44Audit of annual financial statements of the Account

#### 44 Audit of annual financial statements of the Account (1) As soon as practicable after financial statements are prepared in accordance with subsection 43(1), the statements must be given to the Auditor‑General. (2) As soon as practicable after receiving the financial statements, the Auditor‑General must examine the statements and report in accordance with this section to the Minister. (3) In the report, the Auditor‑General must state whether, in the Auditor‑General’s opinion, the financial statements: (a) have been prepared in accordance with guidelines in force under subsection 43(3); and (b) give a true and fair view of the matters required by those guidelines. If the Auditor‑General is not of that opinion, the Auditor‑General must state the reasons. (4) If the Auditor‑General is of the opinion that failing to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the guidelines has a quantifiable financial effect, the Auditor‑General must quantify that financial effect and state the amount. (5) If the Auditor‑General is of the opinion that the Secretary of a Department has contravened an obligation relating to the keeping of accounts or records, the Auditor‑General must state particulars of the contravention. (6) If the Auditor‑General is of the opinion that the Auditor‑General did not obtain all necessary information and explanations, the Auditor‑General must state particulars of the shortcoming. (7) Instead of preparing a single report, the Auditor‑General may prepare an initial report and one or more later supplementary reports.