Agricultural Food Safety: Message
Ordered to be printed
VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT PRINTER March 2012
PP No 110, Session 2010–12
Agricultural Food Safety
Body
This audit examined how effectively agricultural food safety is regulated in Victoria. It assessed how well the overall assurance framework addresses food safety in primary production and processing, and how effectively compliance with the legislation was regulated. This audit reviewed the activities of the Department of Health, the Department of Primary Industries, PrimeSafe, Dairy Food Safety Victoria, and the Committee of Food Regulators.
Appendix D. Audit Act 1994 section 16—submissions and comments
Introduction
In accordance with section 16A and 16(3) of the Audit Act 1994 a copy of this report, or relevant extracts from the report, was provided to the Department of Health with a request for submissions or comments.
The submissions and comments provided are not subject to audit nor the evidentiary standards required to reach an audit conclusion. Responsibility for the accuracy, fairness and balance of those comments rests solely with the agency head.
Appendix C. Financial sustainability
Financial sustainability risk assessment criteria
The financial sustainability of public hospitals has been assessed using the risk assessment criteria outlined in Figure C1.
Figure C1
Financial sustainability indicators—risk assessment criteria
Risk |
Underlying result |
Liquidity |
Average number of days cash available |
|---|
Appendix B. Completed audit listing
Metropolitan hospitals and associated entities
Audit type |
Financial report | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Appendix A. Glossary
Accountability
Responsibility of public sector entities to achieve their objectives, with regard to reliability of financial reporting effectiveness and efficiency of operations, compliance with applicable laws, and reporting to interested parties.
Asset
A resource controlled by an entity as a result of past events, and from which future economic benefits are expected to flow to the entity.
5 Internal controls
At a glance
Background
This Part presents the results of our assessment of general internal controls and controls over procurement and information technology security in public hospitals.
Conclusion
Internal controls at public hospitals and controlled entities were adequate for producing reliable, accurate and timely financial reports. Nevertheless, a number of areas for improvement were identified.
4 Financial sustainability
At a glance
Background
To be financially sustainable, public hospitals need the capacity to meet current and future expenditure as it falls due, and to be able to absorb foreseeable changes and financial risks as they materialise. This Part provides our insight into the financial sustainability of public hospitals obtained from analysing the trends in five indicators over a five‑year period.
3 Financial results
At a glance
Background
The financial objective for public hospitals should be to generate a sufficient surplus from operations to meet their financial obligations, and to fund asset replacement and new asset acquisitions. The ability of public hospitals to achieve this depends largely on how well they manage their expenditure and whether they maximise revenue. The performance is measured by the operating result—the difference between revenue inflows and expenditure outflows.
2 Audit opinions and quality of reporting
At a glance
Background
This Part covers the results of the audits of the 2010–11 financial reports of 87 public hospitals and 25 associated entities.
Independent audit opinions add credibility to financial reports by providing reasonable assurance that the information reported is reliable.