23—Delivery of financial statements to Auditor-General by public
authority
(1) Subject to
subsections (3) and (4), every public authority must, within 42 days
after the end of the financial year of the authority, deliver to the
Auditor-General financial statements relating to that financial year that
comply with the Treasurer's instructions.
(2) The financial
statements must be accompanied by a certificate as to compliance with the
requirement that the statements—
(a) are
in accordance with the accounts and records of the authority; and
(b)
comply with relevant Treasurer's instructions; and
(c)
comply with relevant accounting standards; and
(d)
present a true and fair view of the financial position of the authority at the
end of the financial year and the result of its operations and cash flows for
the financial year.
(2a) The certificate
must be signed by—
(a) the
Chief Executive Officer of the public authority; and
(b) the
officer responsible for the financial administration of the public authority;
and
(c) if
the public authority has a governing body comprised of a number of
persons—the person entitled to preside at meetings of the governing
body.
(2b) A person who
intentionally or recklessly provides the Auditor-General with a certificate
that does not comply with subsection (2) is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: $5 000.
(2c) A certificate
under subsection (2) must include a statement as to the effectiveness of
the internal controls employed by the authority for the financial year over
its financial reporting and its preparation of the financial statements.
(3) The Treasurer must
deliver the financial statements of SAFA to the Auditor-General when
delivering the Treasurer's statements under section 22.
(4) The administrative
unit established to assist the Auditor-General in carrying out the
Auditor-General's functions under this Act must deliver its financial
statements to the Treasurer.