The Following is an unedited Media Release from Glen Innes Severn Council dated 9 March 2026
COUNCIL RECEIVES 2024/25 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AT EXTRAORDINARY MEETING
Glen Innes Severn Council received its 2024/25 financial statements at today’s Extraordinary Council Meeting, as part of Council’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound governance.
Financial statements are a core governance document, providing a snapshot of Council’s financial position at a point in time and ensuring compliance with statutory reporting requirements.
The audit outcome includes a disclaimer which Council has confirmed is not the result of financial mismanagement or financial sustainability concerns, but instead principally relates to business system issues stemming from the transition to a new financial system in 2022.
General Manager Bernard Smith said, “In 2022, Council transitioned to a new financial system that was not commonly used across local government, was implemented poorly under significant time pressure, and was rushed.”
“Those decisions created ongoing data integrity, systems management and reporting challenges, which were apparent during subsequent audit processes.”
“It should be noted that Councils auditors have commented on the positive work Council has undertaken to minimise the audit issues and that Council has made significant progress to address problems which had arisen,” he said.
Mr Smith said the audit disclaimer reflects historical system and implementation issues, not Council’s current financial position or its ability to operate.
“The disclaimer does not mean Council is unable to meet its obligations or continue delivering services to the community. It is important the community understands this distinction,” he said.
Council, in early 2025 after much consideration, made the significant decision to abandon the system introduced in 2022 and migrate to an accepted local government system with an anticipated go live date of mid 2026.
“Migrating to a new business system so soon after introducing the previous system is unprecedented in local government but reflected the need to act definitively and quickly to address the problem,” Mr Smith said.
“Given the system and data issues, it takes time to shade off a disclaimed audit finding noting this is the third such audit outcome, however Council is sharply focussed (sic) on the task noting significant time and resources is currently being dedicated to the implementation of the new system mid-year. We now have a structured rectification program in place, and a positive path forward,” he said.
Mr Smith also acknowledged that Council is concurrently progressing a Special Rate Variation (SRV) application, which is a separate and parallel process aimed at addressing Council’s long-term financial sustainability.
“The SRV application is about ensuring Council can sustainably fund services, infrastructure and community outcomes into the future,” he said.
“These are two different matters addressing two different challenges. One is about fixing systems and restoring full audit confidence; the other is about securing Council’s long-term financial resilience.”
Council remains committed to openness, transparency and continuous improvement, and will continue to keep the community informed as further milestones are achieved across both programs of work.
