7th Jul 2011 – Representatives Auditor-General Amendment Bill 2011 - Second Reading - Read a second time

The majority voted in favour of a motion to read the bill for a second time.(Read more about the stages that a bill must pass through here. ) This means that the majority of members agreed with the main idea of the bill and can now consider it in greater detail.

One member, Nationals MP Tony Crook, rebelled and crossed the floor to vote 'aye' with the Government.(Read more about what it means to cross the floor in our FAQ Section. )

Background to the bill

The bill is based on recommendations from the Joint Public Accounts and Audit Committee’s (JCPAA) inquiry into the Auditor-General Act 1997.(See the report from the inquiry here. )

The purpose of the bill is to:

• extend the Auditor-General’s mandate to: undertake performance audits of private sector providers and state government agencies in certain circumstances; self-initiate performance audits of Government Business Enterprises and their subsidiaries; and undertake a specific audit program of a sample of agency performance indicators.
• provide that the Auditor-General can conduct assurance reviews with the same powers about access to information and premises in certain circumstances as applies to performance and financial audits
• clarify that claims that information or a document is subject to legal professional privilege does not restrict the Auditor-General’s powers to obtain information and documents, and
• clarify the position of the Auditor-General as auditor of Government controlled Corporations Act companies and their subsidiaries.(Read more about the purpose and background of the bill in its bills digest. Its explanatory memorandum is available here.)

References