workload will go down under a Labor Government, and that is because we are decreasing the number of government agencies, be they statutory authorities or government departments. The number of government departments has decreased - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
The SPEAKER: Members! Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Mr Speaker, these people do not know what the Auditor General does. The number of government departments has decreased from 50 to 38; and, secondly, the number of statutory authorities has decreased from 204 to 138. The recent amalgamation of country hospitals will further reduce the number in 2003-04. We have funded the Auditor General to do the job that he has to do, unlike under the previous Government, when there was not a real increase in the budgets available to the Auditor General. We respect the work of the Auditor General and we have constant discussions with him about those - Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Mr M.W. Trenorden interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will tell the member. The issue related to his term of government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: So? We lost government two years ago. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I just explained that in our term of government we are increasing the real expenditure available to the Auditor General.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.