MPs are to debate a motion on the Estimates for Officers of Parliament. This may sound boring, but it’s really quite important as a democratic function.
Basically, the motion is Parliament telling the Government how much to pay the three entities whose job it is to apply independent scrutiny to the Government's actions including use of public funds, legal accountability and environmental stewardship.
Chief Ombudsman Judge Peter Boshier (center), Deputy Ombudsman Compliance and Practice Emma Leach (left) and Chief Inspector OPCAT Jacki Jones, (right) speak to the Law and Order Committee about the illegal restraint of at risk prisoners. Photo: VNP / Phil Smith
The three Officers of Parliament are the Ombudsman, the Auditor-General, and the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment. They all report to Parliament as a whole (through Parliament’s Speaker and the Officers of Parliament Committee) rather than to a particular minister or cabinet like other government entities.
But first, who are these three entities known as Officers of Parliament?
The Ombudsman addresses complaints about the administrative conduct of government or public sector agencies, including official information requests. It can undertake investigations and inspections, and also undertakes a range of roles to contribute to protecting basic rights of citizens (often including those in prisons and retirement homes).
The Auditor-General carries out annual audits, performance audits, other auditing and assurance services, as well as inquiries, regarding the performance of around 3,400 public organisations, including government departments, state-owned enterprises, crown research institutes, the defence forces, district health boards, ports and schools, plus many more.
The Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has broad powers to investigate environmental concerns. Its work involves forming independent reports and advice on environmental issues under the aim of maintaining or improving the quality of this country’s natural environment.
Parliament direction
Part of what makes these three entities independent of government is the way their budget is decided directly by Parliament and not by the Government, whereas in the case of most government or public entities, it’s governments that bring budget recommendations to parliaments.
The motion today involves Parliament instructing the Minister of Finance to include an amount of funding in his Budget to be announced next week.
The details of how much these three entities require in order to do their work is determined beforehand by the Officers of Parliament Committee, a cross-party committee of parliamentarians chaired by the Speaker (who is nominally the ‘boss’ of the three independent organisations). So today’s motion doesn’t come as a complete surprise to MPs.
The minister, Grant Robertson, will move the motion for MPs to confirm alterations to appropriations for these entities for the 2022/23 financial year, as well as estimates of their expenses and capital injection for the 2023/24 financial year.
