The Ministry of Finance, in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General, has embarked on a thorough evaluation of Fiji’s Audit Act, aiming to update it in accordance with international standards and best practices.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, introduced a motion in Parliament detailing the proposed amendments, highlighting the necessity for reforms that will enhance the nation’s auditing framework and adapt it to the changing standards in the public sector.
The Audit Act, last updated in 2006, has been critiqued by Prof Prasad for not reflecting contemporary practices in public sector auditing. The proposed amendments are intended to bolster the independence of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), allowing it to fulfill its responsibilities free from external pressures.
The revisions will broaden the OAG’s remit to encompass compliance, information technology, and environmental auditing, while also ensuring that all audits comply with international auditing standards, including the International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and the International Standards for Supreme Audit Institutions (ISSAIs).
According to Prof Prasad, the changes aim to safeguard the functions and duties of the Auditor-General and OAG personnel from various pressures, ensuring that audit results are presented in a fair and unbiased manner.
The legislation also seeks to provide the OAG with necessary resources by formalizing its budget, staffing, and funding sources according to the 2013 Constitution. Furthermore, provisions are set to review audits of entities not currently overseen by the OAG, while expanding the Auditor-General’s authority to access electronic data.
The review process began in June 2023, with consultations led by the Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Auditor-General, and the Office of the Solicitor-General. Technical support from the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI) has been key in developing the proposed reforms.
Professor Prasad has called on Parliament members to endorse the motion to amend the Audit Act, underscoring that it would align Fiji’s auditing practices with global standards. He emphasized that these proposed changes represent the government’s dedication to enhancing transparency, accountability, and good governance in public financial management, allowing Fiji to strengthen its public sector oversight and enabling the OAG to effectively fulfill its role in the future.