Audit and Finance Committee

Scope

1. This by-law gives effect to Section 69 of the Constitution, which states as follows:

   ℹ️Constitution Extract

   There will be an audit and finance committee, which will be responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1)’s financial reporting systems, including monitoring risk management systems and internal controls and compliance, and liaising with the external auditor and management.

2. The Audit and Finance Committee has the functions set out in the Constitution and this by-law and is independent of other party bodies and shall determine its own procedures.

3. For the purpose of this by-law appropriate accounting qualifications shall mean membership of, or eligibility for membership of, the Institute of Public Accountants, the CPA Australia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (IPA, CPA or ICAA) as established to the satisfaction of an Office Bearer.

4. Members may be appointed from time to time by the State Conference and State Council, and such an appointment must be included on the agenda of any meeting of the State Conference. At least once in every calendar year, an advertisement must be included a party-wide publication, seeking expressions of interest, in particular from those with appropriate accounting qualifications.

5. An appointment may not be made to the Audit and Finance Committee unless following that appointment at least half of the members of the Committee have appropriate accounting qualifications.

6. The term of office for each member appointed is from when a person is appointed to the Committee until the end of the third State Conference following the appointment, provided that no person may be appointed nor does any person continue to be a member if they are, become or have been during the previous twelve months, a member of the State Executive or of the National Council, a holder of public office, or an employee of the Australian Greens Victoria or the Australian Greensthe Australian Greens (The Greens) Incorporated, incorporated under the *Associations Incorporation Act 1991* (ACT) with association number A02626 or a member of the staff of a public officean elected office in a council or parliament holder or the holder of any office of profit under any Green Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1).

7. The Committee shall issue such reports and recommendations as it considers appropriate from time to time, to State Conference, State Council or State Executive, and may require that the State Executive publish a Report to the membership generally. All reports and recommendations must be in writing, and must be provided to the Treasurer not less than three days before it is presented.

8. The Audit and Finance Committee shall have access to any financial or related records of the Partythe incorporated association referred to in clause 40(1), or of any party body.

Schedule 1

The process for the appointment of a member to the Audit and Finance Committee is that:

1. The notice of vacancy, seeking expressions of interest from suitable members, is distributed to the membership.

2. Expressions of interest and curriculum vitae forwarded to FAICFinance, Administration and Infrastructure Committee Convenor

3. The prospective member will be interviewed by a panel of between two and four persons drawn from a list of the current members of the Audit and Finance Committee, the Finance Administration and Infrastructure Committee Convenor, the State Treasurer, the State Convenor and the State Director (or their delegate), as mutually agreed.

4. The panel will:

   1. discuss the responsibility of the position, in particular trust implications

   2. ensure the applicant understand the duration of the appointment

   3. ensure the applicant is prepared to sign a confidentiality agreement on appointment

   4. ensure the applicant indicates their preparedness to develop a work plan and timetable for the year and to report this to State Executive annually

   5. ensure that the applicant has the personal and professional aptitude to fulfil the intent of the Constitution.

5. That panel will make a recommendation to FAICFinance, Administration and Infrastructure Committee and if approved

6. FAICFinance, Administration and Infrastructure Committee will make a recommendation to State Council

Modification History

Action	Body	Date
Approved	State Council	2012-06-23
Amended	State Executive	2015-03-18
Amended	State Executive	2019-06-20
Amended	State Executive	2019-08-22
Amended	State Council	2019-10-02