19 April 2017

New Zealand shares financial scrutiny initiatives with Australia

Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee, Chris Bishop MP and Hon Clayton Cosgrove MP, will represent New Zealand this week at the Australasian Council of Public Accounts Committee Conference (ACPAC) in Brisbane, Australia.

The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, Rt Hon David Carter, said “Public Accounts Committees play a vital role in ensuring governments are held accountable to tax payers in how they collect and spend revenue. Effective financial scrutiny is a key component of an open and transparent Parliament. The ACPAC conference is an important part of the Finance and Expenditure Committee’s work programme as it allows engagement with counterpart committees from other jurisdictions and the development of best practice.”

This year’s Conference has a particular focus on how public accounts committees communicate with Auditor-Generals’, experts in the field, the media and the public, to increase the accountability of public expenditure.

Mr Bishop will present on how parliamentary oversight by Public Accounts Committees can add value to reports of the Auditor-General. The delegation will also have an opportunity to share recent initiatives undertaken by New Zealand select committees to enhance scrutiny of government departments and public entities.

The Conference is hosted by the Queensland Parliament and runs from 19 to 21 April 2017.

ENDS

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