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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

About the Auditor-General report

The report provides insights into the significant infrastructure projects in Queensland and an analysis of expenditure by the Queensland Government. The report does not cover any changes in the infrastructure strategy or budget following the change of government in October 2024.

Among other things, the report discusses the following insights:

• Queensland continues to increase capital expenditure
• Agencies should improve coordination and guidelines for timely asset transfers
• Labour market constraints have affected the costs and timelines of Cross River Rail.

Auditor-General recommendations

The report makes two recommendations aimed at ensuring agencies work together better to ensure all legal, accounting and operational aspects of asset transfers are considered early and agreed prior to the transfer.

1. The Queensland Audit Office recommends that agencies involved with future asset transfers implement appropriate governance arrangements to ensure that:

• there is early collaboration between the respective operational, legal, and financial teams, and if necessary, relevant central agencies and key stakeholders
• all delivery milestones are accurately recorded, and the operational handover date of the assets is agreed
• the accounting entries in their financial statements are understood and appropriately reflect the transfer and/or use of the assets
• where required, approval for the equity designation is obtained at or before the transfer of assets, aligning both the accounting and operational aspects of the transfer.

2. The Queensland Audit Office recommends that Queensland Treasury considers whether additional guidance can be provided to better assist agencies in understanding their responsibilities for asset transfers and the issues they may need to consider in discharging their responsibilities.

Referral to Committee 

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 the report to the committee for consideration on 20 February 2025.

Timeline