This inquiry was self-referred on 1 March 2006.
Review of the Audit Office of New South Wales
On 8 March 2006, the Public Accounts Committee agreed to appoint Masters Le
Mesurier and Pitchers Partners to conduct the independent review of the Audit
Office of New South Wales.
The Auditor-General has forwarded the report to the Committee for tabling in
Parliament.
Background
Section 48A of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 provides for the Audit
Office to be reviewed by an independent Reviewer every three years. The Public
Accounts Committee has the responsibility for the selection and appointment of
the Reviewer, and for determining the terms and conditions of appointment and
remuneration. When conducting the review process, the Reviewer must comply
with any directions given by the Committee.
The requirements of the review are contained in the Request for Tender
document.
Terms of Reference, selection criteria, background information and probable
terms of engagement are in the Request for Tender.
Information about the Audit Office of New South Wales can be found at
www.audit.nsw.gov.au.
The process of the review detailed in the Act is that:
The Reviewer is to report to the Auditor-General as to the results of the
review and may include such other matters “as in the judgment of the
Reviewer call for special notice.”
Before making a report, the Reviewer must give the Auditor-General a summary of
the findings and proposed recommendations at least 28 days before the Reviewer
proposes to complete the report on the review.
The Reviewer must include in the report any written submission or agreed
summary of submissions and comments by the Auditor-General.
The Auditor-General is to forward the report of the Reviewer to the Public
Accounts Committee within two months of the receipt of the report and the Chair
of the Public Accounts Committee is to table the report in accordance with the
usual Parliamentary practices. The report is not to be publicly released by
any method, other than by tabling in the Parliament.
