ACT Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson has demanded the Auditor-General conduct a performance Audit of ACTEW’s corporate governance and its 50 per cent stake in electricity retailer ActewAGL.

The utility has been in hot water since it revealed it had under-reported managing director Mark Sullivan’s salary by $234,000 in an annual report and in a letter to its two shareholders, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Andrew Barr.

“I share many of the concerns people in the community have expressed to me about ACTEW over the past few months and I am very concerned by the ongoing confusion and public bickering between the Chief Minister and ACTEW management,” Mr Hanson said.

“I also question whether the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have been fulfilling all of their responsibilities on behalf of ACT taxpayers as shareholders in ACTEW.”

Mr Hanson requested Auditor-General Maxine Cooper’s independent audit of ACTEW examine in particular the enlarged Cotter Dam, executive remuneration, corporate expenditure, the process and justification for the return of water and sewerage assets, concerns raised in the recent ICRC draft report, internal control procedures and checks and balances within ACTEW, how ACTEW protects its interests as a joint venture partner in ActewAGL, and shareholders responsibilities and compliance requirements.

“Community concern has reached a point where an independent examination of ACTEW by the Auditor-General is necessary to restore public trust in both ACTEW and the Government’s handling of recent issues,” he says.