Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Committees

Public Accounts and Estimates Committee

Report on the 2021–22 and 2022–23 Financial and Performance Outcomes

Michael GALEA (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (09:35): Pursuant to section 35 of the Parliamentary Committees Act 2003, I table a report on the 2021–22 and 2022–23 financial and performance outcomes from the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, and I present the transcripts of evidence. I move:

That the transcripts of evidence be tabled and the report be published.

Motion agreed to.

Michael GALEA: I move:

That the Council take note of the report.

I will make some brief remarks on the tabling of this report. The Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) has a variety of very important functions, among the chief of which is to conduct the annual financial and performance outcomes hearings, which we did late last year, and we have spent the last few months busily deliberating on this report. The report overviews government spending over two financial years; in this case we have done two financial years in light of the fact that the previous November was the time of the state election. This is quite a comprehensive report. It is one that I recommend members read to get a good overview of where we are at with various parts of government spending. In particular there are very useful diagrams and tables throughout the report which, amongst other things, show the machinery-of-government changes in a very simple and clear format. I think it will be a very useful resource for members.

I would like to particularly thank the secretariat staff, who have worked so hard in putting this report together: our executive officer Dr Caroline Williams as well as Dr Krystle Gatt Rapa, Charlotte Lever, Dr Kathleen Hurley, Mathias Richter, Rowen Germain and Jacqueline Coleman. I would also like to acknowledge the chair of the committee, the member for Laverton Sarah Connolly, who has worked really hard on this report, as indeed have all members from across this chamber and the other chamber, including my colleagues in this place Mr McGowan and Mrs McArthur. I also note the contribution of the member for Melbourne, who has sadly left PAEC. But in very good news we are welcoming Mr Puglielli from this place, so we are increasing the representation from this chamber on PAEC from three to four.

I commend this report to the house. It is, as I say, a good read, and I encourage members to engage with it.

Motion agreed to.