31 August 2006
OUTSTANDING YEAR FOR AUDITOR GENERAL’S OFFICE
WA Auditor General Des Pearson, soon to be Victoria’s next Auditor-General,
is leaving his Office on a high note.
In his last annual report, tabled in Parliament today, Mr Pearson reveals
that in terms of productivity and performance 2005-06 has been one
of the best years on record for the Office of the Auditor General.
Overall, 15 reports identifying 106 matters of significance were tabled
in Parliament throughout the year – in terms of reports tabled
the best result ever for the Office.
These reports were the outcome of 215 financial statement and 148 performance
indicator audits, eight performance examinations, two follow-up examinations
and ten controls, compliance and accountability examinations conducted
across the public sector.
Reports that generated wide public interest and comment included
- Regulation of Childcare Services, that highlighted the need for improvement
in several key areas of childcare, including assessment of the number
and qualifications of staff at child care centres and investigation
of complaints and allegations.
- Unlicensed Drivers and Unregistered
Vehicles in Western Australia, that revealed the possibility that
there could be as many as 66,000 unlicensed drivers and 70,000 unlicensed
vehicles on WA roads.
- Behind the Evidence: Forensic Services that
confirmed a 37,000 backlog of exhibits awaiting DNA analysis and
found that hold-ups in obtaining forensic evidence are resulting in
delayed prosecutions and court adjournments.
Two reports, Progress with Implementing the Response to the Gordon Inquiry
and Early Diagnosis: Management of the Health Reform Program, outlined
what had been achieved and what needed to be done if ambitious plans
developed in response to recommendations arising from government inquiries
in these areas were to deliver on the promises made; whilst the report
Contract Management of the City Rail Project revealed that one of the
most significant infrastructure projects in WA’s history had got
off to an good start but cautioned that it would require purposeful and
diligent management if that early success was to be sustained.
The views of Members of Parliament on the performance of the Office
of the Auditor General were canvassed through an annual survey of Members
and this year produced highly positive results, in some cases representing
the Office’s highest ever achievement.
Targets for all the Office’s Key Performance Indicators were exceeded.
A similar survey of public sector agencies, seeking their views on the
Office’s performance in the areas of audit reporting, financial
statement audit services, information systems audits, audit process,
and performance indicator audit services, produced equally positive results.
In assessing public sector performance Mr Pearson noted a continuing
improvement in accountability, but again warned against complacency and
flagged a number of challenges (such as earlier reporting, the new approach
to the preparation of financial statements and better use of key performance
indicators) that lay ahead for the sector.
Reviewing the public sector as a whole he reiterated the concerns expressed
in his recent report Help Wanted: Public Service Workforce Management
that deliberate and proactive management of the public service workforce
was now essential to maintain and improve the quality of government services
as worrying signs are evident.
“It would appear that there has been an under-investment in the
public service workforce over the past 20 years, at both the leadership
and entry levels,” he says
“The major focus during the 1990s was on making the public service
leaner and meaner – priority was given to reforms such as increased
use of contractors and not-for-profit organisations; restructuring, amalgamating
and splitting agencies; shifting individual agency corporate services
to shared service centres; and procurement reform.
“While each of these has merit in itself, the challenge of ensuring
that there are motivated, capable staff and an alignment between services,
outcomes and workforce management has gone largely unaddressed.
“I thus urge the government, Members of Parliament and the wider
community to recognise the fundamental importance of, and very high expectations
placed on, the public service.
“There needs to be a re-think about how best to provide a management
framework that delivers coordinated responses and high-quality services
into the future.”
Ends/.
Media Contact: Peter Villiers, Manager Reporting and Communications
Tel: (08) 9222 7558. Mobile: 0417 936 171 Fax: (08) 9322 5664
4th Floor Dumas House 2 Havelock Street West Perth
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