commonwealth parliamentary seminar 0905
DESCRIPTION
financial scrutiny of the executive nsw pacTRANSCRIPT
Financial Scrutiny of the Executive
Paul McLeay MPChair, PAC
PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE
Sunlight is the best of disinfectants
3
Spenders
Auditors
Public Representatives
Produces accounts of expenditure
Inte
rpre
ts ac
coun
ts &
expla
ins a
udit o
pinion
sRepresents public
opinions & interest
Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, Section 57
• PAC’s primary functions are to examine:
Total State Sector Accounts Financial reports of State authorities Opinions and reports of the Auditor-General
Restrictions on the Committee
x Government policy, unless inquiry referred by Assembly or Minister
x Estimates of proposed expenditure
FunctionsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Referral by:
Source of InquiriesPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
• Referral by:
Legislative Assembly
• Referral by:
Legislative Assembly
Minister
• Referral by:
Legislative Assembly
Minister
Auditor-General
The NSW Public Accounts Committee
Referral by:
Legislative Assembly
Minister
Auditor-General
the Committee
Inquiries
Functions include reporting on circumstances connected with Auditor-General’s reports
• Seek submission from agency 12 months after audit
• Refer agency’s submission to A-G for comment
• Hearings with agency and A-G
• Report to Parliament
• Debate in Parliament
• Government response within 6 months
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
• A-G made 15 recommendations
• Main issue: Need targets
• Committee found Legal Aid implementing 9, considering 2, rejected 3
• Reporting against targets rejected
• PAC made 3 recommendations
• Government agreed to primary rec: Legal Aid to report services against targets
• Government did not agree to 2 minor recs.
Purpose:
• Bring together the professional expertise of the Audit Office and political authority and accountability of the PAC
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Purpose:
• Bring together the professional expertise of the Audit Office and political authority and accountability of the PAC
• Ensure recommendations of value are not forgotten
Agency revised responses for hearing
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Purpose:
• Bring together the professional expertise of the Audit Office and political authority and accountability of the PAC
• Ensure recommendations of value are not forgotten
• Allow both recommendations and responses to be tested in the political arena
Explain any rejection of recommendations
Demonstrate how any problems have been addressed
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Purpose:
• Bring together the professional expertise of the Audit Office and political authority and accountability of the PAC
• Ensure recommendations of value are not forgotten
• Allow both recommendations and responses to be tested in the political arena
• Ensure CEOs account to the Parliament for how they respond to recommendations
Outline changes to address issues
Explain any lack of progress
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Purpose:
• Bring together the professional expertise of the Audit Office and political authority and accountability of the PAC
• Ensure recommendations of value are not forgotten
• Allow both recommendations and responses to be tested in the political arena
• Ensure CEOs account to the Parliament for how they respond to recommendations
• Provide reality check to Audit Office
External assessment of recommendation in light of experience
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Outcome:
• Improved accountability & performance of State agencies
Review of Performance AuditsPUBLIC ACCOUNTS
COMMITTEE
Represents public interest
Interprets the accounts Spends the money
www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/publicaccounts