False

Committee's consideration

In its Report No. 24, 57th Parliament – Annual Report 2021-22, tabled on 6 September 2022, the committee reported on its consideration of Auditor-General’s reports referred to it, including Auditor-General Report 18: 2020-21—Education 2020. 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 18: 2020-21—Education 2020
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; and that entities need to understand the cost of delivering their services and monitor the efficiency of service delivery to cope with continuing funding uncertainty. The audit also found that education entities need a good understanding of the condition of their assets and future demand for their services to plan for effective asset management. Some deficiencies were identified with entities’ information systems and processes, with security of information systems continuing to be an issue.

The Auditor-General’s report recommended that entities in Queensland education sector:

• Strengthen the security of information systems (all entities)
• Understand the cost of service delivery to make informed decisions about future services and efficiencies in operations (education entities)
• Improve asset condition assessments (all entities).

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 27 May 2021.  

PUBLIC BRIEFING

The committee held a public briefing with the Queensland Audit Office in relation to the report on 30 August 2021.

Watch:  Broadcast
View:    Transcript