Points of Order — Auditor-General—Officers of Parliament Committee

I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It is one that you may wish to reflect upon and it is with regard to the Officers of Parliament Committee. Under the Public Audit Act 2001 the Auditor-General has certain powers to inquire into the use of resources by any public entity, as defined in the Act or its schedules. But he is also required to submit an annual work plan to the Speaker. The question I want you to reflect upon, Madam Speaker, is whether the annual work plan prepared by the Auditor-General this year included reference to a conflicts of interest register, and whether that has been considered by the Officers of Parliament Committee to whom the Auditor-General reports. If that has not been the case, will you be convening a meeting of the committee to remind the Auditor-General of his primary role as the auditor of the Government’s books, not to be the new Senator McCarthy?

💬 Madam SPEAKER: I thank the member for raising that point. As he rightly said, I will reflect on it and report back to the House.