Back-to-back success: Best Practice entity in financials

Published on Wednesday, 21 May 2025 at 7:20:42 PM

For the second consecutive year, the Shire of Dardanup has been recognised by the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) as a Best Practice entity in financial reporting for the 2023/24 financial year.

The accolade comes from the OAG’s annual Local Government Financial Audit Results report, which reviewed the financial reporting practices of 135 local governments across Western Australia.

Shire President Cr Tyrrell Gardiner said the significant achievement highlights the Shire’s continued excellence in financial management that reflects the professionalism, integrity and dedication of the entire organisation.

“To be recognised as a Best Practice entity for a second year in a row is a big deal — it reflects our organisation’s consistent commitment to the highest standards of financial governance,” he said.

“This outcome is not just a win for our Finance and Governance team, but for our entire Shire. It’s a shared success that every staff member and community stakeholder can be proud of.”

The OAG measures Best Practice performance using key criteria including:

  • Timeliness of CEO-certified financial report.
  • Quality of financial report (financial statements and notes).
  • Quality of working papers that support the financial report.
  • Management resolution of accounting matters.
  • Availability of key staff during the audit.
  • Number and significance of management letter findings.
  • Achievement of a clear audit opinion.

The Shire congratulates the other 19 Western Australian local governments recognised for Best Practice, in their 2023-24 Financial Reporting year (*indicates entities which received best practice in the 2022-23 report):

  • City of Albany*
  • Town of Bassendean
  • Shire of Beverley*
  • Shire of Brookton*
  • Shire of Chapman Valley
  • Shire of Christmas Island
  • Shire of Cue*
  • Shire of Dardanup*
  • Shire of Denmark*
  • Shire of Dumbleyung*
  • Shire of Esperance*
  • Shire of Exmouth
  • Shire of Irwin*
  • Shire of Lake Grace
  • Shire of Menzies
  • Shire of Mundaring
  • Shire of Murray
  • Shire of Perenjori*
  • Shire of Three Springs*
  • City of Vincent.

View the audit results here: https://audit.wa.gov.au/reports-and-publications/reports/local-government-2023-24-financial-audit-results/

Caption: The Shire of Dardanup President Cr Tyrrell Gardiner and
Director Corporate and Governance Natalie Hopkins. The Shire has
been recognised by the Office of the Auditor General as a Best
Practice entity in financial reporting for the 2023/24 financial year.


Media contact: Tahnia Creedon, Communications Officer | tahnia.creedon@dardanup.wa.gov.au | 0436 942 509.

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