http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/default.aspx?FolderID=120Audit Office of New South Wales(c) Audit Office of New South Wales (http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/), 2013. All content is provided under the copyright of the feed provider. Please address all syndication queries to the webmaster. All rights reserved.elcomCMS02 May 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Management-of-the-ClubGRANTS-schemeThe ClubGRANTS scheme gives tax rebates to clubs for supporting their local community. Since 2002, $417 million of ClubGRANTS tax rebates have been given to clubs. The scheme recognises the valuable role played by registered clubs in their local communities. However, the public must have confidence that the scheme is delivering genuine services to the community.NewsThu, 02 May 2013 09:54:00 GMT27 Mar 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Managing-gifts-and-benefitsGifts are a feature of business and it is not uncommon for public servants to be offered gifts. “Few people are likely to be concerned at the nurse receiving a bunch of flowers or teacher receiving a Christmas gift from a student. But agencies need to tread carefully if they allow staff to be guests in a corporate box, accept tickets to the theatre or keep expensive whisky or wine”, said Mr Achterstraat.NewsWed, 27 Mar 2013 09:58:00 GMT19 Mar 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Have-your-say---survey-on-government-advertisingThe Auditor-General, Peter Achterstraat, today asked members of the public to help him select which NSW government advertising campaign he should examine as part of an upcoming audit. “I have previously released two reports on government advertising which have led to stronger requirements to prevent the use of public funds for party political purposes,” said Mr Achterstraat. “It is now time to check if agencies are following these requirements,” he added.NewsTue, 19 Mar 2013 16:01:00 GMT28 Feb 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Managing-drug-exhibits-and-other-high-profile-goodsSome drug exhibits and other high profile goods, such as firearms, ammunition, vehicles and vessels, are held longer than necessary by NSW Police, increasing health and safety risks and storage costs. In 2011-12, NSW Police collected over 313,000 exhibits and other goods. Around 58,000, or almost 20 per cent, of these were drug exhibits and other high profile goods. “I am pleased to find that drug exhibits and other high profile goods are well managed. They are kept securely in NSW Police storage facilities, routinely audited and there are few recorded instances where they have gone missing or been damaged,” said Mr Achterstraat.NewsThu, 28 Feb 2013 09:41:00 GMT26 Feb 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-One-2013-focusing-on-themes-from-2013---Governance-and-project-management-issues-on-the-riseThe taxpayer is being exposed to unnecessary financial risks with some key decisions and projects proceeding without proper governance and project management. Projects sometimes proceed with no business case and with poor risk management. Some service providers are being engaged with no service level agreements.NewsTue, 26 Feb 2013 12:47:00 GMT26 Feb 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-One-2013-focusing-on-themes-from-2013--More-timely-reporting-but-quality-of-financial-reporting-has-a-way-to-goThe Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat, noted the timeliness of New South Wales government agencies financial reporting improved significantly in 2012. However, the quality of financial reporting needs to improve to be more useful to Parliament, Government decision making and enhanced public sector accountability. “Accounting misstatements were common in financial reports submitted by NSW Government agencies for audit,” said Mr Achterstraat. NewsTue, 26 Feb 2013 10:36:00 GMT26 Feb 2013http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-One-2013-focusing-on-themes-from-2013---Information-systems-audit-issues-on-the-riseThe Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat noted there was a 12 per cent increase in the average number of information systems audit issues reported in 2012 compared to 2011. A substantial proportion of these were repeat issues. “By not addressing these issues in a timely manner agencies are not effectively managing their IT risk which could result in data or systems integrity issues,” said Mr Achterstraat.NewsTue, 26 Feb 2013 10:35:00 GMT20 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Ten-2012-Half-Yearly-Review-2012-13-EngagementOn 5 November 2012, the Treasurer wrote to me under section 27B(3)(c) of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983, requesting me, among other things, to ‘undertake a review of the reasonableness of the estimates and forecasts in the upcoming Half Yearly Review’.NewsThu, 20 Dec 2012 14:55:00 GMT18 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eleven-2012-focusing-on-Health---The-journey-to-improve-asset-management-practices-has-commenced“I welcome the steps NSW Health is taking to improve its asset management practices. They are investing in a single state-wide asset management system which will give health managers and decision makers’ more complete information to help better manage and maintain these vital assets,” said Auditor-General, Mr Achterstraat.NewsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:46:00 GMT18 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eleven-2012-focusing-on-Health---Finding-a-bed-remains-a-challengeDespite a two per cent increase in attendances, the State average of patients triaged within the clinical timeframes in emergency departments was the same or better than last year. However, moving patients from emergency to a ward bed remains a challenge.NewsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:46:00 GMT18 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eleven-2012-focusing-on-Health---NSW-Health-testing-suppliers--patienceAt 30 June 2012, NSW Health owed suppliers $702 million or 55 days of supplies. Of this amount, $46.0 million was on hold. “Despite recent improvements in procurement and payment processes, it is disappointing that the value of invoices on hold has grown from $33.4 million at 30 June 2011 to $46.0 million this year,” said the Auditor-General, Mr Achterstraat. “I am particularly concerned that nearly half of the 46,591 invoices on hold were only awaiting approval from the health entities to pay,” he added.NewsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:45:00 GMT18 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eleven-2012-focusing-on-Health---Overtime-has-stabilised--even-for-top-earnersTotal overtime payments, including call backs in 2011 12 were $389 million, very similar to last year’s $387 million. This represents five per cent of NSW Health’s salaries and wages expense. “One career medical officer has been paid more than $1 million in overtime including call backs over the last three years. This is in addition to the officer’s base salary,” said Auditor-General, Mr Achterstraat.NewsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:45:00 GMT18 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eleven-2012-focusing-on-Health---ambulance-delays-at-hospitals“One in three ambulance crews were delayed for longer than 30 minutes at hospital,” said the Auditor-General, Mr Achterstraat. “Over the year these delays totalled 84,680 hours of lost time, up from 78,224 last year and 58,399 the year before, he added.NewsTue, 18 Dec 2012 10:45:00 GMT11 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Nine-2012-focusing-on-Education-and-Communities---Year-12-retention-rates-continue-to-increaseRetention rates for New South Wales Government school students and those from targeted equity groups continued to increase as reported by the Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat, in his report released to Parliament today.NewsTue, 11 Dec 2012 14:39:00 GMT11 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Nine-2012-focusing-on-Education-and-Communities---Harry-Potter-exhibition-casts-its-magic-over-the-museum-s-visitor-numbersHarry PotterTM: The Exhibition is the most popular exhibition the Powerhouse Museum has staged. Visitor numbers to the Museum grew by 59.6 per cent in 2011 12 compared to the previous year. Harry Potter™: The Exhibition was the main reason for this growth, attracting 382,565 visitors. “The Museum advises that the number of visitors was 17.6 per cent higher than its target,” reported the Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat. “The Museum is to be congratulated for their efforts in delivering such a successful event for New South Wales."NewsTue, 11 Dec 2012 14:08:00 GMT11 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Nine-2012-focusing-on-Education-and-Communities---Lack-of-Young-Teachers-in-Schools-and-TAFE“Last year, I reported that in New South Wales, around 20 per cent of public school teachers are under 35 and less than 10 per cent are under 30. Nothing has changed during 2012. We need to do more to attract and retain young teachers to a profession that is essential for our children and our future prosperity,” said the Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat.NewsTue, 11 Dec 2012 09:57:00 GMT11 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Nine-2012-focusing-on-Education-and-Communities---Process-used-to-revalue-school-and-TAFE-buildings-flawedThe Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat, qualified his audit opinions on the Department of Education and Communities’ and the TAFE Commission’s respective 30 June 2012 financial statements because of flaws in the process used to revalue buildings. “There were flaws in the process used and more work is needed to support the values recorded. This work may confirm the value of the buildings is correct or it may highlight shortcomings in the revaluation process,” said Mr Achterstraat.NewsTue, 11 Dec 2012 09:55:00 GMT28 Nov 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Seven-2012-focusing-on-Law--Order-and-Emergency-Services---Media-Release-4“I have reported over several years that the previous NSW Police Death and Disability Scheme needed to be urgently reviewed," Mr Achterstraat said. The NSW Police Force has now introduced a new commercial insurance arrangement from January 2012 for its death and disability scheme. Under the new arrangements, the Force paid an insurance premium of $80.2 million in 2011-12 and has budgeted for $102 million in 2012-13. Lump sum benefitsNewsTue, 11 Dec 2012 09:25:00 GMT05 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eight-2012-focusing-on-Transport-and-Ports---transport-agencies-cut-contractors-show-signs-of-better-managing-overtime“It is pleasing that the number of contractors employed by transport agencies in 2011-12 fell just over 11 per cent compared to the previous year,” said the Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat. “This is a significant reduction and demonstrates that the transport agencies have responded to my 2011 recommendation to better monitor their contractor workforce,” he added.NewsWed, 05 Dec 2012 11:06:00 GMT05 Dec 2012http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/News/Volume-Eight-2012-focusing-on-Transport-and-Ports---Complaints-and-Compliments“Compliments to RailCorp have increased by 32 per cent, but there are still 10 complaints for very compliment,” said the Auditor-General, Mr Peter Achterstraat. “Service remains the major area of complaints, representing 18 per cent of all complaints during 2011 12,” said Mr Achterstraat. “Service complaints relate to discomfort and inconvenience experienced by the customers,” he added.NewsWed, 05 Dec 2012 10:24:00 GMT