Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee is a statutory committee established under section 53 of the Local Government Act 2020 and forms a key component of Yarriambiack Shire Council’s governance framework. The Committee supports Council in fulfilling its governance and oversight responsibilities by providing assurance, oversight and advice across areas critical to the effective operation of Council.

Role of the Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee operates in accordance with its Audit and Risk Committee Charter, which has been developed and applied in accordance with section 54 of the Local Government Act 2020. The Charter establishes the Committee’s purpose, authority, composition, responsibilities and reporting arrangements, while the Terms of Reference provide additional guidance regarding the role, conduct and responsibilities of the independent Chair and independent members. The Charter remains the primary governing document of the Committee.

Through its oversight and advisory role, the Committee helps Council maintain strong governance, effective risk management, sound financial stewardship, legislative compliance, and robust assurance and audit practices. In doing so, the Committee promotes transparency, accountability, integrity and continuous improvement, helping Council safeguard community interests and achieve its strategic objectives.

The Committee has no executive authority or delegated decision-making powers. Rather, it supports Council by monitoring, reviewing, endorsing and providing advice on matters within its Charter, ensuring appropriate governance frameworks, systems, controls and processes are in place to support the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of Council operations.

The role of the Committee is supported by the following documents.

Audit and Risk Committee Members

The Audit and Risk Committee comprises an independent Chair, two independent members and two Councillors. In accordance with section 53 of the Local Government Act 2020, the Committee maintains a majority of independent members while ensuring Councillor representation. The Chair must be independent and cannot be a Councillor.

The combination of Councillor and independent members provides a balance of local government knowledge, strategic oversight and specialist expertise in financial management, risk management, audit and governance. Council employees are not eligible to serve as members of the Committee.

Current Members

Position	Member	Current term
Independent Chair	Bruce Potgieter	Until 27 April 2028
Independent Member	Michael Ulbrick	Until 26 February 2029
Independent Member	Peter Johnston	Until 26 February 2029
Councillor Representative	Cr Kylie Zanker	Until November 2026
Councillor Representative	Cr Andrew McLean	Until November 2026

Independent Chair and Committee Members

Detailed profiles of the independent Chair and independent members of the Audit and Risk Committee are outlined below.

Audit and Risk Committee Meetings (incl. Minutes)

The Audit and Risk Committee meets quarterly throughout the year in accordance with its adopted Annual Work Plan. The Annual Work Plan is developed, reviewed and adopted by the Committee and provides a structured program of activities to support the Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Audit and Risk Committee Charter and the Local Government Act 2020.

In addition to its quarterly meetings, the Committee generally convenes an additional meeting in September to review Council’s Annual Financial Statements and Performance Report, as well as the outcomes of the external audit process.

Date	Description
10 August 2026	Ordinary Meeting
21 September 2026	Special Meeting
09 November 2026	Ordinary Meeting

08 February 2027	Ordinary Meeting
10 May 2027	Ordinary Meeting

To support transparency and keep our community informed, Audit and Risk Committee meeting minutes from the last 12 months are available below.

Annual Work Plan

The Annual Work Plan guides the Committee’s consideration of matters relating to financial and performance reporting, risk management, internal controls, audit, fraud prevention and compliance, ensuring these areas are reviewed on a regular and systematic basis throughout the year.

Audit and Risk Committee Work Plan 2026-27(PDF, 71KB)

Biannual Committee Reports

The Audit and Risk Committee reports to Council on a biannual basis in accordance with its Charter. These reports provide an overview of the Committee's activities, significant matters considered and progress against the Annual Work Plan, while demonstrating how the Committee has fulfilled its responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2020 and the Audit and Risk Committee Charter.