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PERFORMANCE AUDITS IN PROGRESS |
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Performance Audits seek to determine whether an agency is carrying out activities efficiently, economically and in compliance with the law. These audits may review all or part of an agency’s operations. Some audits consider particular issues across a number of agencies. |
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In August 2007, the Audit Office tabled a report on Government Advertising. We recommended that guidance to agencies be revised to include more detailed criteria for judging whether material may inappropriately serve party political interests. In response, the government published revised Government Advertising Guidelines (the Guidelines) in August 2008. Since the Guidelines were published, we have kept a watch on government advertising campaigns. In addition, a number of interested parties have written to the Auditor-General raising concerns that some government advertising campaigns may have breached the requirements. In response, the Auditor-General has initiated this review. The audit will assess whether selected public awareness campaigns comply with the Government Advertising Guidelines. We will examine whether:
For further information contact Jane Tebbatt on +612 9275 7274 or Giulia Vitetta on +615 9275 7250. |
2nd quarter of 2009-10 |
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State Investment in V8 supercar races at Sydney Olympic Park
The NSW Government is providing $35 million
in support of V8 Supercar races at Homebush over five years from 2009. The
races are estimated to provide benefits to the State of between $101 and 110
million over the five years.
Following preliminary assessment of the topic the Auditor-General has
decided to proceed with an audit.
The performance audit will examine the effectiveness of the process and
analysis supporting the government’s investment in the V8 supercar races at
Sydney Olympic Park. More specifically, the audit will address the following
questions:
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Was direct negotiation with the proponent properly handled?
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Were estimates of costs and benefits complete and accurate?
For further information contact
Sean Crumlin
on +612 9275 7286 |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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Injury Management in the public sector In 2005, the NSW Government introduced the Working Together Strategy to improve public sector workplace safety and injury management. The strategy set mandatory improvement targets to be achieved by all agencies, including state-owned corporations by 2008. The targets cover reduction in the number of workplace injuries; faster rates of return to work; improvement in the placement of injured staff in suitable duties; and a reduction in the average cost of claims. Our objective is to assess if a sample of government agencies have reduced the impact of workplace injuries. Our report will answer two key questions:
The eight agencies selected to take part in the audit are:
These agencies represent nearly 70 per cent of the total cost of workers
compensation premiums paid by budget dependant agencies for 2009-10. For further information contact Jane Tebbatt on +612 9275 7274 or Henriette Zeitoun on +615 9275 7291. |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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Forensic investigation: Managing fingerprint and DNA evidence When Police collect fingerprint and DNA evidence at a crime scene they use specialised laboratories to test the evidence to identify who is responsible. Fingerprint evidence is tested by the NSW Police Force, while most DNA evidence is tested by the NSW Health’s Division of Analytical Laboratories (DAL). Not all of this evidence can be tested at the same time and some serious crimes need an urgent result so that Police can catch the offender. Delays in testing may impact on both the investigation and the victims. And with more than 690,000 incidents in 2008, a large volume of evidence needs to be effectively managed. In this audit we are assessing how well fingerprint and DNA evidence is managed to reduce delays. Our report will answer the following questions:
For further information contact Jane Tebbatt on +612 9275 7274 or Giulia Vitetta on +615 9275 7250. |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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40 km/h speed limits on roads around some
schools in NSW were first installed during the 1990s. In 2002 they were
extended to all schools. At around the same time trials of flashing warning
lights and fixed speed cameras were also announced. In April 2009 the Minister for Roads announced a commitment to delivering 400 new flashing light systems over four years to schools in addition to the 291 which already had flashing lights. And of 171 fixed speed cameras around NSW at that date, 64 were located in school zones. This performance audit will examine whether school zone
initiatives have made a difference to safety around schools. Our report will
aim to answer the following questions:
For further information contact
Sean Crumlin
on +612 9275 7286 |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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Improving the performance of Metropolitan Bus Services
The bus contracts program places significant responsibility on government to
ensure that passenger bus services are delivered in the right number, at the
right place and at the right time to meet the needs of commuters without
being an excessive burden on taxpayers.
In this audit, we look to see how well the Department of Transport and
Infrastructure is managing the performance of metropolitan buses.
Our report will answer the following questions:
For further information contact
Sean Crumlin on +612 9275
7286 |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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Before someone can work with children in a paid or unpaid capacity, their employer must verify that they do not pose a risk to children. This is called the Working with Children Check. To protect children, the Commission for Children and
Young People Act 1998 has several requirements. Firstly, it prohibits
certain people from being involved in child-related employment. An employer
must not employ any person in child-related employment without first
requiring that person to disclose whether or not they are a ‘prohibited
person’. This is done by asking the person to complete a Prohibited Person
Declaration. Secondly, certain primary child-related employment
categories must have background checks. In addition the Commission for
Children and Young People Regulation 2009 require self-employed people to
obtain a certificate showing they are cleared to work with children. In this audit we are examining whether the Commission
for Children and Young People is effective in ensuring that the Working With
Children Check reliably identifies those people who may pose a risk to
children. Our report will answer the following questions:
For further information contact Jane Tebbatt on +612 9275 7274 or Penelope Josey on +615 9275 7239. |
3rd quarter of 2009-10 |
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