Authorised by:

Mr Brendan Smyth MLA

The purpose of this Bill is to provide that the annual budget for the ACT Auditor-General shall be determined by the ACT Legislative Assembly.

This clause sets the commencement of this Act at 1 January 2010. This timing will provide sufficient time for the Auditor-General to finalise the budget for the Office of Auditor-General and comply with the parameters established by this Act for the first time after the implementation of this Act.

Proposed section 21A requires the Auditor-General to determine the budget for the Auditor-General for the next financial year. The details of this budget shall be provided to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) by 1 February each year.

The PAC shall then consider this budget and report to the Assembly, with an appropriate recommendation, by 1 March each year.

Proposed section 21C requires the Assembly to agree to a recommendation for the budget for the Auditor-General before 31 March each year. This will enable the budget for the Auditor-General to be included in the annual budget for the ACT.