Opposition accuses Government of delaying latest Principal Auditor's report

The Opposition says the latest report by the Principal Auditor is ready, accusing the Government of delaying its publication.

The Shadow Minister for Public Finance, Roy Clinton, told Parliament the Principal Auditor has confirmed to them that the 2018/19 report was delivered to the House on the 13th of June.

Last week, Mr Clinton asked the Chief Minister when this report would be tabled and Fabian Picardo said he was unable to give a timeline for “the tabling of outstanding reports”.

"Scandalous abuse of power"

In a statement following Wednesday’s Parliament session, the GSD said “accountability delayed is accountability denied”, claiming there has been “a scandalous abuse of power and an obstruction of the constitutional work of the Principal Auditor as well as public access to it”.

Parliament has been hearing Budget speeches this week, which focus on public finances for the year just gone and forecasts for the year ahead.

Speaker intervenes during Roy Clinton's Budget address

In his address, Mr Clinton veered away from his prepared speech to express frustration at the delays in publishing the Principal Auditor’s Report. The Speaker intervened, asking him not to speculate on the matter.

Mr Clinton said he was stating facts, not speculating. The Leader of the Opposition, Keith Azopardi, joined the conversation, saying he was struggling to understand the Speaker’s direction on this.

Karen Ramagge said when he receives and reads her letter, he will understand her position and where she’s coming from.

Mr Clinton said:

“I do feel very strongly about this… This report needs to be tabled in this Parliament before the end of this session and before the summer recess.”

Keith Azopardi says he wrote to Karen Ramagge last Thursday asking her to investigate this matter and confirm whether the report had been received, asking that it be tabled in Parliament. He says it’s disappointing she has not yet replied and Parliament’s silence on the matter raises concerns.

In the exchange in Parliament, the Speaker said she is in the process of replying to Mr Azopardi and will raise important matters. “The matter will become clear”, she said.

In its statement, the Opposition says the Speaker can lay the Principal Auditor’s Report directly and previous Speakers have.

What will the Principal Auditor Report say?

The Principal Auditor inspects government departments and agencies, to comment on value for money reviews to ensure financial accountability. The report for 2017/18 generated significant interest, with - among other things - descriptions of how overtime was being abused.

The Leader of the Opposition has previously argued the GSLP-Liberals erected road-blocks that prevented the Principal Auditor from concluding and publishing his report before the 2023 election.