AG blames depts for no audited reports

By SHIRLYN BELDEN
FAILURE by government departments to provide financial statements for the last four years has delayed the tabling of the financial reports in parliament, Auditor-General Philip Nauga says.
He said this at the first parliamentary accounts committee (PAC) inquiry into the financial reports at Parliament House yesterday.
The inquiry, chaired by Bogia MP John Hickey, had asked Nauga to explain why reports for 2009 to 2012 had not been compiled and tabled in parliament. 
Nauga said the 2009 report was being printed while 2010 report was in its draft stage.
He said his office was still waiting for the financial statements from departments to compile the 2011 report while 2012 was not possible. 
Hickey asked why the 2009 to 2012 reports were not compiled, printed and tabled in the same years as the 2008 report.
“These are big and serious issues which we are supposed to account for in this meeting,” he said.
“This is unbelievable. This is supposed to be awareness meeting for the people to be in light of what has transpired.” 
Nauga said financial statements had been requested from all departments but, to date, his office was still waiting for their responses.
He did not say when the printing and drafting of the other reports would be completed.