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Reports

Published

Actions for Major infectious disease outbreaks: Readiness to response

Major infectious disease outbreaks: Readiness to response

Health
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

NSW Health is working to increase its preparedness to respond to a major infectious disease outbreak. It is also contributing to the development of national policies, strategies and capabilities, which affect its level of preparedness. We found however little evidence that other jurisdictions were significantly further advanced than NSW in preparation and testing of plans for a pandemic. In our view NSW Health needs to balance the costs of over-prep

Published

Actions for Educating primary school students with disabilities

Educating primary school students with disabilities

Education
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

Special education programs so far have been able to support schools to accommodate these students and as a result, we have an inclusive education system. Our concern is that as the number of students with disabilities increases, pressure will be placed on both funding and the capacity of schools to provide quality services. The Government’s special education initiative is a positive step towards addressing these problems. Nevertheless, other changes nee

Published

Actions for Condition of State Roads

Condition of State Roads

Transport
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Service delivery

The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has improved the overall surface condition of State Roads in the last decade. Country road surfaces are now generally much better. Ride quality has improved and cracking has been reduced. The RTA has also achieved a substantial reduction in the number of structurally deficient bridges over the same period.  Despite a significant increase in the State’s contribution to maintenance since 1999-2000, the RTA h

Published

Actions for The Cross City Tunnel Project

The Cross City Tunnel Project

Transport
Treasury
Premier and Cabinet
Planning
Environment
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Risk

In our opinion the Government’s ‘no net cost to government’ requirement was a legitimate (but not the only possible) basis for the tunnel bid process. The Government was entitled to decide that tunnel users meet the tunnel costs. Structuring the bid process on the basis of an upfront reimbursement of costs incurred (or to be incurred) by the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) was therefore appropriate. In our opinion, however, the Government, Treasu

Published

Actions for Agencies working together to improve services

Agencies working together to improve services

Premier and Cabinet
Treasury
Justice
Transport
Education
Internal controls and governance
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

In the cases we examined, we found that agencies working together can improve services or results. However, the changes were not always as great as anticipated or had not reached maximum potential. Establishing the right governance framework and accountability requirements between partners at the start of the project is critical to success. And joint responsibility requires new funding and reporting arrangements to be developed.   Parliamenta

Published

Actions for The New Schools Privately Financed Project

The New Schools Privately Financed Project

Education
Treasury
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management

In our view the contracts in the New Schools Privately Financed Project were established and let in a way that greatly assists their potential for delivering value for money. The contracts in the New Schools Privately Financed Project are at an early stage of their 30 year lives and the savings and other benefits are not guaranteed. The contracts will need to be carefully managed over the 30 year period to ensure that benefits are realised and that

Published

Actions for Liverpool to Parramatta Bus Transitway

Liverpool to Parramatta Bus Transitway

Transport
Treasury
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Project management
Service delivery

Several of my recent audits have identified a need to improve our public transport system – both for the benefit of travellers and to assist in achieving better air quality. Bus Transitways can provide a good public transport solution for lower density population areas, potentially at a relatively low capital cost. This audit examines the transitway running between Liverpool and Parramatta, the first of several planned for Sydney. This audit should cont

Published

Actions for Purchasing Hospital Supplies: Follow-up of 2002 Performance Audit

Purchasing Hospital Supplies: Follow-up of 2002 Performance Audit

Health
Asset valuation
Financial reporting
Management and administration
Procurement
Service delivery

Periodically we review the extent to which agencies have changed their practices as a result of our audits. This gives Parliament and the public an update on the extent of progress made. In this follow-up audit, we examine changes following our September 2002 report, to assess whether NSW Health has improved its buying of hospital supplies using electronic systems. NSW Health spends over $1.3 billion on hospital supplies. It is the largest expenditure

Published

Actions for Managing Disruptions to Cityrail Passenger Services

Managing Disruptions to Cityrail Passenger Services

Transport
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

About one in every twelve Sydney people travels by train each weekday. Unplanned disruptions to services are inevitable, even on the best-run railways. Because of the complexities of Sydney’s rail network, a single event can disrupt many services. From a passenger’s perspective, three issues are important – how quickly the disruption is fixed (“When will my train arrive?”) the accuracy of information provided about the disruption (“Should I change

Published

Actions for Follow-up of Performance Audit: Bus Maintenance and Bus Contracts

Follow-up of Performance Audit: Bus Maintenance and Bus Contracts

Transport
Asset valuation
Compliance
Financial reporting
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

Periodically we review the extent to which agencies have implemented the recommendations they accepted from our earlier audits. This gives Parliament and the public an update on the extent of progress made. In this follow-up audit, we examine changes following our May 2002 report on how well the: State Transit Authority maintained its buses Ministry of Transport administered contracts for the provision of regular passenger bus services.   P