The Auditor-General has released his annual plan, setting out an audit program for the coming financial year, including a three-year performance audit work program.
Auditor-General Andrew Greaves said Annual Plan 2020–21 was a key accountability mechanism which gave Parliament, the public sector and the Victorian community the opportunity to assess his Office’s goals and understand its audit priorities.
“It also provides us with opportunities to undertake early engagement with our stakeholders and allows audited Agencies to make necessary preparations for scheduled audits well in advance,” Mr Greaves said.
“This year, our annual plan highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both performance audits and financial audits,” he said.
“We recognise the pressures that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on the public sector, particularly the Victorian health system.”
“In response to these pressures, we have adjusted audit work program accordingly.”
Mr Greaves said that in some instances, his Office had delayed performance audits in sectors heavily impacted by COVID-19.
“Additionally, we have added two performance audits that specifically look at COVID-19 related matters so we can gather and share learnings from this significant event,” he said.
He said that in the year ahead, his Office would audit a number of areas including responding to COVID-19; integrated transport planning; clinical governance; the administration of Victorian courts; and biodiversity.
“We will also deliver 110 audit opinions on Agencies’ performance statements and more than 580 audit opinions on their financial reports,” he said.
Mr Greaves said that in addition to the performance and financial audits, his Office would complete an assurance review to assess how Agencies had responded to and implemented the performance audit recommendations made in 2018–19 and 2019–20, plus any other outstanding recommendations from previous years.
The Auditor-General’s 68-page Plan can be accessed at this PS News link.
