Auditor-General Act 2009

The auditor-general may, by written notice given to a public sector entity, exempt the public sector entity from audit by the auditor-general for a financial year under section 30.

The auditor-general may grant the exemption only if the auditor-general is reasonably satisfied that the audit of the public sector entity for the financial year is small in size and of low risk having regard to a general standard mentioned in section 58(1)(a)(iii).

If the auditor-general grants the exemption, the public sector entity must engage an appropriately qualified person to audit the public sector entity for the financial year.

For the purposes of auditing the public sector entity—

the person engaged to audit the public sector entity (the engaged auditor) has all the powers of an authorised auditor; and

this Act and other Acts apply to the engaged auditor as if the engaged auditor were an authorised auditor.

The engaged auditor must give the certified annual financial statements and a report on the audit to—

if the public sector entity is a department—the accountable officer of the department; or

otherwise—the chief executive officer or chairperson of the public sector entity.

The public sector entity must give the auditor-general any document about the audit of the public sector entity requested by the auditor-general.

A notice under subsection (1) may exempt a public sector entity for a maximum of 3 financial years.

However, more than 1 notice may be made under subsection (1) for a public sector entity.

The auditor-general may repeal an exemption granted to a public sector entity under subsection (1) by written notice given to the public sector entity.

A valid exercise of a function or power under an exemption continues to be valid despite the exemption being revoked.

A list of public sector entities granted an exemption under subsection (1) must be published by the auditor-general on the website of the audit office.

This section does not prevent the auditor-general from performing any of the functions or exercising any of the powers of the auditor-general under this Act for the audit of a public sector entity granted an exemption under subsection (1).

In this section—appropriately qualified person, to audit a public sector entity, means—

a member of CPA Australia who is entitled to use the letters ‘CPA’ or ‘FCPA’ and holds a current public practice certificate issued by CPA Australia; or

a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia who is entitled to use the letters ‘CA’ or ‘FCA’ and holds a current certificate of public practice issued by the institute; or

a member of the Institute of Public Accountants who is entitled to use the letters ‘MIPA’ or ‘FIPA’ and holds a professional practice certificate issued by the institute.