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Committee's report

The committee tabled its report on 10 September 2020.  The committee noted that it is satisfied the issues identified by the Auditor-General in the reports are being addressed in a structured and timely way by departments.

The committee did not resolve to hold further inquiries into these audit reports and made no recommendations to the Legislative Assembly.

View:      Report No 41, 56^th Parliament - Annual Report 2019-20
View:     Auditor-General Report 2: 2018-19 – Access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme for people with impaired decision-making capacity

Overview

Role of the Auditor-General

The role of the Auditor-General is to provide Parliament with independent assurance of public sector accountability and performance. This is achieved through reporting to Parliament on the results of its financial and performance audits.

About the Auditor-General Report

The purpose of the report is to present a summary of the findings from an audit that assessed how effectively the Queensland Government is managing the transition to the NDIS and how well prepared it is to oversee services after the transition to NDIS.

The report recommended that:

• the Public Trustee of Queensland review its complaints management policies, guidance, and training materials to align with the new NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework
• the Public Guardian review its complaints management policies, guidance, and training materials to align with the new NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework. The review should cover:
• providing support to its clients (within the limitations of its legislative functions) to recognise when they have the basis for a complaint and how the complaints process works
• considering referrals of complaints from or on behalf of NDIS participants about service providers under the NDIS National Quality and Safeguarding Framework
• working with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on client datasharing arrangements.
• the Department of Justice and Attorney-General analyses the adequacy of the resources allocated to the Office of the Public Guardian and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) to ensure people with impaired decision-making capacity are effectively supported in getting timely access to the supports available from the NDIS. The analysis should determine the resources necessary to:
• effectively manage the initial increase in applications in (2018–19 and 2019–20) to QCAT for the appointment of the Public Guardian for a matter
• support people appointed a guardian in accessing the supports of the NDIS for the period of the appointment (maximum of five years), and
• the Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors develops a statewide strategy to support people with disability access the NDIS. The strategy should include consideration of:
• the role of advocacy in supporting access to the NDIS
• actions to reduce the pressures on the guardianship system
• the results of the current review of the National Disability Advocacy Program to identify opportunities to improve coordination of Commonwealth and state-funded services.

Referral to Committee 

Standing Order 194B provides that the Committee of the Legislative Assembly shall as soon as practicable after a report of the Auditor-General is tabled in the Assembly refer that report to the relevant portfolio committee(s) for consideration. 

The committee is responsible under section 94 of the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001 for assessing the integrity, economy, efficiency and effectiveness of government financial management by examining government financial documents and considering reports of the Auditor-General.

The Committee of the Legislative Assembly referred this Auditor-General’s report to the committee on 18 October 2018.