City council has approved a charter governing Windsor's new auditor general.
According to the charter, Auditor General Chris O'Connor's role is to provide independent, objective, assurance and advice on the city's operations. He will also be required to consider fraud risks during the planning of audits and will be able to change the audit plan without council's approval.
Ward 9 Councillor Kieran McKenzie was the lone holdout on the motion because O'Connor still has to seek approval at the end of the day.
"Council chose, in its wisdom, to opt for a plan where the auditor general will present a plan to our Community Services Standing Committee that they will vote on," he says. "Ultimately the power in terms of what will be audited is still vested in council. In my mind I don't see that as the best practice from a governance perspective, but the majority of council saw it differently."
McKenzie tells AM800 News the model used by upper levels of government would have been the best option.
"You see auditors that are completely outside of the scope and span of control of the executive level of government. The premier and prime minister cannot compel their auditor general to review whatever it might be," says McKenzie.
O'Connor will present his first audit plan to council in May.