AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT

The PRESIDENT (15:15): Before I call the Hon. Mr Parnell, I refer to a question he asked concerning the Auditor-General's Report in which the Auditor-General once again qualifies his report in relation to the Joint Parliamentary Service. This has occurred over many years since the previous Auditor-General requested unrestricted access to the minutes of the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee and the internal finances of the catering division, including records relating to personal accounts of members and staff.

The committee, on each occasion, has declined this request as the internal accounts of the catering division are audited by Edwards Marshall & Co. Members should be aware that all expenditure of public moneys is audited by the Auditor-General and this includes the wages of the catering division. Members should also realise that the comments made in the Auditor-General's Report do not reflect on the Auditor's access and capacity to report on parliamentary finances, in other words, the legislature, which is divided into the Legislative Council, the House of Assembly, and the Joint Parliamentary Service. These are distinct, separate entities which make up the legislature.

In accordance with the Parliament Joint Services Act 1985, the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee administers the staffing of the joint services, those being parliamentary reporting, parliamentary library, catering and the Joint Services Division which consists of both finance and building services. As previously mentioned, the Auditor-General must have free access to the public accounts and salaries paid to all of the staff involved under the Joint Parliamentary Service Committee.

The budgetary allocation to the legislature as a whole is, of course, contained within the budget papers, and the Auditor-General obviously conducts an audit of all expenditure emanating from the annual appropriation. Members should be well aware that this information is most certainly available on the public record and is subject to the usual estimates committee examination, and the accountability and scrutiny which is open to all members through question time, particularly the specifically allotted times in this chamber for questioning the budget and the Auditor-General's Report.