NSW AUDITOR-GENERAL ANNOUNCES PERFORMANCE AUDIT TOPICS FOR 2009-10

 

Peter Achterstraat, the Auditor-General, today released his provisional list of performance audit topics for 2009-10.
(See list below)

 

“Performance audits are special in-depth assessments of how effectively, efficiently and economically the government carries out its activities. We aim to inform Parliament how well particular services are being undertaken and to improve the way government functions and services are managed. We do this by identifying areas for improvement and recommending better ways of doing things. We know that Parliamentarians and the public look to our performance audit reports for their independence and the way they keep government accountable.”

 

“Our program continues to tackle topics of significant interest to the public of New South Wales.”

 

When Will the Reports be Released?

 

The program shows all the audits that we plan to work on in the 2009-10 financial year.  Some have already started as part of our 2008-09 program and will be reported in early 2009-10. Others will start in 2009-10. Once an audit has started, we indicate its likely release date on our web-site at www.audit.nsw.gov.au.

 

If you would like to receive e-mail notifications a few days before each report is tabled, contact Barry Underwood on 9275-7220 or at barry.underwood@audit.nsw.gov.au.

 

What are We Trying to Achieve, and How are the Topics Chosen?

 

We audit areas that the community and Parliament look to when assessing the performance of the NSW Government:

§   infrastructure

§   transport services

§   law, order and public safety

§   health and welfare services

§   education

§   environmental protection and land and water resources

§   governance and public sector management

§   financial management.

 

Our goal is to achieve a balance of performance audits across these areas over the medium-term to reflect the relative level of interest in these areas by Parliament and the community.

 

Audit topics emerge from our own research and from information and suggestions we receive.  We seek input from a wide range of sources, including Members of Parliament and agency chief executives.  We also receive suggestions from lobby groups, employees in government agencies and from the public.

 

We look at a number of criteria in deciding which topics to pursue, for example:

§   the likely public interest in the topic

§   the level of expenditure on the activity to be reviewed

§   the potential for our audit to improve service levels or value for money

§   whether our findings may apply in other government agencies

§   what resources we need to undertake the review

§   whether other reviews of the activity have been done recently or are underway.

 

Why is the List Provisional?

 

There are many reasons why we review our proposed audits regularly. New topics arise, existing topics may become more urgent, or we may find that an activity we initially considered important no longer needs our attention.

 

Because we only have limited resources to carry out performance audits, any one change can have flow-on effects to the rest of our program.

 

What are Performance Audits?

 

Our financial audits look at the accuracy of agencies’ annual financial reporting.  We carry out this role in every government agency each year.

 

Performance audits build on our financial audits by reviewing whether taxpayers’ money is spent efficiently, effectively, economically and in accordance with the law.

 

Because of the resources involved in each performance audit, we are limited in the number we carry out each year.

 

Each performance audit takes about nine months to complete.  We carry out extensive research at the beginning of the audit.  This ensures that we understand the issues and can learn from any other reviews that have been carried out on the topic, both in Australia and overseas.  It also enables us to plan and scope the proposed audit to provide the greatest value.  It is during the planning phase that the audit’s scope, objectives and criteria are developed, in discussion with the relevant agencies.  These are formally advised to the relevant agencies before the audit proceeds.

 

During the audit, we consult extensively with the government agencies we are reviewing.  This ensures that we get the facts right and our conclusions are soundly based.  Final draft reports are given to the agency (as required by our legislation) so we can include its response in our report to Parliament.

 

More Information?

 

Our role is to report to Parliament, so we cannot publicly disclose any of our findings before our reports are tabled in Parliament.

 

However if you would like further information about the scope of a particular audit or its progress, or if you have any information you believe could be useful to us, contact Sean Crumlin, Director Performance Audit on 9275-7286 or at sean.crumlin@audit.nsw.gov.au.

 

July 2009

 

 

Auditor-General's Performance Audit Topics for 2009-10

 

 

Audits in progress to be released in 2009-10 (click on the audit title below for a summary of the audit’s objectives)
Helping Aboriginal defendants through MERIT This report was presented to Parliament on 5 August 2009	Expected release date 5 August 2009
Environmental grants This report was presented to Parliament on 26 August 2009	26 August 2009
Private waterfront tenancies on public land This report was presented to Parliament on 23 September 2009	23 September 2009
Government licensing project This report was presented to Parliament on 7 October 2009	7 October 2009
Privately financed projects – taking over the M4	2nd quarter of 2009-10
Government Advertising 2009	2nd quarter of 2009-10
State investment in V8 supercar races at Sydney Olympic Park	3rd quarter of 2009-10
Injury Management in the public sector	3rd quarter of 2009-10
Forensic investigation: managing fingerprint and DNA evidence	3rd quarter of 2009-10
School Zones	3rd quarter of 2009-10
Improving the performance of metropolitan bus services	3rd quarter of 2009-10

 

Performance Audit Program for 2009-10

Commercial fishing licenses Commercial fishing licenses are designed to manage fish stocks by setting restrictions on both the size and type of catch. This audit will examine how well the Department of Primary Industries ensures that license conditions are met and that illegal fishing is minimised.

Contract management There are many large, long term government funded contracts helping to deliver vital services to the people of NSW. This audit will examine if key agencies are effectively managing the performance of selected contracts.

Home detention Home detention is often used as an alternative to prison. For home detention to be successful, it must be seen as a strategy that restricts detainees’ behaviours. This audit will examine the management of home detention including the costs and benefits of this type of response.

How well is forensic investigation being used to reduce crime? Forensic investigation is very important in solving crimes. This audit will look at aspects of this issue and the impact on solving crime.

Injury management in the public sector The NSW Government Working Together strategy set mandatory performance improvement targets to be achieved by 2008 in the public sector. This strategy covered the key areas of injury management including reducing the cost and number of claims for injured staff. This audit will look at the performance of a sample of government agencies against these targets and the practices they have implemented in order to make improvements.

Respite Services Family members play a vital role as carers, supporting people with a disability living in their own homes. The NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care helps family members maintain their relationship as primary carers by providing funding and centres for ‘respite’: a time limited break from care-giving. This audit will examine the availability and access to respite services for carers and the people they look after.

Security of collections Cultural bodies such as art galleries, museums and libraries have extensive collections. We will examine how securely they are protected.

Wireless Security Commerce and industry makes extensive use of wireless networks. This audit will examine whether agencies’ use of wireless networks complies with best practice information security requirements.

Working with Children Check Before someone can work with children, their employer must verify that they do not pose a risk to children. This is called the Working with Children Check. The audit will examine whether the Working with Children Check keeps unsuitable people from having access to our children.

 

 

Audits that were removed from the 2008-09 program

Are schools adequately maintained? This was removed from the program due to the current State and Federal Government’s public infrastructure initiatives. We will continue to closely monitor school maintenance programs.

Handling the load – how well is CityRail meeting demand for services? The Boston Consulting Group completed a review of rail services in February 2008. The review included a number of recommendations to reduce overcrowding. This audit topic was removed from the program to allow RailCorp sufficient time to address the recommendations. We will continue to closely monitor this area as a matter of ongoing public interest.

Have DOCS early intervention strategies improved outcomes for children? The Special Commission of Inquiry into DOCS Child Protection Services was completed in November 2008. This audit topic was removed from the program due to the wide ranging recommendations arising from the Inquiry. The Government response to the Inquiry has resulted in extensive changes to child protection services in NSW. We are considering further audit topics in child protection that fall outside the areas addressed in the Inquiry.

How well does the State manage problem gambling? The Productivity Commission is currently conducting a national public inquiry into gambling in Australia. The inquiry will provide an update on developments since the Productivity Commission's 1999 report, and will consider a wide range of issues. The final report to Government is expected in February 2010. This performance audit has been delayed until after the release of the Productivity Commission report.