The Auditor-General has released the first phase of an audit program examining the State Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Auditor, Brendan Worrall said the program aimed to promote understanding of the various Government response measures and their costs.
“This first report does not assess the effectiveness or value for money of the Government’s response measures. Its aim is to inform our future audit program and identify other areas of focus for additional assurance reports,” Mr Worrall said.
“We plan to publish a three-year annual work plan in early 2021, which will outline the assurance reports we plan to conduct.”
Mr Worrall said it was critical that Government-led responses were supported by sound controls to manage any additional risks, and effective governance and leadership must continue.
“It is important that entities apply the insights from our audits across Government to new and emerging programs being delivered in response to COVID-19,” he said.
“In my reports, there are learnings that are useful to all entities as we respond to COVID-19 impacts.”
He said the current report highlighted the challenges and risks of not having a whole-of-Government approach to program management and reporting.
“Both Queensland Treasury and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet told us that, although they are involved in coordinating the response, they do not have complete information about what the uptake rates of the individual measures are,” Mr Worrall said.
“We recognise that Government Agencies have had to work under extraordinary circumstances during the pandemic. However, it is critical that the effectiveness of the Government’s response is monitored and assessed.”
He said this was essential to determine whether program outcomes had been achieved. It required fit-for-purpose governance and reporting arrangements at a whole-of-government level.
The Auditor-General’s 38-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
