It has been revealed in Estimates this afternoon that the Tasmanian Audit Office will be forced to cut one performance audit per year from their program of work when the full efficiency dividend kicks in.

It will take the number of annual audits from six down to five.

The office currently has 48 potential audits awaiting attention. Cutting the Audit Office’s output will further delay these audits, reducing transparency and increasing the potential risk of integrity breaches.

Tasmania currently has the lowest budget and performance output in the country, excluding the Northern Territory since they do not have an audit office.

This is a completely unacceptable flow-on effect of the Liberal minority government’s budget disaster.

Labor is committed to boosting integrity in government, not stripping it away like the Liberals plan to do.

As part of our ten-point budget repair plan, we have committed to stamping out dodgy deals and the improper use of public money by enhancing the powers and independence of the Tasmanian Audit Office. Our auditors have the weakest powers of all similar agencies in the country, and we believe that needs to change.

Josh Willie MP
Shadow Treasurer