Standing Committee on Public Accounts
Members: Mrs Vicki Dunne MLA (Chair), Ms Tara Cheyne MLA (Deputy Chair), Ms Bec Cody MLA, Ms Nicole Lawder MLA
Committee Secretary: Dr Brian Lloyd
Phone: (02) 620 50137
| Inquiry | Started | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2015-2016 | 16 February 2017(Referred) | 11 May 2017 (Completed) |
| 2. Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2016-2017 | 26 October 2017 (Referred) | 20 March 2018 (Completed) |
| 3. Inquiry into Appropriation Bill 2017-2018 (No 2) and Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2017-2018 (No 2) | 15 February 2018 (Referred) | 10 April 2018 (Completed) |
| 4. Inquiry into the methodology for determining rates and land tax for strata residences | 15 February 2018 (Referred) | 20 September 2018 (Completed) |
| 5. Inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2017-2018 | 25 October 2018 (Referred) | 19 March 2019 (Completed) |
| 6. Inquiry into commercial rates | 29 November 2018 (Referred) | 4 April 2019 (Completed) |
| 7. Inquiry into Auditor-General's Report No. 1 of 2017: WorkSafe ACT’s management of its regulatory responsibilities for the demolition of loose-fill asbestos contaminated houses | 17 March 2017 - Adopted for further inquiry (246A made 28 March 2018) | 1 August 2019 (Completed) |
| 8. Inquiry into Auditor-General's Report No. 7 of 2016: Certain Land Development Agency Acquisitions | 17 March 2017 - Adopted for further inquiry (246A made 28 March 2018) | 28 November 2019 (Completed) |
| 9. Inquiry into Annual and Financial Report 2018-2019 | 24 October 2019 (Referred) | 26 March 2020 (Completed) |
| 10. Inquiry into Appropriation Bill 2019-2020 (No 2) | 13 February 2020 (Referred) | 27 March 2020 (Completed) |
Report 11 - Tender for the sale of Block 30 Dickson Report 12 - Complaint regarding Auditor-General Report No. 3 of 2018 | 28 February 2018 - Adopted for further inquiry (246A made 20 March 2018) | 21 May 2020 (Completed) |
| 13. Inquiry into Auditor-General's Report No. 8 of 2018: Assembly of rural land west of Canberra | 4 July 2018 - Adopted for further inquiry (246A made 18 September 2018) | 27 August 2020 (Completed) |
In accordance with the Committee’s terms of resolution of establishment all reports of the Auditor-General presented to the Legislative Assembly for the ACT are referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for examination.
Procedures the Public Accounts Committee adopts in examining reports of the Auditor-General
A summary of the current procedures the ACT Standing Committee on Public Accounts (ACT PAC) adopts in examining reports of the ACT Auditor-General is available here.
Government Guidelines for responding to Auditor-General’s Reports
The Government has issued guidelines for responding to performance audit reports by the Auditor-General in April 2016. The guidelines are available at: https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/policystrategic/cabinet/assembly-liaison
Auditor-General’s Reports referred to the Public Accounts Committee - Ninth Assembly
View Auditor-General's Reports from ACT Audit Office
| No. | Auditor-General's Reports | Report released/ presented | Government Response presented | Status | Inquiry concluded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08/2020 | ACT Audit office - Annual Report 2019-20 | 09/10/2020 | N/A | Consider as part of the inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2019-2020, Committee report released 31/03/2021. | 31/03/2021 |
| 07/2020 | Management and care for people living with serious and continuing illness | 10/09/2020 | |||
| 06/2020 | Transfer of worker’s compensation arrangements from Comcare | 19/06/2020 02/07/2020 | 27/08/2020 | ||
| 05/2020 | Management of household waste services | 2606/2020 02/07/2020 | |||
| 04/2020 | Residential Land Supply and Release | 29/06/2020 02/07/2020 | |||
| 03/2020 | Data Security | 30/06/2020 02/07/2020 | 27/08/2020 | ||
| 02/2020 | 2018-29 Financial Audits -Computer Information systems | 20/04/2020 07/05/2020 | 20/08/2020 | ||
| 01/2020 | Shared Services Delivery of HR and Finance Services | 21/02/2020 02/04/2020 | 18/06/2020 | ||
| 11/2019 | Maintenance of ACT Government School Infrastructure | 19/12/2019 11/02/2020 | 02/04/2020 | ||
| 10/2019 | 2018-19 Financial Audit - Financial Results and Audit Findings | 13/12/2019 11/02/2020 | 18/02/2020 | ||
| 09/2019 | 2018-19 Financial Audits Overview | 29/11/2019 11/02/2020 | 18/02/2020 | ||
| 08/2019 | ACT Audit Office Annual Report 2018-19 | 08/10/2019 22/10/2019 | N/A | Consider as part of the inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2018-2019, Committee report released 19/03/2019 | 26/03/2020 |
| 07/2019 | Referral processes for the support of vulnerable children | 27/06/2019 30/07/2019 | 24/10/2019 | ||
| 06/2019 | ICT Strategic Planning | 21/06/2019 30/07/2019 | 24/09/2019 | ||
| 05/2019 | Management of the System-Wide Data Review implementation program | 30/05/2019 04/06/2019 | 24/09/2019 | ||
| 04/2019 | 2017-18 Financial Audits - Computer Information Systems | 02/05/2019 14/05/2019 | 22/08/2019 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 03/2019 | Access Canberra Business Planning and Monitoring | 23/04/2019 14/05/2019 | 22/08/2019 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 02/2019 | Recognition and implementation of obligations under the Human Rights Act 2004 | 22/02/2019 19/03/2019 | 06/06/2019 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 01/2019 | Total Facilities Management Procurement | 18/01/2019 12/02/2019 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 | |
| 12/2018 | 2017-18 Financial Audits - Financial Results and Audit Findings | 13/12/2018 12/02/2019 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 | |
| 11/2018 | 2017-18 Financial Audits Overview | 21/11/2018 27/11/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 | |
| 10/2018 | ACT Audit Office Annual Report 2017-18 | 03/08/2018 14/08/2018 | N/A | Consider as part of the inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2017-2018, Committee report released 19/03/2019 | 19/03/2019 |
| 09/2018 | ACT Health’s management of allegations of misconduct and complaints about inappropriate workplace behaviour | 02/08/2018 02/08/2018 | 29/11/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 08/2018 | Assembly of rural land west of Canberra | 29/06/2018 31/07/2018 | 20/09/2018 | Adopted for further inquiry on 04/07/2018 and 246A statement made 18/09/2018, Committee report released 27/08/2020. | 27/08/2020 |
| 07/2018 | Five ACT public schools' engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and community | 28/06/2018 31/07/2018 | 25/10/2018 | Refer report to the Standing Committee of Education, Employment and Youth Affairs for its consideration on 18/09/2018 | 18/09/2018 |
| 06/2018 | Physical Security | 31/05/2018 05/06/2018 | 20/09/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 05/2018 | ACT Clubs' Community Contributions | 27/04/2018 05/06/2018 | 31/07/2018 | Adopted for further inquiry and 246A statement made 18/03/2018 No further inquiry—246A statement made 30/10/2018 | 30/10/2018 |
| 04/2018 | 2016-17 Financial Audits - Computer Information Systems | 28/02/2018 20/03/2018 | 31/07/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 03/2018 | Tender for the sale of block 30 (formerly block 20) Section 34 Dickson | 21/02/2018 22/02/2018 | 07/06/2018 | Adopted for further inquiry on 28/02/2018 and 246A statement made 20/03/2018 Committee reports 11 and 12 releases on 21/05/2020. | 21/05/2020 |
| 02/2018 | ACT Government strategic and accountability indicators | 01/02/2018 13/02/2018 | 05/06/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 01/2018 | Acceptance of Stormwater Assets | 31/01/2018 13/02/2018 | 05/06/2018 | No further inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2019 | 06/06/2019 |
| 11/2017 | 2016-17 Financial Audits - Financial Results and Audit Findings (No Recommendation) | 06/12/2017 13/02/2018 | N/A | Letter from Chief Minister tabled 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 10/2017 | 2016-17 Financial Audits - Overview (No Recommendation) | 24/11/2017 28/11/2017 | N/A | Letter from Chief Minister tabled 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 9/2017 | ACT Audit Office 2016-17 Annual Report | 12/10/2017 24/10/2017 | N/A | Consider as part of the inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2016-2017 Committee report released 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 8/2017 | Select ACT Government agencies' management of public art | 12/10/2017 24/10/2017 | 13/02/2018 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 7/2017 | Public Housing Renewal Program | 27/06/2017 01/08/2017 | 24/10/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 6/2017 | Mental Health Services - Transition from Acute Care | 23/06/2017 01/08/2017 | 24/10/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 5/2017 | Maintenance of Selected Road Infrastructure Assets | 09/06/2017 01/08/2017 | 24/10/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 4/2017 | Performance Information in ACT Public Schools | 31/05/2017 06/06/2017 | 15/08/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 3/2017 | 2015-16 Financial Audits - Computer Information Systems | 05/05/2017 09/05/2017 | 24/08/2017 | Adopted for further inquiry—246A statement made 08/06/2017; No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 2/2017 | 2016 ACT Election | 16/02/2017 | 08/06/2017 | 246A statement made 28/03/2017—write to the Select Committee on 2016 ACT Election and Electoral Act to bring the matter to its attention Committee report released 30/11/2017 | 30/11/2017 |
| 1/2017 | WorkSafe ACT’s management of its regulatory responsibilities for the demolition of loose-fill asbestos contaminated houses | 20/01/2017 14/02/2017 | 21/03/2017 | Adopted for further inquiry—246A statement made 08/06/2017 Committee report released 01/08/2019 | 01/08/2019 |
| 11/2016 | 2015-16 Financial Audits - Financial Results and Audit Finding | 21/12//2016 14/02/2017 | 11/05/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 06/06/2017 | 06/06/2017 |
| 10/2016 | 2015-16 Financial Audits - Audit Reports | 07/12/2016 13/12/2017 | 11/05/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 06/03/2017 | 06/06/2017 |
| 9/2016 | Commissioner for International Engagement – position creation and appointment process | 30/11/2016 13/12/2016 | 30/03/2017 | No further Inquiry—246A statement made 20/03/2018 | 20/03/2018 |
| 8/2016 | ACT Audit Office Annual Report 2015-16 | 05/10/2016 13/12/2016 | N/A | Considered as part of inquiry into Annual and Financial Reports 2015-2016 Committee report released 11/05/2017 | 11/05/2017 |
| 7/2016 | Certain Land Development Agency Acquisitions | 30/09/2016 31/10/2016 | 14/02/2017 | Adopted for further Inquiry—246A statement made 28/03/2017, Committee report released 28/11/2019 | On-going |
At its meeting of 13 December 2016 the Legislative Assembly resolved to create:
"A Standing Committee on Public Accounts to:
- examine:
- the accounts of the receipts and expenditure of the Australian Capital Territory and its authorities; and
- all reports of the Auditor-General which have been presented to the Assembly;
- report to the Assembly any items or matters in those accounts, statements and reports, or any circumstances connected with them, to which the Committee is of the opinion that the attention of the Assembly should be directed; and
- inquire into any question in connection with the public accounts which is referred to it by the Assembly and to report to the Assembly on that question."
On 26 October 2017 the Legislative Assembly resolved to amend:
"Insert after (i)(A), the words:
(AA) matters relating to market and regulatory reform (excluding Access Canberra), public sector management, taxation an revenue."
Strategic Review of ACT Auditor-General 2020
Under the Auditor-General Act 1996 a strategic review of the Auditor-General must be carried out in each term of the Legislative Assembly for the ACT (s24(1)).
The strategic review is a review of the Auditor-General's functions and a performance audit of the Auditor-General (ss 23(a) & (b)).
The Speaker of the Assembly and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts both play a part in the strategic review process.
The Speaker:
- at the request of the Committee (ss 25, 26), engages the Strategic Reviewer;
- receives the Strategic Reviewer's report (s 29(1)); and
- presents a copy of the report to the Legislative Assembly (s 29(3)).
The Standing Committee:
- decides when the strategic review will be conducted (s 24(1));
- decides terms of reference, in consultation with the relevant minister (s 26(1)(a)(i)); and
- asks the Strategic Reviewer to conduct the review according to the terms of reference (s 26(1)(a)(ii)).
The Report on the 2020 Strategic Review of the ACT Auditor-General, conducted by Mr Des Pearson AO, and tabled in the ACT legislative Assembly on 20 February 2020, view report (PDF, 2MB).
For previous reports of Strategic Review of the ACT Auditor-General, please visit ACT Audit-General website.