The Tonga Auditor General’s Office is one of a number of anti-corruption agencies that finds it hard to get its recommendations implemented, a workshop for high-level parliamentarians and auditors heard in Nuku’alofa, while looking at the role of the Public Accounts Committee within the Tonga parliamentary process.

The three-day workshop was organised by the Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions (PASAI), and brought together members of parliament and other government officials to discuss accountability and transparency in spending public funds, in Tonga on 19-21 January 2016.

The workshop, discussed ways the Public Accounts Committee and parliamentarians could work together to ensure members of parliament are constantly updated with audited budget figures, estimates and reports to confidently debate any public funding issues.

Lord Tu’ivakano, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga noted that parliamentarians play a major role in ensuring financial scrutiny takes place. “We, as Members of Parliament, can do this by ensuring that public funds are used wisely, with the intention of improving the lives of the Tongan people,” he said.

In a statement released on January 25, a PASAI advocate and workshop facilitator, Mr Eroni Vatuloka, acknowledged that the Public Accounts Committee is challenged by limited time to review budgets and reports, and needed better coordination and planning.

Another challenge identified was that, “the Office of the Auditor General is one of a number of anti-corruption agencies that finds it hard to get its recommendations implemented. The intention of the workshop is to build a working relationship with the Parliamentary committees,” Vatuloka stated.

“Given delays in processing financial audits in the Pacific region, this relationship will support the government officials responsible for preparing government accounts and for scrutinising those accounts after they are audited,” he stated.

PASAI shared Pacific-wide experiences with the Tongan participants and looked at better processes, coordination and planning for the Public Accounts Committee and the possibility of involving civil society and non-government organisations.

In order to help government members scrutinise their budgets, ways to involve the private sector were also discussed.

The workshop, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) was facilitated by Vatuloka and Mr Siosiua Utoikamanu (a former Tonga Minister of Finance), and the Pacific Financial and Technical Assistance Centre’s Chita Marzan and Savenaca Narube.

PASAI promotes transparent, accountable, effective, and efficient use of public sector resources in the Pacific and is supported by the Asian Development Bank, the Australian and New Zealand governments, the International Association of Supreme Audit Institutions Development Initiative, and the World Bank.

The Deputy Clerk of the House said today that the members of Tonga’s Standing Committee on Finance (also referred to as the Public Accounts Committee) are:

• Hon. ‘Aisake Eke Minister of Finance (chairman);
• Hon. Poasi Tei, Minister of Public Enterprises;
• Semisi Sika, Chairman of the Whole House Committee;
• Lord Nuku, the Deputy Chairman of the Whole House Committee;
• Lord Tu‘ivakano, Speaker of the House;
• Lord Tu‘i‘afitu, Deputy Speaker of the House;
• Hon. Tevita Lavemaau, Minister for Revenue Collection and Customs;
• Lord Tu‘ilakepa, Vava‘u No. 2 Nobles’ Representative;
• 'Etuate Lavulavu, a Vava'u People's Representative;
• Sefita Tangi, the Auditor General.