Burnet Calls on Rockliff Government to restore Auditor-General Funding to Protect Taxpayers and Improve Government Performance
The Rockliff Government must immediately restore funding to Tasmania's Auditor-General and honour its commitment to properly resource independent scrutiny of public spending, Independent MP Helen Burnet said today.
Ms Burnet said the Auditor-General's newly released Annual Plan for 2026-27 raises serious concerns that funding cuts are undermining one of Parliament's most important accountability institutions.
"The Auditor-General has made it clear that the Government's funding decisions are reducing Tasmania's capacity to independently examine how public money is being spent," Ms Burnet said.
"In his foreword, Auditor-General Martin Thompson warns that the appropriation provided in the 2026-27 Budget is 'not sufficient' to meet the Government's own commitment to support at least six performance audits each year."
“This has been a trend since this Liberal Government came to office”.
"The Auditor-General requested $3.1 million for this work but received only $2.4 million. As a result, he has warned that performance audit activity will be reduced unless additional funding is found."
Ms Burnet said this comes at exactly the wrong time for Tasmania.
"We are seeing escalating public debt, cost overruns, infrastructure projects blowing out in cost, and ongoing concerns about the effectiveness of government spending. This is precisely when independent oversight should be strengthened, not weakened."
"The Auditor-General describes public sector audit as playing a key role in 'maintaining transparency, accountability, and trust' while supporting better decision-making and more sustainable long-term results."
"The Government talks constantly about productivity and efficiency, yet it is cutting funding to the very office responsible for identifying waste, inefficiency and poor governance."
Ms Burnet noted that the Annual Plan identifies major risks facing Tasmania, including infrastructure capability and sustainability, structural budget deficits, rising debt and the effectiveness of government business oversight.
"The Auditor-General specifically warns that Tasmania faces challenges delivering fit-for-purpose infrastructure and that frequent changes to plans and funding decisions weaken confidence, delay delivery and reduce efficiency."
"That observation will ring true for many Tasmanians who have watched major projects become mired in delays, changing business cases and escalating costs."
Ms Burnet said the Auditor-General's work routinely saves taxpayers money by identifying poor processes, governance failures and opportunities for better public sector performance.
The Auditor-General has also warned that the Government's efficiency dividend "disproportionately affects Audit Tasmania" and is "a direct threat to independence."
"That should concern every member of Parliament regardless of political party," Ms Burnet said.
"The Auditor-General works for Parliament and the people of Tasmania, not for the government of the day. Independent oversight cannot be allowed to become a casualty of budget cuts."
Ms Burnet called on the Government to immediately restore the funding required to deliver the full performance audit program promised to Parliament.
"Good government depends on transparency, accountability and evidence. The Auditor-General is central to all three.