Annual Report 2021-22

           Noosa Shire Council


     During the financial year, Council’s 2022 Public Interest Disclosure Program was adopted and
     published on Council’s website. To support this program, managers, supervisors and the executive
     team were provided with refresh training in Public Interest Disclosures to strengthen ethical principles
     and practices across Council.
     Furthermore, substantial progress has been made to develop a new corporate Governance
     Framework, based on the four pillars of the Public Sector Ethics Act 1994, with the intention of
     adopting this framework in the following financial year.

     Enterprise Risk Management
     Council manages risks and opportunities within a context of competing resources, financial and
     community priorities. It recognises that innovation involves risks, but also provides opportunities to
     create new ways to benefit the community and achieve its objectives.
     Council’s Enterprise Risk and Opportunity Management Framework is an organisation-wide
     commitment to foster innovation and enable opportunities within the context of identifying, managing
     and monitoring the internal and external risks that may impact the delivery of its strategies, services
     and projects. In alignment with the international standard for risk management – AS/NZS ISO
     31000:2018, Council is undertaking continuous improvement in this area through further developing
     its Enterprise Risk and Opportunity Management Policy, Framework and supporting tools. Risk and
     opportunity management is considered part of normal business activity and is becoming more
     deeply embedded through Council’s plans and strategies, service delivery and projects.

     Audit and Risk Committee
     In accordance with Subdivision 2 of the LG Regulation, Council conducts Audit and Risk Committee
     meetings to promote good corporate governance through the provision of independent advice and
     counsel on audit and risk management issues covering a wide range of Council operations and
     projects.
     Council’s Audit and Risk Committee Charter (amendments adopted 17 March 2022) highlights that
     a key duty of the Committee is to provide reasonable assurance to Council that its core business
     goals and objectives are being achieved in an efficient and economical manner, within an appropriate
     framework of internal control and risk management.
     Four formal Audit and Risk Committee meetings were held throughout the period. The Audit and Risk
     Committee comprises of two elected members and two expert independent external members. The
     current members of Council’s Audit and Risk Committee are:
       • Mayor Clare Stewart
       • Cr Tom Wegener
       • Tim Cronin (Chair)
       • Kerry Phillips

     Internal Audit
     Under section 105 of the LG Act, Council has established an efficient and effective internal audit
     function that will provide independent, objective assurance and appropriate services designed to
     add value and improve Council’s operations.
     On 17 March 2022, Council adopted amendments to the Internal Audit Policy (previously 18 March
     2021) which provides the framework for the conduct of internal audit function of Council as endorsed
     by the Audit and Risk Committee.

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