The Auditor General has given a qualified audit on Government accounts, the Finance Minister told the House of Assembly today.

Acting Premier Paula Cox said the Auditor General’s opinion relates to the accounts of the Senate, the House of Assembly, all Government departments and offices and all courts.

“This qualification relates to the Auditor General's opinion that there were deficiencies in internal controls in the management of certain capital development projects,” she said. “Mr. Speaker, the detailed reasons for the qualification on the accounts will be included in a Special Report of the Auditor-General which will be tabled in this Honourable House.”

Government revealed earlier this month that it suffered a $100 million shortfall in its finances in the last fiscal year after underestimating how much it would spend and overestimating how much it would raise.

Total expenditure for 2008/09 was $1.194 billion — $77 million more than it had estimated in the Budget. Of the extra spending, $45 million went on capital outlays and $32 million on current programme expenditure.

* For the full story see tomorrow’s Royal Gazette.