Auditor-General of New South Wales

Auditor-General of New South Wales
Incumbent
Margaret Crawford
since 2016
Appointer The Governor of New South Wales
Term length Appointed for a term of 8 years, and is not eligible for reappointment
Formation 1824

The Auditor-General of New South Wales helps the Parliament of New South Wales hold government accountable for its use of public resources.

The Auditor-General is responsible for audits of NSW Government agencies[1] and universities,[2] and also provides certain assurance services for Commonwealth grants and payments to the State under Commonwealth legislation.

The Auditor-General is accountable to the Parliament of New South Wales and regularly reports on the audits.

Margaret Crawford commenced as the Auditor-General of New South Wales in April 2016.

Margaret has over 20 years of experience as a senior executive across many large, complex public sector organisations - local, State and the Commonwealth governments - including the Victorian Department of Human Services, the Australian Taxation Office, the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority and Australia's largest local government, Brisbane City Council. Most recently, before joining the Audit Office, she held the position of Deputy Secretary at the NSW Department of Family and Community Services.

Margaret has worked across a diverse range of sectors, including housing and homelessness, community and disability services, road transport policy and regulation, taxation administration and gaming regulation.


The Role of the Audit Office of New South Wales

The Audit Office of New South Wales is a statutory authority established under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983[3] to conduct audits for the Auditor-General.

The Audit Office conducts financial and performance audits, principally under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983[4] and the Corporations Act 2001,[5] and examines allegations of serious and substantial waste of public money under the Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994.[6]

In 2010-11, the Audit Office completed 472 financial audits of NSW Government agencies and universities, as well as twelve performance audits.[7] For the full list of the 472 financial audits and 12 performance audits, see Appendices Two and Five of the Audit Office of New South Wales 2010-11 Annual Report.

Some of the key agencies audited include the NSW Department of Transport, Railcorp, Roads and Maritime Services, the Ministry of Health, the Department of Education and Communities, the Department of Attorney General and Justice, the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Finance and Services, Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, the Department of Family and Community Services and NSW Treasury.

Principal Legislation

The Auditor-General and the Audit Office of New South Wales operate under the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983.[8] The most recent significant change to this legislation was in 2004, giving the Auditor-General the power to employ staff directly.

Legislative Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC)

The Auditor-General and the Audit Office of New South Wales work closely with Legislative Assembly Public Accounts Committee.

The committee was first established in 1902 to scrutinise the actions of the executive branch of government on behalf of the Legislative Assembly.

A key part of committee activity is following up aspects of the Auditor-General’s Reports to Parliament. The committee may also receive referrals from ministers, the Legislative Assembly and the Auditor-General to undertake inquiries.

The Public Accounts Committee has responsibilities under Part 4 of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 to inquire into and report on activities of government that are reported in the Total State Sector Accounts and the accounts of the State’s authorities.[9]

The committee recommends improvements to the efficiency and effectiveness of government activities.[10]

Governance in the Public Sector

The Auditor-General of New South Wales has developed a corporate governance model for the public sector - the Governance Lighthouse.[11]

Public sector governance is about shining a light on what agenices and government are doing and encourages agencies to better meet their obligations to the taxpayer and public. The lighthouse is there to shine a light. The purpose of the light is varied. Sometimes it is a warning, sometimes it is to attract attention, and sometimes it is there to guide.

History

For more than 185 years, the Audit Office of New South Wales has been assisting the Parliament of New South Wales hold government accountable for its use of public resources. This is done by reporting directly to parliament on audits of government financial reports and performance.[12]

  • 1824 – William Lithgow was appointed Colonial Auditor-General, to compile and examine the colony’s accounts and report on government departments to the Governor.[13]
  • 1855 – The UK Constitution Act 1855 formalised government in New South Wales, and the Auditor-General made a member of the government.
  • 1870 – Powers and duties of the Auditor-General first set in legislation, in the Audit Act 1870.
  • 1902 – Audit Act 1902 prohibited the Auditor-General from being a member of the Executive Council or of parliament.
  • 1929 – Audit (Amendment) Act 1929 changed the tenure of office of the Auditor-General from life to ceasing at 65. Position of Assistant Auditor-General created.
  • 1984 – Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 established the Auditor-General’s Office on 6 January 1984.
  • 1989 – Auditor-General’s Office declared a statutory body, allowing it to be both more independent and more commercial.
  • 1991 – The Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 expanded the Auditor-General’s role to include performance audits, limited tenure to seven years, and prevented acceptance of any other post in the NSW public service.
  • 2001 – Auditor-General’s role expanded to reporting on issues of waste, probity and financial judgement.
  • 2004 – Auditor-General given power to employ staff directly, and set wages and conditions.

List of Auditors-General of New South Wales

The following individuals have served as Auditors-General of New South Wales.[14]

OrderAuditor-GeneralTerm startTerm endTime in office
1William Lithgow8 November 182430 April 185227 years, 174 days
2Francis Merewether185218563–4 years
3George Nichols185618560 years
4Terence Aubrey Murray185618560 years
5William Mayne185618647–8 years
6Christopher Rolleston1864188318–19 years
7Edward Rennie1883190319–20 years
Auditor-General's independence from parliament and government established in 1902
8John Vernon1903191511–12 years
9Frederick Coglan1915192812–13 years
10John Spence1928194213–14 years
11Edmund Swift194219496–7 years
12William Campbell1950196312–13 years
13William Mathieson196319673–4 years
14Victor Cohen196719680–1 years
15Daniel Fairlie196819778–9 years
16William Henry197719802–3 years
17Jack O'Donnell198019854–5 years
18Kenneth Robson198519926–7 years
19Anthony Harris199219996–7 years
20Robert Sendt199920066–7 years
21Peter Achterstraat200620136–7 years
22Grant Hehir201320151–2 years
23Margaret Crawford2016current1–2 years

References

  1. ↑ Public Sector: Principal Departments and Other Bodies NSW Archived March 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Charles Sturt University, Macquarie University, Southern Cross University, University of New England, University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle, University of Technology, Sydney, University of Western Sydney, University of Wollongong
  3. ↑ Public Finance and Audit Act 1983
  4. ↑ Public Finance and Audit Act 1983
  5. ↑ Corporations Act 2001
  6. ↑ Public Interest Disclosures Act 1994
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Public Finance and Audit Act 1983
  9. ↑ Public Finance and Audit Act 1983
  10. ↑ Public Accounts Committee, NSW Legislature Archived March 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ↑ Audit Office of New South Wales Governance Lighthouse
  12. ↑ "Our history". Audit Office of New South Wales. 2017.
  13. ↑ "Lithgow, William (1784–1864)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University.
  14. ↑ "History: NSW Auditors-General Terms in Office". Audit Office of New South Wales. 2017. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
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