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Committee's consideration 

In its report No. 39, 57th Parliament - Annual Report 2022-23, tabled on 19 October 2022, the committee reported on its consideration of a number of Auditor-General's report referred to it, including Auditor-General's Report 19: 2021-22 - Education 2021. 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

View:  Auditor-General Report 19: 2021-22—Education 2021  
View:  QAO report webpage

The report summarises the audit results of entities in Queensland’s education sector, including the Department of Education, the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, TAFE Queensland, seven universities, eight grammar schools, and some other statutory bodies.

The Queensland Audit Office found that the financial statements of all education entities are reliable and comply with relevant reporting requirements; that the sector’s entities had reacted quickly to risks arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Auditor-General’s report recommended that:

• In order to remain sustainable in the longer term, TAFE Queensland needs to continue to develop its understanding of the value of its services and the cost of delivering them. It should use this understanding to decide whether to invest in training that is more efficient or of greater value to students, standardise processes, and continue to implement strategies for increasing its student revenue and market share. TAFE Queensland should continue to work alongside the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training and Queensland Treasury to design and implement strategies to support its broader financial sustainability.
• Both departments (the Departments of Education and Employment, Small Business and Training) should ensure that condition assessments for their buildings are completed as soon as possible. The information from these assessments should be used to inform their maintenance budgets and long-term asset management strategies, which should consider both physical assets and digital infrastructure. These assessments should be undertaken regularly to ensure existing assets continue to be fit for purpose and to address changing learning styles.

The Auditor-General’s report also strongly recommended that:

• Education entities address the security of their information systems (previously recommended in Education 2020 (Report 18: 2020-21)

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 Education, Employment and Training 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 report to the committee on 24 June 2022.  

public briefing

The committee held a public briefing with the Queensland Audit Office in relation to the report on 15 August 2022. 

Watch:  Broadcast 
View:    Transcript