consuming discussions about _whether_ something happened, rather concentrating on _why_ it happened and _what has been done_ to prevent it happening again.

In Australia (federal and state parliaments), the Committee chairs - most of whom are government members - place great emphasis on operating in a non-partisan manner and on reaching unanimous agreement about agendas and reports. But unlike in the United Kingdom, the federal PAC in Australia also deals with disputed issues between the executive branch and the legislative auditor. This Committee is able to select a wide range of issues of public accountability on a non-partisan basis regardless of whether the issue is raised in the Auditor General’s Report.<sup>34</sup> Interviews provided some further suggestions for diffusing partisan disagreements:

- <mark>Reducing ministerial involvement both as members and as witnesses (but having</mark> _<mark>former</mark>_ <mark>ministers may provide valuable experience)</mark>

- <mark>Sometimes a minority government or close balance of parties in the legislature heightens partisan tensions in the PAC; while at other times it creates the need for co-operation. One would expect a minority government to tolerate or compromise on administrative issues that don’t threaten to become election rallying points.</mark>

- <mark>Sometimes an experienced and skilled chair can develop strategies to avoid or minimize partisan deadlock; sometimes not. In-camera meetings to set agendas and review or draft reports help.</mark><sup>35</sup>

- <mark>Sometimes election by the legislature of the committee chair, provision of a special salary and/ or other perquisites can increase the prestige of the position and make it attractive to</mark> <u><mark>politicians who might otherwise seek more partisan rewards.</mark></u>

In short, while there is no panacea for tempering the partisan climate, it can sometimes be reduced by the changes discussed above and by other means, such as clearly focusing on accountability for implementing approved policy objectives without questioning the objectives themselves.

# _6.   Public Involvement and Media Coverage:_

There are regional differences in the extent of public involvement in the PAC and parliamentary affairs generally and opinion is divided on whether the media should have access to PAC meetings. However there are examples where the media has provided valuable

> 34 The committee has held hearings on the working of the wider sector accounting profession.

> 35 The recent European Union study of  Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) and Parliamentary Committees  (PC) identified 6 factors that help prevent politicisation of audit-related meetings: a) the organisation of the parliamentary committee’s work according to the Parliament’s Standing Orders, b) the participation in PC meetings of officers responsible for the matters being discussed, and other experts, c) the participation in PCs of members from all political parties and the right of all members to be heard, d) the oath each MP takes which provides for adherence and respect for the Constitution and other legislation, e) in some of the countries the MPs endeavour to avoid politicising PC sittings when the SAI-related matters are discussed, f) in case of committees that are, exclusively or mainly, in charge of state audit-related issues, the position of a chairman is sometimes held by a representative of an opposition party (the Czech Republic, Malta, Poland) or a representative of an opposition party holds the position of a vice-chairman.

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