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2007 Assessment

Vanuatu: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Vanuatu: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Supreme Audit Institution
Indicators		Score
55	In law, is there a national supreme audit institution, auditor general or equivalent agency covering the entire public sector?	100
56	Is the supreme audit institution effective?	66
57	Can citizens access reports of the supreme audit institution?	33

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

In law, is there a national supreme audit institution, auditor general or equivalent agency covering the entire public sector?

55: In law, is there a national supreme audit institution, auditor general or equivalent agency covering the entire public sector?

Score:

YES

Comments: Ombudsman office - Yes - the auditor-general.

References: Ombudsman Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

Is the supreme audit institution effective?

56a: In law, the supreme audit institution is protected from political interference.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Audit of Public Accounts Act - www.paclii.org/vu/legis/consol_act/aopaa235/

56b: In practice, the head of the audit agency is protected from removal without relevant justification.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

56c: In practice, the audit agency has a professional, full-time staff.

Score:

100

Comments: Audit reports are not done on time or at all, which indicates staff shortage or incompetence.

References: Ombudsman Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

56d: In practice, audit agency appointments support the independence of the agency.

Score:

100

Comments: In Vanuatu the "Wantok system" (familiar relations within the same linguistic area) is very strong. This is prevalent in government ministries, departments and other government offices and also in some private companies and NGOs.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M. Ombudsman Office

Peer Review Comments: Appointments to the agency are usually made based on merit and professional qualifications, but individuals appointed may have personal loyalties, family connections and other biases, as part of "wantok" networks. Wantok refers to the shared family relations within the same linguistic area. There are 108 languages in Vanuatu, and people from the same language area may give preferences to their own. Individuals appointed may or may not have clear political party affiliations.

56e: In practice, the audit agency receives regular funding.

Score:

100

Comments: Ombudsman office - The audit agency gets its funding from the government budget.

References: Ombudsman Office Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

56f: In practice, the audit agency makes regular public reports.

Score:

100

Comments: While public reports by the audit agency are required by law, there are published well behind schedule.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

56g: In practice, the government acts on the findings of the audit agency.

Score:

100

Comments: The fact that actual audits and reports for numerous years are outstanding indicates that there is a lack of political will to improve this agency, let alone act on any findings of such reports.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

56h: In practice, the audit agency is able to initiate its own investigations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

Can citizens access reports of the supreme audit institution?

57a: In law, citizens can access reports of the audit agency.

Score:

YES

Comments: Section 9 of the Act requires the auditor general to table reports to Parliament annually; such parliamentary papers can be accessed by citizens.

Note that this does not happen in practice as required by law.

References: Audit of Public Accounts Act, Section 9

57b: In practice, citizens can access audit reports within a reasonable time period.

Score:

100

Comments: Kierry says no, there is too much red tape.

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

57c: In practice, citizens can access the audit reports at a reasonable cost.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Daily Post Chief Editor Kierry M.

Peer Review Comments: A major burden if cost of time is included. Likely that any costs are too expensive for many people, and that these reports should be freely available.