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Committee's REPORT

The committee tabled its report on 10 September 2020.

View:      Report No 41, 56^th Parliament - Annual Report 2019-20
View:     Auditor-General Report 7: 2019-20 – Health: 2018–19 results of financial audits

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.

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 audit results of the Department of Health (the department) and 16 hospital and health services (HHSs), along with the audit results for 12 hospital foundations and three other statutory entities.

The report recommended that:

• Queensland health entities should strengthen their controls and processes by acting on outstanding audit recommendations. Where possible, the entities should use the functionality of the new finance system to effectively and efficiently act on these recommendations.
• Audit committees of the Queensland health entities should continue to regularly review the status of outstanding audit issues and ensure the risks are addressed in accordance with agreed timelines.
• Queensland health entities should continue to ensure that they are allocating enough time and resources early in the financial year to complete the asset valuation and asset accounting processes before year end.
• Queensland health entities should continue to prioritise high-risk maintenance, and the hospital and health services should work with the department to find ways to mitigate the operational, clinical, and financial risks associated with anticipated maintenance.

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 28 November 2019.