Letters to the Editor | The National 

I CALL on the Government, Finance Department, Implementation and Rural Development Department and Parliament to make audit fees a mandatory, separate budget item for provincial services improvement programme (PSIP), district services improvement programme (DSIP), provincial governments, district development authorities (DDAs) and local level governments (LLGs).

Auditing must be planned and funded from the beginning.

Future funding should be tied to compliance with applicable acquittal and audit requirements.

The reported backlog of outstanding audits demands urgent attention.

The Government must adequately resource the Auditor-General’s Office and establish a funded national program to clear outstanding audits within three to five years.

Public funds must be accounted for, and citizens deserve to know how their money is spent.

Parliament should review the Audit Act and Companies Act to strengthen enforcement and accountability.

Serious audit findings involving suspected fraud, misappropriation, double-dipping or major failures to acquit funds should trigger mandatory referral to the appropriate authorities, including the Ombudsman Commission, police, Independent Commission Against Corruption and Public Prosecutor, as applicable.

Clear reporting deadlines should require relevant agencies to inform Parliament of actions taken.

Audit findings must lead to appropriate investigation and, where evidence supports it, prosecution.

Transparency and accountability are essential to good governance.

Funding audits, clearing outstanding reports and enforcing the law can help restore public confidence and protect public resources.

I urge all Members of Parliament and government leaders to act decisively.

Public money is the people’s money. Every Kina must be accounted for.

Mark