Compliance of expenditure with Section 12A of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 - Law Enforcement Conduct Commission

The Hon. Troy Grant MP, Minister for Police and Minister for Emergency Services requested an audit under section 27B(3)(c) of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, to determine whether expenditure on overseas travel by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (the Commission) complied with section 12A of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983.

The Commission is an independent investigative body. The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission Act 2016 provides that the Commission’s functions are not subject to the control or direction of the Minister. However, the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 required the Commission to obtain Ministerial approval before it could spend money from its appropriation for overseas travel. 

The audit concluded that the Commission did not comply with section 12A of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 because it spent the money without the Minister’s delegated authority or approval.

Further information

Barry Underwood, Director, Office of the Auditor-General, on 0403 073 664 and email barry.underwood@audit.nsw.gov.au.