Auditor-General Act 2009
Queensland Auditor-General Act
2009 Current as at 23 September
2013
Information about this reprint
This
reprint shows the legislation current as at the date on the cover
and is authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel. A
new reprint of
the legislation will
be prepared by
the Office of
the Queensland Parliamentary
Counsel when any change to the legislation takes effect. This
change may be because a provision of the original
legislation, or an amendment to it, commences or
because a particular provision of the
legislation expires or is repealed. When a new reprint
is prepared, this reprint will become a historical reprint. Also,
if it is necessary to replace this reprint before a
new reprint is prepared, for example, to include
amendments with a retrospective commencement,
an appropriate note would be included on
the cover of
the replacement reprint
and on the
copy of this
reprint at
www.legislation.qld.gov.au.
The
endnotes to this reprint contain detailed information about the
legislation and reprint. For example— •
The
table of reprints endnote lists any previous reprints and, for this reprint, gives details of any discretionary editorial powers under the Reprints Act 1992 used by the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel in preparing it. •
The list of
legislation endnote
gives historical
information about
the original legislation and
the legislation which
amended it.
It also gives
details of
uncommenced amendments
to this legislation. For
information about
possible amendments to the
legislation by Bills introduced in Parliament, see the
Queensland Legislation Current
Annotations at
www.legislation.qld.gov.au/Leg_Info/
information.htm. •
The
list of annotations endnote gives historical information at section
level. All Queensland reprints are dated and
authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel. The previous numbering
system and distinctions between printed and electronic reprints
are not continued.
Queensland Auditor-General
Act 2009 Contents Part 1
1 2 3
4 5 Part 2
Division 1 6
7 8 Division 2
9 10 11
12 12A 13
14 15 16
17 18 19
20 21 Page
Preliminary Short title . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 5 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Main objects of Act . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Dictionary . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 What
is a controlled entity
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Queensland
Auditor-General
and Queensland
Audit Office General Auditor-general
and audit
office .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Control of audit office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Auditor-general not subject to direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Provisions
relating to
auditor-general Appointment
of auditor-general
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Duration of appointment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Terms of appointment.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Declaration
of interests.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Conflicts of interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Restriction
on outside
employment .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Preservation
of rights
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
Leave of absence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Resignation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Grounds for removal or suspension
from office
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12
Removal or suspension
of auditor-general
on address
. . . . . . . .
12
Suspension
of auditor-general
when Legislative Assembly
not sitting
. . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 13 Delegation of powers . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14 Estimates . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
Auditor-General Act 2009 Contents
Division 3 22
23 24 25
Division 4 26
27 Division 5 28
29 Part 3 Division 1
30 30A 31
32 33 34
35 36 36A
Division 2 37
37A 38 38A
39 40 41
42 Page 2 Provisions
relating to deputy auditor-general Deputy
auditor-general employed under Public Service Act . . . .
Duties of deputy auditor-general . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy
auditor-general subject only to direction of auditor-general ..............................
Declaration of interests and conflicts of
interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff of audit
office Staff employed under Public Service Act . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Staff subject
only to direction of auditor-general . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Other matters Rulings
under Public
Service Act
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reviews under Public Service Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit mandate Scope
of auditor-general’s mandate Auditor-general
to audit
consolidated fund and public sector
entities unless exempted . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Exemption of
public sector entities from audit by auditor-general
under s 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exemption
of certain
public sector
entities from
audit by auditor-general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Exemption
of foreign-based
controlled entities and other controlled
entities from
audit by
auditor-general. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Appropriate
Minister or
authority to
give Treasurer and
auditor-general information
about public
sector entities . . . . . . . . Auditor-general to be appointed auditor of every company
public sector entity
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audits at request of Legislative
Assembly .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . By-arrangement audits
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Auditor-general may conduct audit
of matters
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conduct of audits Way in which audit is to be conducted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Performance
audit of
public sector
entities. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit of performance
management systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Preparation
of strategic
audit plans
for performance audits
. . . . . Audit of consolidated
fund accounts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Audit of public sector entities
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit of expenditure
for ministerial offices
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit of consolidated
whole-of-government
financial statements. 14
14 15 15
16 16 16 16
17 17
19
20
20
21
22
22
22
23
23
24
25
26
27
29
29
42A 43 44
45 46 47
48 49 50
51 52 53
54 55 56
57 Division 3 58
59 60 61
61A 62 63
64 65 66
67 Part 4 68
69 70 Part 5
71 72 Auditor-General
Act 2009 Contents Auditor-general
may conduct joint audit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Appointment of contract auditors . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Identity cards
for authorised auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Proof of authority as authorised auditor . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Access to
documents and property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Obtaining
information .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obtaining
evidence. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Compensation
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . False or misleading
information .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Obstruction
of authorised
auditor .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Impersonation
of authorised
auditor. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Confidentiality
and related
matters. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Report on audit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Protection
from liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Audit fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Act does not limit other powers of auditor-general
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Reports to the Legislative Assembly Reports
on auditing
standards .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annual report on consolidated fund
accounts .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Annual reports on audits of public sector
entities. .
. . . . . . . . . . . Reports on audits requested by the Legislative
Assembly .
. . . . . Reports on audit of matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interim, supplementary and
combined reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Other reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments on proposed audit reports
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Proposed reports to remain confidential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Procedure
for reporting
certain sensitive information. .
. . . . . . . .
Tabling of reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strategic
review of
the audit
office Conduct of strategic review
of audit
office .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Powers of strategic review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Report of strategic review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Independent
audit of
Queensland Audit Office
Audit of audit office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Conduct of independent
audit .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30 30 30
31 31 33 33
35
36
36
36
36
38
39
39
40
40
41
41
42
42
43
43
43
45
45
46
47
48
48
49
49
Page 3
Auditor-General Act 2009 Contents
Part
6 73 Part 7 Division 1
74 75 76
77 78 79
80 81 82
83 84 85
Division 2 86
Division 3 87
88 89 Schedule
General provisions Regulation-making
power. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. Transitional provisions Provisions for
Act No. 8 of 2009 Definitions for div 1 . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Person holding appointment
to conduct
audit of
audit office
. . . .
Auditor-general continues
to hold
office .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Deputy auditor-general
continues to
hold office
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Delegations
continue .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rulings under Public Service Act 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Requests for reviews under Public Service Act 2008 . . . . . . . . . . Strategic
review of
audit office
under the
repealed Act
. . . . . . . .
References
to documents
under the
repealed Act
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Appointment
of contract
auditors .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reports on auditing standards to continue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Continuation
of audit
reviews .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Provision
for Integrity
Reform (Miscellaneous
Amendments) Act 2010 Declarations of
interests by auditor-general and deputy auditor-general . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Transitional
provisions for the Parliamentary Service
and Other Acts Amendment Act
2011 First strategic
audit plan
to be
prepared .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Existing audits of performance management systems.
. . . . . . . .
Duration of appointment
of auditor-general
not affected
. . . . . . . Dictionary . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 50 50 50 50
51
51
51
51
52
52
52
52
52
53
53
53
54
55 Endnotes 1
2 3 4
5 6 7
Index to endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Date to which amendments incorporated. .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Key . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . Table of reprints . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
List of legislation.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
List of annotations
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Forms notified or published in the gazette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
59
60 60 61 61
64
Page
4
Auditor-General Act 2009 Auditor-General
Act 2009 Part 1 Preliminary [s 1]
[as
amended by all amendments that commenced on or before 23
September 2013] An Act to provide for the Queensland
Auditor-General and the Queensland Audit
Office and
the audit of
the State’s public
finances and all public sector
entities Part 1 Preliminary 1
Short
title This Act may be cited as the
Auditor-General Act 2009 .
2 Commencement This Act
commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation. 3
Main
objects of Act The main objects of this Act are as
follows— (a) to establish
the position of
the Queensland Auditor-General
and the Queensland Audit Office; (b)
to confer on
the Queensland Auditor-General and
the Queensland Audit
Office the
functions and
powers necessary
to carry out
independent audits
of the Queensland
public sector and related entities; (c)
to provide for
the strategic review
of the Queensland Audit
Office; (d) to provide for the independent audit
of the Queensland Audit Office. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 5
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 4]
4 Dictionary The dictionary
in the schedule defines particular words used in this
Act. 5 What is a controlled entity
(1) An entity is a controlled
entity if it is subject to the control of
1 or
more of the following (the controlling entity )—
(a) a department; (b)
a
local government; (c) a statutory body; (d)
a
GOC; (e) another entity subject to the control
of 1 or more of the entities mentioned in paragraphs (a) to
(d). (2) In this section— control
means the
capacity of
an entity to
dominate decision-making, directly
or indirectly, in
relation to
the financial and
operating policies
of another entity
so as to
enable the
other entity
to operate with
it in pursuing
the objectives of the controlling
entity. Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office
Division 1 General
6 Auditor-general and audit
office (1) There is to be a Queensland
Auditor-General. (2) Also, there is to be a Queensland
Deputy Auditor-General. (3) An office called
the Queensland Audit Office is established. Page 6
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 7]
(4) The office
consists of
the auditor-general, the
deputy auditor-general
and the staff of the audit office. 7
Control of audit office The
auditor-general is to control the audit office. 8
Auditor-general not subject to
direction (1) The auditor-general is not subject to
direction by any person about— (a)
the way in
which the
auditor-general’s powers
in relation to audit are to be exercised;
or (b) the priority to be given to audit
matters. (2) Subsection (1) applies despite
the Public Service Act 2008 .
Division 2 Provisions
relating to auditor-general 9
Appointment of auditor-general
(1) The auditor-general is
to be appointed
by the Governor
in Council. (2)
A
person may be appointed as the auditor-general only if—
(a) press advertisements have been placed
nationally calling for applications from
suitably qualified
persons to
be considered for appointment; and
(b) the Minister
has consulted with
the parliamentary committee
about— (i) the process of selection for
appointment; and (ii) the
appointment of
the person as
the auditor-general. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 7
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 10]
10 Duration of appointment
The appointment of
the auditor-general is
for a fixed,
non-renewable term of 7 years.
11 Terms of appointment
(1) The auditor-general holds office on a
full-time basis. (2) The auditor-general is to be paid a
salary at a rate decided by the Governor in
Council. (3) The auditor-general is
entitled to
the allowances and
holds office, to the
extent the terms are not provided for by this Act,
on
the terms decided by the Governor in Council. (4)
Advice to
the Governor in
Council regarding
the salary, allowances and
other terms
is only to
be given after
consultation with the parliamentary
committee. (5) The salary and allowances of the
auditor-general are payable out
of the consolidated fund,
which is
appropriated accordingly. (6)
The
rate of remuneration of the auditor-general must not be
reduced during the term of office without
the auditor-general’s written consent. 12
Declaration of interests (1)
This
section applies to the auditor-general on appointment.
(2) The auditor-general must, within 1
month, give the Speaker a statement setting out the information
mentioned in subsection (3) in relation to—
(a) the interests of the auditor-general;
and (b) the interests of each person who is a
related person in relation to the auditor-general.
(3) The information to
be set out
in the statement
is the information that
would be required to be disclosed under the Parliament of
Queensland Act
2001 ,
section 69B
if the auditor-general
were a member of the Legislative Assembly. Page 8
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 12]
(4) Subsections (5)
and (6) apply
if, after the
giving of
the statement— (a)
there is
a change in
the interests mentioned
in subsection (2); and
(b) the change is of a type that would
have been required to be disclosed
under the
Parliament of
Queensland Act
2001 , section 69B if
the auditor-general were a member of the
Legislative Assembly. (5) The
auditor-general must
give the
Speaker a
revised statement. (6)
The
revised statement must— (a) be
given as
soon as
possible after
the relevant facts
about the
change come
to the auditor-general’s knowledge;
and (b) comply with subsection (3).
(7) The Speaker must, if asked, give a
copy of the latest statement to—
(a) the Premier; or (b)
the leader of
a political party
represented in
the Legislative Assembly; or
(c) the Crime and Misconduct Commission;
or (d) a member of the parliamentary
committee; or (e) the integrity commissioner.
(8) The Speaker
must, if
asked, give
a copy of
the part of
the latest statement
that relates
only to
the auditor-general to
another member of the Legislative
Assembly. (9) A member of the Legislative Assembly
may, by writing given to the
Speaker, allege
that the
auditor-general has
not complied with the requirements of this
section. (10) A reference in
this section to an interest is a reference to the
matter within its ordinary meaning under the
general law and the definition in the Acts
Interpretation Act 1954 , schedule 1 does not
apply. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
9
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 12A]
(11) In this
section— integrity commissioner means
the Queensland Integrity
Commissioner under the Integrity Act
2009 . related person , in relation to
the auditor-general, means— (a)
the
auditor-general’s spouse; or (b)
a
person who is totally or substantially dependent on the
auditor-general and— (i)
the
person is the auditor-general’s child; or (ii)
the
person’s affairs are so closely connected with the
affairs of
the auditor-general that
a benefit derived
by the person,
or a substantial part
of it, could pass to
the auditor-general. 12A Conflicts of interest
(1) If the
auditor-general has
an interest that
conflicts or
may conflict with
the discharge of
the auditor-general’s responsibilities, the
auditor-general— (a) must disclose the nature of the
interest and conflict to the Speaker
and parliamentary committee
as soon as
practicable after
the relevant facts
come to
the auditor-general’s knowledge;
and (b) must not
take action
or further action
concerning a
matter that is, or may be, affected by the
conflict until the conflict or possible conflict is
resolved. (2) If the conflict or possible conflict
between an interest of the auditor-general and
the auditor-general’s responsibilities is
resolved, the
auditor-general must
give to
the Speaker and
parliamentary committee
a statement advising
of the action
the auditor-general took
to resolve the
conflict or
possible conflict.
(3) A reference
in this section
to an interest
or to a
conflict of
interest is a reference to those matters
within their ordinary meaning under the general law and, in
relation to an interest, Page 10 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 13]
the
definition in the Acts Interpretation Act 1954
,
schedule 1 does not apply. 13
Restriction on outside employment
(1) The auditor-general must not—
(a) hold any
office of
profit other
than that
of auditor-general; or
(b) engage in any remunerative employment
or undertaking outside the functions of the office.
(2) Contravention of subsection (1) is
misconduct under section 17. 14
Preservation of rights (1)
This
section applies if a person who is an officer of the public
service is appointed as the
auditor-general. (2) The person is entitled to, and
retains, all existing and accruing rights as if
service as auditor-general were a continuation of
service as an officer of the public
service. (3) If the person stops being
auditor-general and again becomes an
officer of
the public service,
the person’s service
as auditor-general is to be regarded as
service of a similar kind in the public
service for the purpose of working out the person’s
rights as an officer of the public
service. 15 Leave of absence The
Minister may
grant leave
of absence to
the auditor-general in
accordance with
the terms on
which the
auditor-general holds office.
16 Resignation The
auditor-general may resign by signed notice given to the
Governor and
the Speaker or,
if there is
no Speaker or
the Speaker is unavailable, the clerk of
the Parliament. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
11
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 17]
17 Grounds for removal or suspension from
office The following are grounds for removal or
suspension of the auditor-general from office—
(a) proved incapacity, incompetence or
misconduct; (b) conviction of an indictable
offence; (c) being an insolvent under
administration as defined in the Corporations
Act, section 9. 18 Removal or suspension of
auditor-general on address (1) The
Governor may,
on an address
of the Legislative Assembly, remove
or suspend the auditor-general from office on any of the
grounds listed in section 17. (2)
The motion for
the address may
only be
moved by
the Premier. (3)
The
Premier may move the motion only if— (a)
the Premier has
given the
auditor-general a
statement setting out the
reasons for the motion; and (b)
the statement and
any written response
by the auditor-general have
been laid
before the
Legislative Assembly;
and (c) the Premier
has consulted with
the parliamentary committee about
the motion; and (d) agreement to the motion has been
obtained from— (i) all members of the parliamentary
committee; or (ii) a
majority of
members of
the parliamentary committee, other
than a majority consisting only of the
members of
the political party
or parties in
government in the Legislative
Assembly. (4) The auditor-general is
entitled to
be paid remuneration and
allowances for the period of a suspension
only if— (a) the Legislative Assembly resolves that
remuneration and allowances be paid for the period; or
Page
12 Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 19]
(b) the Governor
in Council approves
the payment of
remuneration and allowances for the
period. 19 Suspension of auditor-general when
Legislative Assembly not sitting (1)
When the
Legislative Assembly
is not in
session, the
Governor in Council may suspend the
auditor-general on any of the grounds listed in section
17. (2) However the
auditor-general may
be suspended under
subsection (1) only if— (a)
the Premier has
given the
auditor-general a
statement setting out the
reasons for the suspension; and (b)
the Premier has
considered any
response by
the auditor-general to the
statement. (3) The Premier
must table
the statement and
any written response by the
auditor-general in the Legislative Assembly within
3 sitting days after the day on
which the suspension begins. (4)
A
suspension made when the Legislative Assembly is not in
session stops having effect—
(a) subject to
paragraph (b)—at
the end of
7 sitting days
after the day on which the suspension
begins; or (b) if the
auditor-general is
earlier suspended
or removed from
office on
an address of
the Legislative Assembly—at the
earlier time. (5) If the suspension stops having effect
under subsection (4)(a), the auditor-general is
entitled to
be paid remuneration and
allowances for the period of the
suspension. (6) Other than as provided in subsection
(5), the auditor-general is entitled
to be paid
remuneration and
allowances for
the period of a suspension only if—
(a) the Legislative Assembly resolves that
remuneration and allowances be paid for the period; or
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
13
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 20]
(b) the Governor
in Council approves
the payment of
remuneration and allowances for the
period. 20 Delegation of powers
(1) The auditor-general may delegate
powers under any Act to an authorised auditor.
(2) However, the
auditor-general must
not delegate a
power to
report to the Legislative Assembly.
21 Estimates (1)
The auditor-general must
prepare, for
each financial
year, estimates of
proposed receipts and expenditure relating to the
audit office. (2)
The
auditor-general must give the estimates to the Treasurer.
(3) The Treasurer must consult with the
parliamentary committee in developing the proposed budget of
the audit office for each financial year. Division 3
Provisions relating to deputy
auditor-general 22
Deputy auditor-general employed under Public
Service Act The deputy
auditor-general is
to be employed
under the
Public Service Act 2008 .
23 Duties of deputy
auditor-general (1) The deputy auditor-general is to
perform the duties directed by the
auditor-general. (2) The deputy auditor-general is to act
as auditor-general— (a) during vacancies in the office of
auditor-general; and Page 14 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 24]
(b) during periods when the
auditor-general is absent from duty
or Australia or
is, for another
reason, unable
to perform the functions of the
office. (3) While the
deputy auditor-general is
acting as
auditor-general— (a)
the deputy auditor-general has
all the powers
and functions of the auditor-general;
and (b) this Act
and other Acts
apply to
the deputy auditor-general
as if the deputy auditor-general were the auditor-general. (4)
Anything done by or in relation to the
deputy auditor-general while the
deputy auditor-general is
purporting to
act as auditor-general
is not invalid merely because the occasion for the deputy
auditor-general to act had not arisen or had ceased.
24 Deputy auditor-general subject only to
direction of auditor-general (1)
The
deputy auditor-general is not subject to direction by any
person, other than the auditor-general,
about— (a) the way
in which the
auditor-general’s powers
in relation to audit are to be exercised;
or (b) the priority to be given to audit
matters. (2) Subsection (1) applies despite
the Public Service Act 2008 .
25 Declaration of interests and conflicts
of interest (1) Section 12 applies to the deputy
auditor-general in the same way as it
applies to the auditor-general. (2)
If the deputy
auditor-general is
acting as
auditor-general, section 12A
applies to the deputy auditor-general in the same
way
as it applies to the auditor-general. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 15
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 2 Queensland
Auditor-General and Queensland Audit Office [s 26]
Division 4 Staff of audit
office 26 Staff employed under Public Service
Act The staff of
the audit office
are to be
employed under
the Public Service Act 2008
. 27 Staff subject
only to direction of auditor-general (1)
The
staff of the audit office are not subject to direction by
any person, other
than the
auditor-general, the
deputy auditor-general
or a person authorised by the auditor-general, about—
(a) the way
in which the
auditor-general’s powers
in relation to audit are to be exercised;
or (b) the priority to be given to audit
matters. (2) Subsection (1) applies despite
the Public Service Act 2008 .
Division 5 Other
matters 28 Rulings under Public Service
Act (1) The industrial relations Minister or
the chief executive of the Public Service
Commission may
make a
ruling under
the Public Service Act 2008
that
applies specifically to the audit office,
whether or
not it also
applies to
other public
sector units, only with
the auditor-general’s approval. (2)
Subsection (1) does not apply to a directive
or guideline that applies generally to all public sector
units. 29 Reviews under Public Service
Act (1) A management review
may be conducted
under the
Public Service
Act 2008 in
relation to
the audit office
only at
the auditor-general’s request.
(2) Subsection (1) applies despite
the Public Service Act 2008 .
Page
16 Current as at 23 September 2013
Part
3 Audit mandate Auditor-General
Act 2009 Part 3 Audit mandate [s 30]
Division 1 Scope of
auditor-general’s mandate 30 Auditor-general
to audit consolidated fund and public sector entities
unless exempted (1) The auditor-general must, for each
financial year, audit— (a) the consolidated
fund; and (b) all public sector entities.
(2) However, the auditor-general must not
audit the audit office. (3) Subsection (1)
does not apply to— (a) a public
sector entity
exempted from
audit by
the auditor-general— (i)
under section 30A; or (ii)
under a regulation made under section 31;
or (b) a controlled entity that is audited by
an auditor approved by the auditor-general under section
32. 30A Exemption of public sector entities
from audit by auditor-general under s 30
(1) The auditor-general may, by written
notice given to a public sector entity, exempt the public
sector entity from audit by the auditor-general
for a financial year under section 30. (2)
The auditor-general may
grant the
exemption only
if the auditor-general is
reasonably satisfied
that the
audit of
the public sector entity for the financial
year is small in size and of low risk having regard to a general
standard mentioned in section 58(1)(a)(iii).
(3) If the auditor-general grants the
exemption, the public sector entity must
engage an appropriately qualified person to audit
the
public sector entity for the financial year. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 17
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 30A] (4)
For
the purposes of auditing the public sector entity—
(a) the person engaged to audit the public
sector entity (the engaged auditor
) has all
the powers of
an authorised auditor;
and (b) this Act and other Acts apply to the
engaged auditor as if the engaged auditor were an authorised
auditor. (5) The engaged auditor must give the
certified annual financial statements and a report on the audit
to— (a) if the
public sector
entity is
a department—the accountable
officer of the department; or (b)
otherwise—the chief executive officer or
chairperson of the public sector entity.
(6) The public
sector entity
must give
the auditor-general any
document about the audit of the public
sector entity requested by the auditor-general.
(7) A notice
under subsection (1)
may exempt a
public sector
entity for a maximum of 3 financial
years. (8) However, more than 1 notice may be
made under subsection (1) for a public sector entity.
(9) The auditor-general may
repeal an
exemption granted
to a public
sector entity
under subsection (1)
by written notice
given to the public sector entity.
(10) A valid exercise
of a function or power under an exemption continues to be
valid despite the exemption being revoked. (11)
A list of
public sector
entities granted
an exemption under
subsection (1) must be published by the
auditor-general on the website of the audit office.
(12) This
section does
not prevent the
auditor-general from
performing any
of the functions
or exercising any
of the powers of the
auditor-general under this Act for the audit of a
public sector
entity granted
an exemption under
subsection (1).
(13) In this
section— Page 18 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 31] appropriately
qualified person , to audit a public sector entity,
means— (a)
a
member of CPA Australia who is entitled to use the
letters ‘CPA’
or ‘FCPA’ and
holds a
current public
practice certificate issued by CPA
Australia; or (b) a member of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in Australia who is entitled to use the letters
‘CA’ or ‘FCA’ and holds a current certificate of public
practice issued by the institute; or (c)
a
member of the Institute of Public Accountants who is
entitled to use the letters ‘MIPA’ or ‘FIPA’
and holds a professional practice certificate issued by
the institute. 31 Exemption of certain public sector
entities from audit by auditor-general (1)
A
regulation may— (a) exempt a
public sector
entity from
audit by
the auditor-general; and
(b) provide that a person appointed under,
or in a way stated in, the regulation must audit the public
sector entity. (2) Before a regulation is made under
subsection (1), the Minister must
consult with
the auditor-general about
the proposed regulation. (3)
For the purpose
of conducting an
audit under
a regulation made under
subsection (1)(b)— (a) the person
appointed under
the regulation has
all the powers of an
authorised auditor; and (b) this
Act and other
Acts apply
to the person
as if the
person were an authorised auditor.
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
19
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 32] 32
Exemption of foreign-based controlled
entities and other controlled entities from audit by
auditor-general (1) A controlled entity may be audited by
an auditor approved by the auditor-general if 1 or more of
the following apply— (a) the
controlled entity
is based in
or has significant operations in a
country other than Australia; (b)
the controlled entity
is legally obliged
to be audited
under a law of a country other than
Australia; (c) the controlled entity operates in
cooperation with, or in a corporate group with—
(i) other public
sector entities
that have
been exempted
from being
audited by
the auditor-general under section 30A;
or (ii) other
public sector
entities that
have been
exempted from
being audited
by the auditor-general under
a regulation made
under section 31;
or (iii) other controlled
entities that have been exempted from
being audited
by the auditor-general under
paragraph (a), (b) or (d);
(d) preparation of the audit for the
controlled entity would require specialist skills.
(2) The controlled entity
exempted under
subsection (1)
must give any audit
report in relation to the controlled entity to the
auditor-general as
soon as
reasonably practicable after
the audit report has been received by the
controlled entity. 33 Appropriate Minister or authority to
give Treasurer and auditor-general information about public
sector entities (1) This section applies if—
(a) a public
sector entity
is established or
abolished (a
notifiable event ); or
(b) an entity becomes a public sector
entity or stops being a public sector entity (also a
notifiable event ).
Page
20 Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 34] (2)
If
the public sector entity is a GOC or a prescribed subsidiary
of a
GOC, the board of the GOC or the subsidiary must give
the
auditor-general a written notice about the notifiable event.
(3) For other public sector entities, the
appropriate Minister for the public
sector entity
must give
the Treasurer and
the auditor-general a written notice about
the notifiable event. (4) For
all public sector
entities if
the auditor-general asks
the Minister, or
for a GOC,
the shareholding Ministers
of the corporation, for
information about the public sector entity, the Minister
or shareholding Ministers
must give
the auditor-general the
information. (5) This section does not apply to a
public sector entity that is, or is a part of, a
department. (6) In this section— prescribed
subsidiary means a subsidiary prescribed under a
regulation. 34
Auditor-general to be appointed auditor of
every company public sector entity
(1) The shareholders of a company that is
a public sector entity must— (a)
appoint the
auditor-general to
be the auditor
of the company;
and (b) ensure that the auditor-general
remains, at all times, the auditor of
the company while
the company remains
a public sector entity.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply
to— (a) a company
granted an
exemption from
audit by
the auditor-general under section 30A;
or (b) a company
exempt from
audit by
the auditor-general under a
regulation made under section 31; or (c)
a controlled entity
that may
be audited by
an auditor approved by the
auditor-general under section 32. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 21
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 35] 35
Audits at request of Legislative
Assembly (1) If the
Legislative Assembly,
by resolution, requests
the auditor-general to conduct an audit of
a matter relating to the financial administration of
a public sector
entity, the
auditor-general must conduct the
audit. (2) This section does not apply to the
financial administration of the audit
office. 36 By-arrangement audits
(1) The auditor-general may audit an
entity that is not a public sector entity if
asked by the Minister or a public sector entity.
(2) The auditor-general may
audit the
entity only
if the entity
agrees to the audit. 36A
Auditor-general may conduct audit of
matters (1) The auditor-general may conduct an
audit of a matter relating to property that is, or was, held or
received by a public sector entity and given
to a non-public sector entity. (2)
The
object of conducting the audit includes deciding whether
the property has
been applied
economically, efficiently and
effectively for
the purposes for
which it
was given to
the non-public sector entity.
Note — Property includes
money. See the Acts Interpretation Act 1954
,
schedule 1. (3) If the
auditor-general conducts an audit under subsection (1),
the
auditor-general must apply the general standards set out in
the
auditor-general’s report mentioned in section 58.
Page
22 Current as at 23 September 2013
Division 2 Auditor-General
Act 2009 Part 3 Audit mandate [s 37]
Conduct of audits 37
Way
in which audit is to be conducted (1)
The auditor-general may
conduct an
audit in
the way the
auditor-general considers
appropriate. (2) In deciding
the appropriate way
to conduct an
audit, the
auditor-general may have regard to—
(a) the character of the internal control
system of the entity to be audited, including internal
audit; and (b) recognised standards and
practices. (3) Subsection (2)
does not
limit the
matters to
which the
auditor-general may have regard.
(4) For the audit of a company, the
auditor-general is not limited to conducting
the audit under the Corporations Act, and may do anything else
the auditor-general considers appropriate. 37A
Performance audit of public sector
entities (1) The auditor-general may
conduct an
audit (a
performance audit
) of all
or any particular activities of
a public sector
entity. (2)
The
performance audit may be conducted as a separate audit
or as part
of another audit,
including an
audit of
another public sector
entity under this section. (3) The
object of
the performance audit
includes deciding
whether the
objectives of
the public sector
entity are
being achieved
economically, efficiently and
effectively and
in compliance with all relevant
laws. (4) When conducting the performance audit,
the auditor-general must have regard to the prescribed
requirements that apply to the entity. (5)
The auditor-general must
not question the
merits of
policy objectives of
the State or a local government, including— (a)
a
decision of Cabinet; and Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
23
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 38] (b)
a
direction of a Minister; and (c)
a
policy statement in the budget papers of the State or a
local government; and (d)
a
document evidencing a policy decision of Cabinet or a
Minister; and (e)
a document evidencing a
policy decision
of a local
government. (6)
The
auditor-general may conduct a performance audit of the
activities of a public sector entity that is
a GOC or controlled entity of a GOC only if— (a)
the Legislative Assembly
requested the
audit by
resolution; or (b)
the parliamentary committee, the
Treasurer or
an appropriate Minister requested the
audit in writing. (7) This section does not prevent the
auditor-general from asking the
parliamentary committee, the Treasurer or an appropriate
Minister to make a particular request under
subsection (6). (8) In this section— annual
appropriation Act
see the Financial
Accountability Act 2009
,
section 6. budget papers means the budget
papers of the State tabled in Parliament with
an annual appropriation Act. 38
Audit
of performance management systems (1)
The auditor-general may
conduct an
audit of
performance management systems
of a GOC
or a controlled entity
of a GOC.
(2) The audit may be conducted as a
separate audit or as part of another
audit, including
an audit of
another GOC
or a controlled
entity of a GOC under this section. (3)
The object of
the audit includes
deciding whether
the performance management systems
enable the
GOC or the
Page
24 Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 38A] controlled entity
to assess whether
its objectives are
being achieved
economically, efficiently and effectively. (4)
In
conducting the audit, the auditor-general must have regard
to
any prescribed requirements relating to the establishment
and maintenance of
performance management systems
that apply to the GOC
or the controlled entity. (5) The audit may
include a review of the performance measures of the GOC or
the controlled entity. (6) In
a report prepared
for the audit,
the auditor-general may
state whether,
in the auditor-general’s opinion,
the performance measures—
(a) are relevant and otherwise
appropriate, having regard to their purpose;
and (b) fairly represent
the performance of
the GOC or
the controlled entity. 38A
Preparation of strategic audit plans for
performance audits (1)
The auditor-general must
prepare a
plan (a
strategic audit
plan )
for audits under
sections 37A
and 38 that
the auditor-general proposes to conduct in
the next 3 years. (2) When preparing the strategic
audit plan, the auditor-general
must consult
with the
parliamentary committee
and any relevant entity
and prepare a draft of the strategic audit plan.
(3) The auditor-general must give the
draft of the strategic audit plan to the
parliamentary committee. (4) The
parliamentary committee
must return
the draft of
the strategic audit plan with any comments
to the auditor-general within 42 days of receiving the
draft. (5) The auditor-general must consider any
comments made by the parliamentary committee
when finalising the
strategic audit
plan. (6)
The
strategic audit plan must be finalised before the end of
each
financial year. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
25
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 39] (7)
The strategic audit
plan must
be published by
the auditor-general on the website of the
audit office. (8) No person
is to direct
the auditor-general in
relation to
the content of the strategic audit
plan. (9) In this section— relevant
entity means— (a)
a
public sector entity that the auditor-general proposes
to
include in a draft of the strategic audit plan; or
(b) a portfolio
committee for
a public sector
entity mentioned in
paragraph (a). 39 Audit of consolidated fund
accounts In auditing the
consolidated fund
accounts, the
auditor-general must
decide whether
or not, in
the auditor-general’s opinion—
(a) proper accounts were properly kept as
required by law; and (b) procedures applied
were in
accordance with
the prescribed requirements and were
adequate to ensure— (i) proper control and safeguards were
exercised over the collection, custody,
banking, withdrawal, payment
of, and accounting for,
public moneys;
and (ii) public
moneys were
appropriately entered
in the consolidated
fund accounts as received in, or paid out
of, the Treasurer’s consolidated fund
bank account;
and (iii) withdrawals from
the Treasurer’s consolidated fund
bank account
were made
for lawful and
appropriate purposes; and
(iv) proper
safeguards were followed to prevent fraud and mistake;
and Page 26 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 40] (v)
the requirements of
the law relating
to public moneys
were complied
with in
all material respects;
and (c) the consolidated fund
financial report
for a financial
year under
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
section 23— (i)
is in agreement
with the
consolidated fund
accounts for the financial year; and
(ii) has been
properly drawn up to give a true and fair view
of the transactions in
relation to
the consolidated fund
accounts for
the financial year
and
the position of the consolidated fund at the end
of
the financial year. 40 Audit of public sector entities
(1) The auditor-general must—
(a) audit the annual financial statements
of a public sector entity; and (b)
prepare an
auditor’s report
about the
financial statements. (2)
For
subsection (1), the auditor-general must apply the general
standards set out in the auditor-general’s
report mentioned in section 58. (3)
Also, the auditor’s report about the
financial statements of a public sector
entity that
is a department, statutory
body or
local government must state whether—
(a) the auditor-general has received all
the information and explanations required by the
auditor-general; and (b) the
auditor-general considers
the prescribed requirements in
relation to
the establishment and
keeping of
accounts have
been complied
with in
all material respects. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 27
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 40] (4)
As soon as
practicable after
the officers have
certified the
statements and the auditor-general has
prepared the auditor’s report about the statements, the
auditor-general must give— (a) if the public
sector entity is a department— (i)
the
certified statements and the auditor’s report to
the
accountable officer of the department; and (ii)
a
copy of the certified statements and the report to
the
appropriate Minister and the Treasurer; and (b)
if
the public sector entity is a GOC— (i)
the
certified statements and the auditor’s report to
the
chief executive officer of the GOC; and (ii)
a
copy of the certified statements and the report to
the
appropriate Minister and the Treasurer; and (c)
if
the public sector entity is a local government— (i)
the
certified statements and the auditor’s report to
the
chief executive officer of the local government;
and (ii) a copy of the
certified statements and the report to the
mayor of
the local government and
the appropriate Minister; and
(d) if the public sector entity is a
statutory body— (i) the certified statements and the
auditor’s report to the chief executive
officer of
the statutory body;
and (ii) a copy of the
certified statements and the report to the appropriate
Minister; and (e) if the public sector entity is a
controlled entity— (i) the certified statements and the
auditor’s report to the chief executive officer of the
controlled entity; and (ii) a copy of the
certified statements and the report to the public
sector entity that exercises control over the controlled
entity and the appropriate Minister. Page 28
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 41] (5)
If
the public sector entity is a GOC, or a controlled entity of
a GOC, it
is enough for
subsection (1)
if the auditor-general audits the
financial statements of the GOC that the GOC is
required to provide under the Corporations
Act. (6) In this section— annual
financial statements includes
final financial
statements for abolished public sector
entities. 41 Audit of expenditure for ministerial
offices (1) The auditor-general must
audit the
full year
report of
expenditure of ministerial offices and
prepare a report about it. (2)
The
auditor-general’s report must state whether— (a)
the
auditor-general has received all the information and
explanations required by the
auditor-general; and (b) the
auditor-general considers the full year report is an
accurate report, in the required form, of
expenditure for ministerial offices for the year
concerned. (3) As soon
as reasonably practicable after
the auditor-general prepares
the report, the
auditor-general must
give the
auditor-general’s report
and the full
year report
to the appropriate
Minister. 42 Audit of consolidated
whole-of-government financial statements
(1) The auditor-general must
audit the
consolidated whole-of-government financial
statements and
prepare a
report about them. (2)
The
report must state the following— (a)
whether the
auditor-general has
received all
the information and
explanations required
by the auditor-general; Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 29
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 42A] (b)
whether the
auditor-general considers
the statements have
been properly
drawn up,
under prescribed requirements, to
give a true and fair view of— (i)
the
financial operations and cash flows of the State
for
the financial year; and (ii) the
financial position
at the end
of that financial
year. (3)
As soon as
reasonably practicable after
the auditor-general prepares
the report, the
auditor-general must
give the
statements and report to the
Treasurer. 42A Auditor-general may conduct joint
audit The auditor-general may
conduct an
audit jointly,
or in collaboration,
with the auditor-general of the Commonwealth or another State
if the auditor-general reasonably believes the Commonwealth or
other State has an interest in the audit. 43
Appointment of contract auditors
(1) The auditor-general may
appoint an
appropriately qualified
individual who is not a member of the staff
of the audit office to be a contract auditor.
(2) The appointment of a person to be a
contract auditor may be general or limited to a particular
audit. (3) The contract auditor—
(a) is appointed
on the terms
stated in
the instrument of
appointment; and (b)
may resign the
appointment by signed notice given to
the
auditor-general. 44 Identity cards for authorised
auditors (1) The auditor-general may
issue an
identity card
to an authorised
auditor. (2) The identity card must—
Page
30 Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 45] (a)
contain a
recent photograph of
the authorised auditor;
and (b) be
signed by
the authorised auditor
and the auditor-general. (3)
A
person who stops being an authorised auditor must return
the person’s identity
card to
the auditor-general as
soon as
practicable after the person stops being an
authorised auditor, unless the person has a reasonable
excuse. Maximum penalty for subsection (3)—10
penalty units. 45 Proof of authority as authorised
auditor An authorised auditor may exercise a power
in relation to a person only
if the authorised auditor
produces his
or her identity card
for inspection by the person. 46
Access to documents and property
(1) For the
purpose of
conducting an
audit of
the consolidated fund
accounts, an
authorised auditor
must be
given, at
all reasonable times,
full and
free access
to all documents
and property relevant to the audit.
(2) Subject to
subsection (5),
for the purpose
of conducting an
audit of an entity under this Act, an
authorised auditor must be given, at
all reasonable times,
full and
free access
to all documents
and property belonging
to, in the
custody of,
or under the control of, the
entity. (3) Subject to
subsection (5),
for the purpose
of conducting an
audit under this Act, an authorised auditor
may— (a) enter, at any reasonable time—
(i) a place
occupied by
a public sector
entity or
another entity subject to audit; or
(ii) a
place occupied
by a financial
institution with
which a
public sector
entity, or
another entity
subject to audit, maintains an account;
or Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
31
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 46] (iii)
another place if the occupier of the place
consents to the entry; and (b)
inspect, examine,
photograph or
film anything
in the place;
and (c) take extracts from, and make copies
of, any documents in the place; and (d)
take
into the place persons, equipment and materials that
the
authorised auditor reasonably requires; and (e)
require any person in the place to give to
the authorised auditor reasonable assistance in relation to
the exercise of the powers mentioned in paragraphs (a) to
(d). (4) A person
must comply
with a
requirement made
under subsection
(3)(e), unless the person has a reasonable excuse.
Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
(5) For the
purpose of
conducting an
audit under
section 36A,
subsections (2)
and (3)(a)(i) and
(ii) do
not apply to
a non-public sector entity subject to
audit. (6) It is not a reasonable excuse for a
person who is an individual to fail to
comply with a requirement made under subsection (3)(e)
that complying
with the
requirement might
tend to
incriminate the person. Note
— In this
and similar provisions
the reference to
a person who
is an individual is
made because an individual may claim the privilege against
self-incrimination. (7)
An answer by
a person who
is an individual under
a requirement made
under subsection (3)(e),
or any information,
document or other thing obtained as a direct or indirect
consequence of the person giving the answer, is not
admissible against the person in a criminal
proceeding, other than a proceeding relating to the falsity of
the answer, if the answer might in fact tend to incriminate the
person. (8) The fact that a document was produced
by a person who is an individual under a requirement made
under subsection (3)(e) is not admissible in evidence against
the person in a criminal Page 32 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 47] proceeding,
other than a proceeding relating to the falsity of
the
document, if producing the document might in fact tend to
incriminate the person. 47
Obtaining information (1)
If
it is reasonably necessary for the purposes of an audit
under this Act, an authorised auditor may, by
written notice given to a person, require the person to give
to the authorised auditor stated information, within
a reasonable period
and in a
reasonable way stated in the notice.
(2) A person
must comply
with a
requirement made
under subsection (1),
unless the person has a reasonable excuse. Maximum
penalty—40 penalty units. (3) It is not a
reasonable excuse for a person who is an individual
to
fail to comply with a requirement under subsection (1) that
complying with the requirement might tend to
incriminate the person. (4)
Information given by a person who is an
individual under a requirement under subsection (1), or any
other information or a document
or other thing
obtained as
a direct or
indirect consequence of
the person giving
the information, is
not admissible against the person in a
criminal proceeding, other than a proceeding relating to the
falsity of the information, if giving the
information might in fact tend to incriminate the
person. 48
Obtaining evidence (1)
If
it is reasonably necessary for the purposes of an audit
under this Act, an authorised auditor may, by
written notice given to a person, require the person—
(a) to attend
before an
authorised auditor,
at a reasonable time and place
stated in the notice, to answer questions; and
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
33
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 48] (b)
to
produce to an authorised auditor, at a reasonable time
and
place stated in the notice, documents belonging to,
in
the custody of, or under the control of, the person.
(2) The authorised auditor before whom the
person attends may require answers to be verified or given on
oath, either orally or in writing, and for that purpose the
authorised auditor may administer an oath.
(3) The oath to be taken by a person for
this section is an oath that the answers the
person will give will be true. (4)
An
authorised auditor to whom a document is produced under
a
notice under subsection (1)— (a)
may
keep the document for a reasonable period for the
purposes of conducting the relevant audit;
and (b) may take
extracts from
and make copies
of the document.
(5) While the authorised auditor has
possession of the document, the
authorised auditor
must allow
the document to
be inspected at any reasonable time by a
person who would be entitled to inspect it if it were not in the
authorised auditor’s possession. (6)
The regulations must
prescribe scales
of allowances and
expenses to
be allowed to
persons required
to attend under
this
section. (7) A person
must comply
with a
notice under
subsection (1),
unless the person has a reasonable
excuse. Maximum penalty—40 penalty units.
(8) It is not a reasonable excuse for a
person who is an individual to
fail to
comply with
a notice under
subsection (1)
that complying
with the
notice might
tend to
incriminate the
person. Page 34
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 49] (9)
An
answer given by a person who is an individual under this
section, or any information, document or
other thing obtained as a direct or indirect consequence of
the person giving the answer, is
not admissible against
the person in
a criminal proceeding,
other than a proceeding relating to the falsity of
the
answer if the answer might in fact tend to incriminate the
person. (10)
The
fact that a document was produced by a person who is an
individual under
this section
is not admissible in
evidence against
the person in
a criminal proceeding, other
than a
proceeding relating
to the falsity
of the document,
if producing the document might in fact
tend to incriminate the person. 49
Compensation (1)
A person, other
than a
public sector
entity, or
anyone else
subject to audit, who incurs any loss or
expense— (a) because of the exercise or purported
exercise of a power under this division; or (b)
in complying with
a requirement made
of the person
under this division; may claim
compensation from the State. (2)
A
payment of compensation may be claimed and ordered—
(a) in a
proceeding for
compensation brought
in a court
having jurisdiction in relation to the
recovery of a debt in the amount of the compensation claimed;
or (b) during a
proceeding for
an offence against
this Act
brought against the person by whom the claim
is made. (3) A court may order the payment of
compensation for the loss or expense only if it is satisfied
that it is just to do so in the circumstances of
the particular case. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
35
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 50] 50
False
or misleading information A person must not state anything to an
authorised auditor that the person
knows is
false or
misleading in
a material particular. Maximum
penalty—80 penalty units. 51 Obstruction of
authorised auditor (1) A person
must not
obstruct an
authorised auditor
in the exercise of a
power under this Act, unless the person has a reasonable
excuse. Maximum penalty—80 penalty units.
(2) In this section— obstruct
includes hinder and resist, and attempt to
obstruct. 52 Impersonation of authorised
auditor A person must not pretend to be an
authorised auditor. Maximum penalty—80 penalty units.
53 Confidentiality and related
matters (1) This section applies to a person who
is or has been any of the following, including
before the
commencement of
this subsection— (a)
an
authorised auditor; (b) a person engaged by the
auditor-general; (c) a person engaged or employed by a
contract auditor; (d) a person
receiving proposed
reports, or
extracts of
proposed reports, under section 64.
(2) The person must not—
(a) make a record of protected
information; or Page 36 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 53] (b)
whether directly or indirectly, divulge or
communicate protected information; unless
the record is
made, or
the protected information is
divulged or
communicated, under
this Act
or in the
performance of
duties, as
a person to
whom this
section applies, under
this Act. Maximum penalty—200 penalty units or
imprisonment for 1 year. (3)
Subsection (2)
does not
prevent the
disclosure of
protected information
to— (a) the parliamentary committee or a
portfolio committee; or (b)
the
Crime and Misconduct Commission; or (c)
a police officer,
or an entity,
responsible for
the investigation or
prosecution of
offences in
any jurisdiction; or (d)
a
court for the purposes of the prosecution of a person
for
an offence in any jurisdiction; or (e)
if the auditor-general conducts
an audit jointly,
or in collaboration, with
the auditor-general of
the Commonwealth or
another State
under section
42A—the auditor-general of
the Commonwealth or
other State. (4)
Compliance by
a person mentioned
in subsection (1)
in relation to the Corporations Act,
section 311 or the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission Act 2001 , section
30A is declared to be an excluded matter for the
Corporations Act, section 5F. (5)
Nothing in subsection (4) is intended to
affect the power of a person mentioned in subsection (1) to
disclose information to the Australian Securities and
Investments Commission under subsection
(3)(c). (6) In this section— Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 37
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 54] protected
information means
information, observations, comments,
suggestions or notations that— (a)
are
not publicly available; and (b)
are disclosed to,
obtained by
or made by
a person to
whom
this section applies in relation to an audit that has
been, is being or will be conducted under
this Act; and (c) are relevant to the audit.
54 Report on audit (1)
The auditor-general may
prepare a
report on
any audit conducted under
this Act. (2) An authorised auditor,
other than
the auditor-general, must
give
the auditor-general a report on every audit conducted by
the
authorised auditor. (3) A report under subsection (1) or (2)
may contain observations and suggestions about anything arising
out of the audit. (4) If the
auditor-general considers
that observations or
suggestions made
under subsection (3)
require attention
or further consideration, the
auditor-general must give them, and any comments on
them— (a) if they
arose out
of an audit
of the consolidated fund
accounts—to the Treasurer and any other
person whom the auditor-general considers to have a
special interest in the report; or (b)
if they arose
out of an
audit of
a department—to the
accountable officer
of the department and
any other person
whom the
auditor-general considers
to have a
special interest in the report; or
(c) if they arose out of an audit of a
matter under section 36A— (i)
for a report
relating to
a public sector
entity—to the
accountable officer,
chief executive
officer or
chairperson of the public sector entity;
and Page 38 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 55] (ii)
to any other
person whom
the auditor-general considers to
have a special interest in the report; or (d)
if they otherwise
arose out
of an audit
of another entity—to the
chief executive officer or chairperson of the
entity and
the person responsible for
the financial administration
of the entity, and any other person whom the
auditor-general considers to have a special interest in
the
report. (5) If the
auditor-general considers
that the
observations or
suggestions made under subsection (3) are of
significance, the auditor-general must
also give
them, and
any comments on
them, to the appropriate Minister and the
Treasurer. 55 Protection from liability
(1) An authorised auditor does not incur
civil liability for an act or omission done or omitted to be done
honestly and without negligence under or for this
Act. (2) A liability that would, apart from
subsection (1), attach to an authorised
auditor attaches instead to the State. 56
Audit
fees (1) The auditor-general may charge fees
for an audit conducted by the auditor-general.
(2) The auditor-general may
also charge
reasonable costs
and expenses incurred by or for the
auditor-general in conducting the
audit. (3) The auditor-general may,
under the
Treasurer’s approval,
decide the basic rates of fees.
(4) The auditor-general must assess the
fees for an audit having regard to the basic rates of fees
decided under subsection (3). (5)
Unpaid fees may be recovered by the
auditor-general as a debt due to the auditor-general.
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
39
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 57] 57
Act
does not limit other powers of auditor-general This
Act does not
limit any
power the
auditor-general has
apart from this Act. Division 3
Reports to the Legislative Assembly
58 Reports on auditing standards
(1) The auditor-general must prepare a
report to the Legislative Assembly— (a)
setting out
the general standards
the auditor-general applies, or
proposes to apply, to— (i) the conduct of
audits; and (ii) the
selection, engagement, and
quality control
of the work of contract auditors;
and (iii) a decision
whether an audit of a public sector entity for a financial
year is small in size and of low risk; and
(b) stating the
extent to
which the
standards are
in accordance with
auditing standards
made by
relevant professional or
statutory bodies. (2) If the auditor-general later makes a
significant change to, or replaces, the
general standards, the
auditor-general must,
as soon as practicable after making the
change or replacement, prepare a report to the Legislative
Assembly stating— (a) the nature of the change or
replacement; and (b) the extent to which the changed or
replaced standards are in accordance with
auditing standards
made by
relevant professional or statutory
bodies. (3) A report
to the Legislative Assembly
prepared by
the auditor-general on the conduct of an
audit must refer to any occasion of significance on which the
general standards were not applied. Page 40
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 59] (4)
The auditor-general must
arrange for
copies of
the report under subsection
(1), and each report under subsection (2), to be
made accessible to
the public free
of charge on
the Queensland Audit Office
website. 59 Annual report on consolidated fund
accounts (1) The auditor-general must prepare a
report to the Legislative Assembly on each audit conducted of
the consolidated fund accounts. (2)
The
report must— (a) deal with the matters mentioned in
section 39; and (b) deal with the action, if any, taken to
remedy significant deficiencies reported
in previous reports
on audits conducted of the
consolidated fund accounts. 60 Annual reports on
audits of public sector entities (1)
This section
does not
apply to
an audit of
a matter under
section 36A. (2)
The
auditor-general must prepare a report to the Legislative
Assembly on each audit conducted of a public
sector entity by an authorised auditor. (3)
The
report must— (a) state whether or not—
(i) the audit
of the public
sector entity
has been finished;
and (ii) the annual
financial statements of the public sector entity have been
audited; and (b) if the
public sector
entity was
granted an
exemption under section
30A for the relevant financial year—state that the public
sector entity was granted an exemption under
section 30A
and the reasons
for the exemption; and
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
41
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 61] (c)
draw attention
to any case
in which the
functions relating to the
financial management of the public sector entity were not
adequately and properly performed if the auditor-general considers
the matter to
be significant enough to
require inclusion in the report; and (d)
set
out— (i) the results
of audits conducted, in
relation to
the relevant financial year, of controlled
entities of the public sector entity by an authorised
auditor; and (ii) if
audits were
not conducted in
relation to
particular controlled entities—the reasons
why they were not conducted; and
(e) deal with the action, if any, taken to
remedy significant deficiencies reported in previous reports on
audits of the public sector entity. 61
Reports on audits requested by the
Legislative Assembly The auditor-general must prepare a
report to the Legislative Assembly on
each audit
conducted at
the request of
the Legislative Assembly.
61A Reports on audit of matters
(1) If the
auditor-general conducts
an audit of
a matter under
section 36A, the auditor-general must
prepare a report to the Legislative Assembly setting out the
reasons for conducting the audit and the results of the
audit. (2) If the auditor-general proposes to
make an adverse comment about a
non-public sector
entity in
the report, the
auditor-general must not make the proposed
adverse comment unless, before the report is prepared, the
auditor-general gives the non-public sector
entity an
opportunity to
make submissions
about the proposed adverse comment. Note
— See also section 65.
Page
42 Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 62] (3)
If the non-public sector
entity makes
submissions and
the auditor-general still proposes to make
the adverse comment, the auditor-general must ensure the
non-public sector entity’s submissions, or a fair statement of
them, are included in the report. 62
Interim, supplementary and combined
reports (1) The auditor-general may prepare
interim and supplementary reports to the Legislative Assembly on
any matter on which the auditor-general is to report or has
reported. (2) The auditor-general may combine
reports on any 2 or more audits. 63
Other
reports The auditor-general may prepare any of the
following reports to the Legislative Assembly—
(a) if the auditor-general considers it
desirable to do so at any particular time for reasons of
urgency—a report on any significant matter arising out of an
audit; (b) if the
auditor-general considers
it to be
in the public
interest to
do so—a full
report on,
or a report
on any specific matters
arising out of, a particular audit; (c)
if
the auditor-general considers it otherwise appropriate
to
do so at any time—a report on any matter arising out
of
an audit to which attention should be drawn; (d)
if a
regulation has been made for the purposes of section
31
that the auditor-general advised should not have been
made or
should have
been made
differently—a report
setting out the advice and the reasons for
it. 64 Comments on proposed audit
reports (1) Subsections (2) and (3) apply if the
auditor-general proposes to include in a report to the
Legislative Assembly under this Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 43
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 64] division
a matter that
the auditor-general considers
to be a
matter of significance. (2)
The auditor-general must
give written
advice of
the matter that is proposed
to be included to— (a) if the
matter relates
to a department—the accountable officer
of the department and
any other person
whom the
auditor-general considers to have a special interest in
the
report; or (b) if the matter relates to a controlled
entity that is subject to the
control of
a department—the chief
executive officer
or chairperson of
the entity, the
person responsible for
the financial administration of the entity and the
accountable officer of the department and any other
person whom
the auditor-general considers
to have a special interest in the report;
or (c) if the matter relates to another
public sector entity—the chief executive officer or chairperson
of the entity and the person responsible for the financial
administration of the entity and
any other person
whom the
auditor-general considers to have a special
interest in the report. (3)
Also, the
auditor-general must
give written
advice of
the matter that is proposed to be included
to— (a) if the
matter raises
issues concerning the
powers or
functions of
the Treasurer under
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 —the
Treasurer and
any other person
whom the
auditor-general considers
to have a
special interest in the report; or
(b) if the matter does not raise issues
concerning the powers or functions
of the Treasurer
under the
Financial Accountability
Act 2009 —the appropriate Minister and
any
other person whom the auditor-general considers to
have
a special interest in the report. (4)
If
the auditor-general gives written advice of the matter under
subsection (2)
or (3), the
auditor-general must
as soon as
practicable give a copy of the written
advice to the Premier. Page 44 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 65] (5)
The advice mentioned
in subsection (3)
must include
a statement that comments on the
proposed matter may be made in writing given
to the auditor-general by a person mentioned in subsection
(3)— (a) within 21 days after the advice is
received; or (b) within the longer period that is
stated in the advice. (6) If comments are
received within the 21 days or longer period, the
auditor-general must include them, or a fair summary of
them, in the report. (7)
In
this section— control see section
5(2). 65 Proposed reports to remain
confidential A person who receives a proposed audit
report, or part of a proposed audit report, of the
auditor-general under section 64, or
a proposed report,
or part of
a proposed report,
of the auditor-general under
section 61A,
must not
disclose any
information contained in the report
unless— (a) disclosure is required for the purpose
of— (i) making submissions or
comments to
the auditor-general in relation to the
proposed report; or (ii) obtaining legal
advice in relation to matters raised by the proposed
report; or (b) the information has
been made
public by
the auditor-general. Maximum
penalty—200 penalty
units or
1 year’s imprisonment. 66
Procedure for reporting certain sensitive
information (1) If the
auditor-general considers
it to be
against the
public interest to
disclose in a report under this division information
that
could— Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
45
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 3 Audit
mandate [s 67] (a)
have
a serious adverse effect on the commercial interests
of
an entity; or (b) reveal trade secrets of an entity;
or (c) prejudice the investigation of a
contravention or possible contravention of the law; or
(d) prejudice the fair trial of a person;
or (e) cause damage to the relations between
the Government of the State and another Government;
the auditor-general must
not disclose the
information in
the report but
must instead
include it
in a report
prepared and
given to the parliamentary committee.
(2) This section applies despite anything
in this or any other Act. 67 Tabling of
reports (1) A report
prepared under
this division
must be
given to
the Speaker or,
if there is
no Speaker or
the Speaker is
unavailable, to the clerk of the
Parliament. (2) The Speaker or clerk must table a copy
of the report in the Legislative Assembly on its next
sitting day. (3) For the
purposes of
its publication, a
report given
to the Speaker or the
clerk under subsection (1) is taken to have been
tabled in the Legislative Assembly, and to
have been ordered to be published by the Legislative Assembly,
when it is given to the Speaker or the clerk.
Page
46 Current as at 23 September 2013
Part
4 Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 4 Strategic
review of the audit office [s 68] Strategic review
of the audit office 68
Conduct of strategic review of audit
office (1) Strategic reviews of the audit office
must be conducted under this part. (2)
A
strategic review must be conducted at least every 5 years,
counting from
when the
Minister makes
a response to
the parliamentary committee report in the
Legislative Assembly for the
most recent
earlier strategic
review, up
to when the
reviewer is
appointed under
subsection (3)
to conduct the
latest strategic review. (3)
Each
strategic review is to be conducted by an appropriately
qualified person
( reviewer ),
appointed by
the Governor in
Council, who is to give a report on the
review. (4) The terms of reference for a strategic
review are to be decided by the Governor in Council.
(5) Before a reviewer is appointed to
conduct a strategic review, the Minister
must consult with the parliamentary committee and the
auditor-general about— (a) the appointment
of the reviewer; and (b) the terms of
reference for the review. (6) The
remuneration and
other terms
of appointment of
the reviewer are as decided by the
Governor in Council. (7) In this
section— strategic review includes—
(a) a review of the auditor-general’s
functions; and (b) a review
of the auditor-general’s performance of
the functions to
assess whether
they are
being performed
economically, effectively and
efficiently. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
47
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 4 Strategic
review of the audit office [s 69] 69
Powers of strategic review
In
conducting a strategic review— (a)
the reviewer has
the powers an
authorised auditor
has for an audit of an entity; and
(b) this Act and other Acts apply to the
reviewer as if the reviewer were an authorised auditor
conducting an audit of an entity. 70
Report of strategic review
(1) The reviewer for a strategic review
must give the copy of a proposed report on the strategic
review to the Minister and the auditor-general. (2)
The Minister and
the auditor-general may,
within 21
days after receiving
the proposed report, give the reviewer written comments on
anything in the proposed report. (3)
If
the auditor-general or the Minister provide comments under
subsection (2), the reviewer must—
(a) if the reviewer and the person
providing the comments can agree
about how
to dispose of
a comment—incorporate
into the
report any
agreed amendment
necessary to dispose of the comment; or (b)
if
the reviewer and the person providing the comments
can not agree
about how
to dispose of
a comment—include the comment, in full,
in the report. (4) After complying
with subsections (1)
and (3), the
reviewer must give the
report ( review report ) to the
Minister and the auditor-general. (5)
The review report
must be
the same as
the proposed report
given to
them under
subsection (1),
apart from
the changes made under
subsection (3). (6) The Minister must table the review
report in the Legislative Assembly within 3 sitting days after
the Minister receives the report. Page 48
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 5 Independent
audit of Queensland Audit Office [s 71]
(7) For the Parliament of
Queensland Act 2001 , section 92(2) the report is
referred to the parliamentary committee. Part 5
Independent audit of Queensland Audit
Office 71 Audit of audit office
(1) The Governor
in Council must
appoint a
person who
is a registered company
auditor under
the Corporations Act
to conduct an audit of the audit office
for each financial year for which the person
is appointed. (2) A person may not be appointed under
subsection (1) for more than 5 consecutive financial
years. (3) The person
is entitled to
be paid the
fee decided by
the Governor in
Council for
each financial
year for
which the
person is appointed. 72
Conduct of independent audit
(1) For conducting an audit under section
71(1)— (a) the person has all the powers of an
authorised auditor; and (b) this
Act and other
Acts apply
to the person
as if the
person were an authorised auditor.
(2) After an audit, the person must
give— (a) a report about the audit to the
Premier; and (b) a copy
of the report
to the auditor-general and
the Treasurer. (3)
The auditor-general must
include the
person’s report
in the annual report of
the audit office. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
49
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 6 General
provisions [s 73] Part 6
General provisions 73
Regulation-making power (1)
The Governor in
Council may
make regulations under
this Act.
(2) A regulation may create offences and
prescribe penalties for the offences of not more than 5
penalty units. Part 7 Transitional
provisions Division 1 Provisions for
Act No. 8 of 2009 74 Definitions for div 1
In
this part— commencement means the
commencement of this section. repealed
Act means the Financial
Administration and
Audit Act 1977
. 75 Person holding
appointment to conduct audit of audit office
(1) On the commencement, a person who has
been appointed by the Governor in Council under section 69 of
the repealed Act is taken to have been appointed under
section 71. (2) However, the person’s term of
appointment is taken to have commenced on
appointment under the repealed Act. 76
Auditor-general continues to hold
office (1) On the commencement, the person who,
immediately before the commencement, held appointment as the
auditor-general Page 50 Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 7
Transitional provisions [s 77] under the
repealed Act continues to hold appointment as the
auditor-general under this Act.
(2) However, the person’s term of
appointment is taken to have commenced on
appointment under the repealed Act. 77
Deputy auditor-general continues to hold
office On the commencement, the person who,
immediately before the commencement, held
appointment as
the deputy auditor-general under
the repealed Act
continues to
hold appointment as
the deputy auditor-general under this Act. 78
Delegations continue (1)
On the commencement, a
delegation of power made by the
auditor-general under the repealed Act,
section 66, continues to have
effect according
to its terms
as a delegation made
under section 20. (2)
However, if the delegation is made—
(a) under a particular section of the
repealed Act; and (b) a section under this Act is
substantially the same as the section under
the repealed Act; the delegation has effect as if it were made
under the section of this Act. 79
Rulings under Public Service Act 2008
On
the commencement, a ruling made under the repealed Act,
section 70,
and in force
immediately before
the commencement, continues
to have effect
according to
its terms. 80
Requests for reviews under Public Service
Act 2008 On the commencement, a request for a review
under section 71 of the repealed Act is taken to be a
request for a review under section 29. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 51
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 7 Transitional
provisions [s 81] 81
Strategic review of audit office under the
repealed Act (1) On the
commencement, any
strategic review
of the audit
office that
has started but
has not been
finished under
the repealed Act ,
part
5, division 6 is taken to have been started under part
4. (2) On the commencement, the most recent
finished report of a strategic review under the repealed
Act, section 72B is taken to be report of a strategic review
prepared under section 68. 82 References to
documents under the repealed Act A reference to
the repealed Act, part 5 or 6 in any document may, if the
context permits, be taken to be a reference to this
Act. 83 Appointment of
contract auditors On the commencement, contract
auditors appointed
under section 82 of
the repealed Act are taken to be appointed under
section 43. 84
Reports on auditing standards to
continue On the commencement, the most recent reports
for section 97 of the repealed
Act are taken
to have been
prepared under
section 58. 85
Continuation of audit reviews
On the commencement, any
audit reviews which have been
started but have not been finished under the
repealed Act are taken to have started under this Act.
Page
52 Current as at 23 September 2013
Division 2 Auditor-General
Act 2009 Part 7 Transitional provisions
[s
86] Provision for Integrity Reform
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act
2010 86 Declarations of
interests by auditor-general and deputy auditor-general (1)
The
auditor-general is taken to have complied with section 12
as amended by
the Integrity Reform
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act
2010 if,
at the commencement of
this section, the
auditor-general is not in breach of section 12 as in
force before the commencement.
(2) The deputy
auditor-general is
taken to
have complied
with section 12 as
amended by the Integrity Reform (Miscellaneous
Amendments) Act
2010 if,
at the commencement of
this section, the
deputy auditor-general is not in breach of section
12
as in force before the commencement. Division 3
Transitional provisions for the
Parliamentary Service and Other
Acts
Amendment Act 2011 87 First strategic audit plan to be
prepared The first strategic audit plan to be
prepared under section 38A must be
finalised before
either 1
July 2012
or another date
agreed between
the auditor-general and
the parliamentary committee. 88
Existing audits of performance management
systems (1) This section applies if, before the
commencement— (a) the auditor-general started
an audit of
performance management
systems of a public sector entity other than a GOC or
controlled entity of a GOC under section 38; and
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
53
Auditor-General Act 2009 Part 7 Transitional
provisions [s 89] (b)
the
audit has not been finished. (2)
On the commencement, the
auditor-general may
finish the
audit as
if section 38
had not been
amended by
the Parliamentary Service and Other Acts
Amendment Act 2011 . (3) In this
section— commencement means the
commencement of this section. 89
Duration of appointment of auditor-general
not affected (1) This section applies to the
appointment of the auditor-general that
was in force
immediately before
the replacement of
section 10
by the Parliamentary Service
and Other Acts
Amendment Act 2011 .
(2) The appointment continues in force
until the end of the term stated in
the auditor-general’s instrument of
appointment or
the
appointment otherwise ends under this Act. (3)
The
person holding the appointment can not be reappointed
under section 10. Page 54
Current as at 23 September 2013
Schedule Dictionary Auditor-General
Act 2009 Schedule section 4
accountable officer , of a
department, means the person who is,
or is appointed
as, the accountable officer
of the department under
the Financial Accountability Act 2009
. appropriate Minister
means— (a)
for the department comprised
of the Legislative Assembly and
parliamentary service—the Premier; or (b)
for
the office of the Governor—the Premier; or (c)
for a department—the Minister
administering the
department; or (d)
for
the Town Commission established under the Alcan
Queensland Pty.
Limited Agreement
Act 1965 —the
Minister administering matters connected
with the Town Commission; or (e)
for a council
established under
the Aurukun and
Mornington Shire
Leases Act
1978 —the
Minister administering
matters connected with the council; or (f)
for another local
government—the Minister
administering the Local Government
Act 1993 ; or (g)
for
a statutory body—the Minister administering the Act
under which the statutory body is
established; or (h) for GOCs—the shareholding Ministers as
defined under the Government Owned Corporations Act
1993 ; or (i)
for another public
sector entity—the Minister
administering matters connected with the
entity. audit office means the
Queensland Audit Office established under section
6(3). Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
55
Auditor-General Act 2009 Schedule
Page
56 audit report , for a
controlled entity, means a report given in relation to the
financial operations of the controlled entity to
the
auditor-general. authorised auditor means—
(a) the auditor-general or deputy
auditor-general; or (b) a member of the staff of the audit
office; or (c) a contract auditor.
chairperson , of a public
sector entity, means— (a) if
the public sector
entity is
a corporation sole—the
person who constitutes the corporation sole;
or (b) otherwise— (i)
the
person appointed as chairperson of the public sector entity;
or (ii) if no-one is
appointed as chairperson—the person who presides at
meetings of the public sector entity or of the
governing body of the public sector entity. consolidated
fund means the consolidated fund continued
in existence under
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
section 16. consolidated
fund account see the Financial
Accountability Act 2009
,
section 17(1). consolidated whole-of-government financial
statements see the Financial
Accountability Act 2009 , section 25(1). contract
auditor means a person who is appointed under
this Act as a contract auditor.
controlled entity see section
5. corporate group
means a group consisting of the
following entities— (a)
a
controlled entity; (b) 1 or
more of
the following that
control the
controlled entity—
(i) a department; Current as at 23
September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Schedule
(ii) a local
government; (iii) a statutory
body; (iv) a GOC;
(v) an entity
that is
controlled by
1 or more
of the entities
mentioned in subparagraphs (i) to (iv). department see
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
section 8. expenditure see
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
schedule 3. financial
year see
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
schedule 3. full
year report
see the Financial
Accountability Act
2009 ,
schedule 3. GOC
means a government owned corporation.
internal control
see the Financial
Accountability Act
2009 ,
schedule 3. ministerial
offices means the offices maintained for
Ministers and their staff. non-public
sector entity means an entity that is not a public
sector entity. parliamentary
committee means— (a)
if the Legislative Assembly
resolves that
a particular committee of the
Assembly is to be the parliamentary committee under
this Act—that committee; or (b)
if
paragraph (a) does not apply and the standing rules
and orders state
that the
portfolio area
of a portfolio
committee includes
the auditor-general—that
committee; or (c)
otherwise—the portfolio
committee whose
portfolio area
includes the
department, or
the part of
a department, in which this Act is
administered. portfolio area
see the Parliament of
Queensland Act
2001 ,
schedule. Current as at 23
September 2013 Page 57
Auditor-General Act 2009 Schedule
portfolio committee
see the Parliament of
Queensland Act
2001 ,
schedule. portfolio committee
see the Parliament of
Queensland Act
2001 ,
schedule. prescribed requirements see the
Financial Accountability Act
2009 , schedule
3. proposed audit
report means
a draft report
of the auditor-general
relating to an audit of a
public sector
entity and distributed
to relevant entities under section 64. public
moneys see
the Financial Accountability Act
2009 ,
schedule 3. public sector
entity means— (a)
a
department; or (b) a local government; or
(c) a statutory body; or
(d) a GOC; or (e)
a
controlled entity. standing rules and orders
see
the Parliament of Queensland Act 2001
,
schedule. statutory body
see the Financial
Accountability Act
2009 ,
section 9. Treasurer’s consolidated fund
bank account
see the Financial
Accountability Act 2009 , section 18(1). Page 58
Current as at 23 September 2013
Endnotes Auditor-General
Act 2009 Endnotes 1
Index to endnotes Page
2 Date to which amendments incorporated
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.59 3 Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .60 4 Table of reprints
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 5
List
of legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
6 List of annotations . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . .61 7 Forms notified or published in the
gazette . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .64 2 Date to which amendments
incorporated This is the reprint date mentioned in
the Reprints Act 1992 , section 5(c).
Accordingly, this reprint includes all amendments that
commenced operation on or before 23 September 2013. Future
amendments of the Auditor-General Act 2009 may be made in
accordance with this reprint under the
Reprints Act 1992 , section
49. Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
59
Auditor-General Act 2009 Endnotes
3 Key Key to
abbreviations in list of legislation and annotations
Key AIA amd
amdt ch def
div exp gaz
hdg ins lap
notfd num
o in
c om orig p
para prec pres
prev Explanation =
Acts
Interpretation Act 1954 = amended
= amendment =
chapter =
definition =
division =
expires/expired =
gazette =
heading =
inserted =
lapsed =
notified =
numbered =
order in council =
omitted =
original =
page =
paragraph =
preceding =
present =
previous Key
(prev) proc
prov pt
pubd R[X]
RA reloc renum
rep (retro) rv
s sch sdiv
SIA SIR SL
sub unnum Explanation =
previously =
proclamation =
provision =
part =
published =
Reprint No. [X] =
Reprints Act 1992 =
relocated =
renumbered =
repealed =
retrospectively =
revised version =
section =
schedule =
subdivision =
Statutory Instruments Act 1992
= Statutory Instruments Regulation
2012 = subordinate legislation
= substituted =
unnumbered 4
Table of reprints A new reprint of
the legislation is prepared by the Office of the Queensland
Parliamentary Counsel each time a change to the legislation
takes effect. The notes column for this reprint gives
details of any discretionary editorial powers under
the Reprints Act 1992 used by the
Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel in
preparing it. Section 5(c) and (d) of the Act
are not mentioned as they contain mandatory requirements that
all amendments be
included and
all necessary consequential amendments be
incorporated, whether of punctuation, numbering or another kind.
Further details of the use of any discretionary
editorial power noted in the table can be obtained by
contacting the Office of the Queensland
Parliamentary Counsel by telephone on 3237 0466 or email
legislation.queries@oqpc.qld.gov.au. From
29 January 2013,
all Queensland reprints
are dated and
authorised by
the Parliamentary Counsel. The previous
numbering system and distinctions between printed
and
electronic reprints is not continued with the relevant details for
historical reprints included in this table. Reprint
No. 1 1A
1B 1C 1D
Amendments included none
2010
Act No. 37 2011 Act No. 15 2011 Act No.
24 2011 Act No. 26 Effective
1
July 2009 1 November 2010 13 June
2011 18 August 2011 9 September
2011 Notes Page 60
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Endnotes
Current as at 23 September
2013 Amendments included 2013 Act No.
39 Notes 5
List
of legislation Auditor-General Act 2009 No. 8
date
of assent 28 May 2009 ss 1–2 commenced on date of
assent remaining provisions commenced 1 July 2009
(2009 SL No. 105) amending legislation— Integrity Reform
(Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2010 No. 37 pts 1, 3
date
of assent 20 September 2010 ss 1–2 commenced on date of
assent remaining provisions commenced 1 November
2010 (2010 SL No. 303) Parliament of Queensland (Reform and
Modernisation) Amendment Act 2011 No. 15 ss 1, 2(3), pt
4, div 1 date of assent 19 May 2011
ss
1–2 commenced on date of assent remaining
provisions commenced 13 June 2011 (2011 SL No. 76)
Parliamentary Service and Other Acts
Amendment Act 2011 No. 24 pts 1, 3 date of assent 9
August 2011 ss 1–2 commenced on date of assent
remaining provisions commenced 18 August
2011 (2011 SL No. 154) Aboriginal Land and Torres Strait
Islander Land and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2011 No. 26
pt 1, s 189 sch date of assent 29 August 2011
ss
1–2 commenced on date of assent remaining
provisions commenced 9 September 2011 (2011 SL No. 173)
Treasury and Trade and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2013 No. 39 ss 1, 110 sch 3 pt 1
date
of assent 23 September 2013 commenced on date of assent
6 List of annotations
Appointment of auditor-general
s
9 amd 2011 No. 24 s 7 Duration of
appointment s 10 sub 2011 No. 24 s 8
Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
61
Auditor-General Act 2009 Endnotes
Declaration of interests s 12
sub
2010 No. 37 s 12 amd 2011 No. 24 s 9; 2013 No. 39 s 110 sch 3
pt 1 Conflicts of interest s 12A
ins
2010 No. 37 s 12 amd 2013 No. 39 s 110 sch 3 pt 1
Suspension of auditor-general when
Legislative Assembly not sitting s 19
amd
2011 No. 24 s 10 Declaration of interests and conflicts of
interest prov hdg sub 2010 No. 37 s
13(1) s 25 amd 2010 No. 37 s 13(2)
PART
3—AUDIT MANDATE pt hdg amd 2011 No. 24 s
11 Auditor-general to audit consolidated fund
and public sector entities unless exempted
s
30 amd 2011 No. 24 s 12 Exemption of
public sector entities from audit by auditor-general under s
30 s 30A ins 2011 No. 24 s 13
Exemption of foreign-based controlled
entities and other controlled entities from audit by
auditor-general s 32 amd 2011 No. 24 s 14
Auditor-general to be appointed auditor of
every company public sector entity s 34
amd
2011 No. 24 s 15 Auditor-general may conduct audit of
matters s 36A ins 2011 No. 24 s 16
amd
2013 No. 39 s 110 sch 3 pt 1 Performance audit
of public sector entities s 37A ins 2011 No. 24 s
17 Audit of performance management
systems s 38 amd 2011 No. 24 s 18
Preparation of strategic audit plans for
performance audits s 38A ins 2011 No. 24 s 19
Audit
of public sector entities s 40 amd 2011 No. 24 s
20 Auditor-general may conduct joint
audit s 42A ins 2011 No. 24 s 21
Access to documents and property
s
46 amd 2011 No. 24 s 22 Page 62
Current as at 23 September 2013
Auditor-General Act 2009 Endnotes
Confidentiality and related matters
s
53 amd 2011 No. 24 s 23 Report on
audit s 54 amd 2011 No. 24 s 24
Reports on auditing standards
s
58 amd 2011 No. 24 s 25 Annual reports on
audits of public sector entities s 60
amd
2011 No. 24 s 26 Reports on audit of matters
s
61A ins 2011 No. 24 s 27 Comments on
proposed audit reports s 64 amd 2011 No. 24 s
28 Proposed reports to remain
confidential prov hdg amd 2011 No. 24 s
29(1) s 65 amd 2011 No. 24 s 29(2)
Procedure for reporting certain sensitive
information s 66 amd 2011 No. 24 s 30
Report of strategic review
s
70 amd 2011 No. 15 s 47 PART
7—TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS Division 1—Provisions for Act No. 8 of
2009 div hdg ins 2010 No. 37 s
14 Definitions for div 1 s 74 prov
hdg amd 2010 No. 37 s 15 Division
2—Provision for Integrity Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act
2010 div 2 (s 86) ins 2010 No. 37 s
16 Division 3—Transitional provisions for the
Parliamentary Service and Other Acts Amendment Act
2011 div 3 (ss 87–89) ins 2011 No. 24 s
31 SCHEDULE—DICTIONARY def
appropriate Minister amd 2011 No. 26 s
189 sch def auditor-general’s report
om
2011 No. 24 s 32(1) def non-public sector entity
ins
2011 No. 24 s 32(2) def parliamentary committee
sub
2011 No. 15 s 48 def portfolio area ins 2011 No. 15 s
48(2) def portfolio committee
ins
2011 No. 15 s 48(2) def portfolio committee
, 2nd
mention, ins 2011 No. 24 s 32(2) def
standing rules and orders
ins
2011 No. 15 s 48(2) Current as at 23 September 2013
Page
63
Auditor-General Act 2009 Endnotes
7 Forms notified or published in the
gazette Lists of forms are no longer included in
reprints. Now see the separate forms document published
on the website
of the Office
of the Queensland
Parliamentary Counsel
at <www.legislation.qld.gov.au>
under Information—Current annotations. This document is
updated weekly and the most recent changes
are marked with a change bar. © State of
Queensland 2013 Authorised by the Parliamentary
Counsel Page 64 Current as at 23
September 2013