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Committee's consideration

The committee has considered this Auditor-General’s Report.  The committee tabled its Report No. 39, 56th Parliament - Consideration of Auditor-General Report 1: 2019-20—Investing in vocational education and training and Auditor-General Report 15: 2019-20—Education: 2018-19 results of financial audits on 28 September 2020.

View:  Report

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 15: 2019-20—Education: 2018–19 results of financial audits

The report summarises the financial audit results for education sector entities at their respective balance dates. For the Department of Education; the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training; TAFE Queensland; and some statutory bodies, this was 30 June 2019. For universities, grammar schools, and some other statutory bodies, it was 31 December 2019.

The Queensland Audit Office (QAO) issued unmodified audit opinions for 32 education entities, including the entities they control. It was reported that Education entities’ controls for financial systems and processes are generally effective, which means they can be relied on when preparing financial statements. All entities met their legislative deadlines for finalising their financial reports.

The report outlines emerging risks for entities in the education sector from the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on the risks to the sustainability of education entities, and the effectiveness of their internal controls during a period of significant change. It was noted that entities are responding to the risks. 

The report includes the following actions for entities:

• Plan well for financial statement preparation, particularly in times of change
• Improve asset management planning for digital learning platforms
• Refine processes for recognising research revenue under new accounting standards
• Strengthen security of information systems
• Review changes to employee and supplier details

The report includes one recommended action for ministers and central agencies to consider

• Improve timeliness of financial statement publication

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 21 May 2020.

Related Information

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