Review Of The Audit And Risk Committee Charter & Review Of The Internal Audit Policy · Attachment 1_Audit & Risk Committee Charter_Draft

AUDIT & RISK COMMITTEE CHARTER


7   AUTHORITY, INDEPENDENCE AND ACCESS

In discharging its responsibilities, the Committee has the authority to review and make
recommendations to Council on any matters within its scope of responsibility as outlined in this
Charter. This includes:
    Conduct or request investigations into matters within its scope of responsibility and in
       accordance with the Local Government Act.
    Access information, records, and personnel of the Council for such purpose.
    Request the attendance of any employee, including executive staff, at committee meetings.
    Conduct meetings with the Council’s internal and external auditors as necessary.
    Seek advice from external parties to meet its responsibilities, as necessary provided that
       Council approval will be required prior to committing to any expenditure required in seeking
       that advice.

8   CONFIDENTIALITY

In accordance with section 200(4) of the Local Government Act 2009 (Qld), confidentiality must be
preserved by Committee members and subsequently it is an offence to disclose confidential
information to unauthorised individuals.
The Committee members must not publicly comment on matters relative to activities of the
Committee other than as authorised by Council or the CEO.

9   ETHICAL PRACTICES

The Committee members will, always in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities, exercise
honesty, objectivity, probity and not engage knowingly in acts or activities that have the potential to
bring discredit to Council.

The Committee members must also refrain from entering any activity that may prejudice their ability
to carry out their duties and responsibilities objectively and must always act in a proper and prudent
manner in the use of information acquired in the course of their duties.

All committee members are expected to abide by Council’s Code of Conduct.

Members must not publicly comment on matters pertaining to activities of the ARCO other than as
authorised by Council.

Committee members are required to declare any interests that could constitute a real, potential or
perceived conflict of interest with respect to participation on the Committee. The declaration must
be made on appointment to the Committee and in relation to specific agenda items at the outset of
each committee meeting and be updated as necessary. Conflicts of interest will be a standing
agenda item and possible conflicts noted in the minutes of each meeting. The Committee will adopt
the council’s Register of Interests and associated processes adopted by council.



10 MEMBERSHIP

Committee members are independent of Council’s management and are objective with diverse
experience which creates a solid foundation for robust and insightful discussions and questions.

The membership of the Committee may be reviewed during the life of the Committee but will be
reviewed following the completion of each General Local Government Election.


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