Committee Details

COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION

The committee has considered Auditor-General Report 3: 2024-25 - Central Agencies' Coordination of the State Budget and has determined to take no further action in relation to the report. Further details are included in the committee's Report No. 6, 58th Parliament – Consideration of Auditor-General Reports to Parliament.

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

This report examines how Queensland Treasury and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet design and manage the state budget process to support the government’s fiscal principles and objectives. The QAO focused on the 2023–24 budget and 2023–24 budget update, and stand-alone submissions to the Cabinet Budget Review Committee (CBRC) leading up to the 2023–24 budget update.

The QAO found the process for preparing the state budget generally supports the government’s objectives and fiscal principles. However, it also found that Queensland Treasury and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet could implement processes to improve the quality of submissions, evaluate costings, and enhance their capabilities to monitor the outcomes of approved funding.

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 Auditor-General tabled this report on 27 September 2024, prior to the dissolution of the 57th Parliament on 1 October 2024. Following the commencement of the 58th Parliament, the Committee of the Legislative Assembly referred this Auditor-General’s report to the committee on 12 December 2024 for consideration.