Mike Elliott: Auditor General Reports

Extract from Hansard

Legislative Council
28 November 2001

Mike Elliott
Leader Australian Democrats
Member of the Legislative Council

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The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: I rise on behalf of the Democrats to support the motion, but in doing so I express our full confidence in the Auditor-General. Some 18 months or two years ago I attempted to establish a process in this place whereby the Auditor-General would appear before a committee of the whole of this parliament. I could not get an awful lot of support in this place for that motion at that time.

The Hon. M.J. ELLIOTT: Yes, I got some support from the cross benches, but not from the Liberals or Labor. So, with that view I clearly believe that we should have a process whereby members of parliament can address questions to the Auditor-General. In fact, the charade we go through in this place, where the Auditor-General's Report comes in and then we ask questions, usually of the head of the government, about what the Auditor-General had to say but never have the opportunity to clarify on the record what the Auditor- General meant as distinct from how the government interprets what the Auditor-General is saying, is an absolute farce.

I will continue to pursue the possibility of the Legislative Council in one form or another-a committee of the whole is possible in a house of this size, but if not that then a committee of this Council-being able to address issues directly to the Auditor-General. If such a process existed, the very questions that are being raised by the Hon. Terry Cameron could be asked of the Auditor- General at that time.

Having said that, I think there is a bit of mischief in the air, but I will not say anything more than that. People will know what mischief there is and who is involved, and I do not think it helps further to speculate about that. Having said that, I reiterate my confidence in the Auditor-General. I see value in a more formal process than having to get a motion up, where members of the Legislative Council can directly address matters of importance in terms of the role carried out by the Auditor-General. So, I support the motion.