Key state government financial reports may not be released before the election

Press PLAY below to hear Neil Mitchell’s questions about the ‘outrageous’ situation

Key state government financial reports may not be released prior to the November election, and an accountant shortage is being blamed for the situation, which Neil Mitchell has labelled “outrageous”.

Annual reports are tabled on or before October 30 annually, and the last sitting day of Parliament this year is September 15.

But a letter from Treasurer Tim Pallas to lower house speaker Maree Edwards and upper house president Nazih Elasmar reveals there’s an “unavoidable high risk” that most reports will not meet that timetable.

The letter says the Auditor-General has advised “the currently scarce resources in the accounting industry” are to blame.

Spokesperson at Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia, Dr Jane Rennie, confirms there is a “critical shortage” of accountants.

But Neil Mitchell says the state government’s story “stinks”.

“There’s got to be an option, there’s got to be a way where you can get these out in public,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“This means the bad news on how the state has been run for a year is hidden until after the election when we’ve decided who’s going to run it for the next four years.

“It is quite outrageous really.

“I would have thought the government would have all these public service accountants and they wouldn’t outsource it.”

Press PLAY below to hear more about the “critical” accountant shortage