Questions without notice and ministers statements
Annual reports
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:00): My question is to the Leader of the Government and Attorney-General. Minister, many in the chamber were troubled by the letter received yesterday to the chamber from the Treasurer providing a farrago of excuses as to why almost 250 annual reports due to be tabled by 15 October would not be tabled and consequently would not be available to the community before the election. In this circumstance I ask the minister: will you guarantee that the annual reports of the department of justice and all its agencies will be tabled before the chamber rises?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:01): I thank Mr Davis for his question. I did table a letter yesterday in this place. For those that missed that, it was in relation to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) advising the government that due to workforce and skills challenges as a result of the global pandemic final reports for certain entities should be prioritised. Departments and agencies will of course continue to work to finalise reports as soon as they can with the resources available.
For context, the information that we have received from VAGO is that, even in the event of there being more resources scheduled and applied to the reporting effort, there nonetheless remains a high risk that most entities will not be able to meet such a timetable despite their and our best endeavours. The advice also notes that the 2022 reporting cycle presents greater challenges due to the flow-on workforce impacts from the pandemic, scarce resources in the accounting industry that complement our workforce during peak reporting season and workforce pressure on corporate finance functions of the agencies and VAGO audits.
So, Mr Davis, in relation to the information that I furnished yesterday, I hope that the further information clarifies the position that we have been put in. As has been identified in relation to the information from VAGO, all agencies and all departments will continue that work, but in relation to being able to meet the tabling date of this year, not everybody will be able to meet that.
Mr DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan—Leader of the Opposition) (12:03): The minister did not mention her department or any of its agencies, and that was the direct point of the question. As Leader of the Government I ask you: will you ensure that all other ministers, including those in this chamber, provide the annual reports of their departments and associated agencies before Parliament rises?
Ms SYMES (Northern Victoria—Leader of the Government, Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:03): I have answered this question, Mr Davis. The advice from VAGO stands. It is not because people do not want to table information. It is literally because it is impossible to get all of that work done in the time available given the amount of other priorities of government, other work. There is not an army of bureaucrats that sit around where their only focus is working on these reports. It is about making sure that we are providing a service that Victorians rely on. Of course we have accountability and transparency requirements, and, as VAGO has identified, that work is ongoing.