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Published

Actions for Property Asset Utilisation

Property Asset Utilisation

Finance
Asset valuation
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Project management

Property NSW’s effectiveness in managing NSW Government owned and leased commercial office property is limited in three areas according to a report released today by the Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford.

At 30 June 2018, the NSW Government owned $160 billion worth of land and buildings. The NSW Treasury predicts this figure will rise over the coming years. Property NSW manages more than 900 leased office properties across the state. Approximately 250 of these are owned by Property NSW. Other NSW Government agencies maintain ownership and control of properties considered essential for service provision, such as schools, prisons and hospitals. Between 2012–13 and 2017–18 sales of property assets across the whole of the NSW Government have raised $10 billion, of which Property NSW has sold property assets of approximately $2 billion.

In September 2012, the Property Asset Utilisation Taskforce (the Taskforce) released its report on ‘real property asset management across government’ and concluded that the government has accumulated, over time, ‘a real property asset portfolio it cannot afford to maintain or protect’. The Taskforce noted that ‘a lack of centralised information seriously inhibits any whole-of-government strategic asset planning’ and that maintaining under-utilised or unnecessary properties diverted funds from areas where they might be better used. The Taskforce’s key findings included:

  • the NSW Government should own property only as a means to deliver or enhance services
  • many government properties were under-utilised, poorly maintained and inappropriate to support service delivery.

The Taskforce recommended the creation of Property NSW, as a replacement for the State Property Authority, to improve property asset utilisation and to drive efficiencies in the government’s owned and leased property portfolio. Property NSW was to achieve these goals by:

  • collating property information across the whole-of-government
  • working with agencies on longer-term strategic real property asset planning to:
    • provide services to agencies as customers
    • bring a whole-of-government perspective to real property asset planning.

In response to the Taskforce report, in December 2012, the Premier's Memorandum M2012-20 (the Memorandum) established Property NSW to improve the management of the NSW Government's owned and leased real property portfolio.

Under the Memorandum, Property NSW is responsible for:

  • management of all leased and owned commercial office accommodation
  • acting as the central acquisition and disposal agency 
  • providing advice to the government on property matters and developing property policy 
  • conducting regular and ongoing reviews of agencies portfolios, working with agencies to identify efficiencies to improve service delivery, in relation to the review of capital planning1
  • maintaining the register of all government owned property.

The Memorandum states that ownership of all commercial office property should be vested in Property NSW. 

This audit assessed whether Property NSW is effective in the management of NSW Government owned and leased commercial office property. To do this we assessed whether NSW Government leased commercial office space is being effectively utilised and whether the Government Property Register, a register of all government owned property, is accurate and up-to-date.

Conclusion
Property NSW’s effectiveness in managing NSW Government owned and leased commercial office property is limited in three areas.
First, Property NSW has not comprehensively reviewed many agency property portfolios to help agencies identify assets, including commercial office properties, that could be better utilised or recycled. Second, the Government Property Register is not being actively maintained and contains incomplete and inaccurate information, limiting Property NSW’s ability to use it to support strategic decisions about the use of government property assets. Third, Property NSW's decisions are not well documented and its processes to reach decisions are not transparent to stakeholders. That said, property utilisation has improved by about 14 per cent since 2012, and Property NSW is actively moving properties out of the Sydney CBD in line with the ‘Decade of Decentralisation’ policy.
Property NSW’s role is to provide a strategic approach to property asset management. Under the 2012 Premier’s Memorandum, this includes a requirement that Property NSW undertake regular reviews of agency property portfolios to identify efficiencies to improve service delivery. Property NSW completed one comprehensive review of an agency, limited reviews of four other agencies, and some reviews of government property in regional towns, prior to 2017.

In December 2017, Property NSW started working across the NSW Government to help agencies identify real property assets, including commercial office properties, that are under-utilised or surplus and that could be recycled, repurposed, or vested to Property NSW.
Following the Memorandum, agencies were directed to vest their commercial office properties to Property NSW. However, without more comprehensive reviews, Property NSW does not know how many commercial properties are yet to be vested. Agencies can approach Property NSW for assistance in managing their property portfolios, and Property NSW arranges the recycling of under utilised and surplus properties that are brought to its attention. Property NSW is improving utilisation of government office space, according to agency self-reported information which Property NSW uses to calculate utilisation rates. 
The Property Asset Utilisation Taskforce report (2012) recommended that the NSW Government needed a ‘single source of truth’ to inform asset retention and disposal decisions, leasing decisions and ongoing strategic property decisions. It concluded that the Government Property Register (GPR) could perform this function ‘if populated appropriately’. However, the GPR is not comprehensively performing this function because it is still incomplete and out of date. Property NSW manages the GPR and NSW Government agencies are required to supply ‘accurate, relevant and useful information’ to populate it. Agencies are not always doing so in a timely manner, limiting its usefulness to support strategic decision making. Property NSW supplements the GPR with information from multiple other sources to assist its decisions, however, there is still no single, complete and accurate picture of the NSW Government property portfolio. 
The work Property NSW does to identify, shortlist and propose new lease and agency relocation options is not well documented. Property NSW records the outcome of the process without detailing how and why decisions were made. There is limited transparency in this process for stakeholders. Record keeping is also inconsistent and many of Property NSW’s divisions do not have procedures or guidelines.

1 Capital Planning was previously referred to as Total Asset Management (TAM).

In December 2017, the NSW Government announced the Property Infrastructure Policy to create a more collaborative approach between Property NSW and NSW Government agencies to review and identify efficiencies in their property portfolios. Before this, Property NSW did not have a plan to assist agencies to identify under-utilised properties for recycling or repurposing. It still does not know how many under-utilised properties exist and will not know until it has completed all of the portfolio reviews it is currently carrying out under the Property Infrastructure Policy.
Between 2013 and 2017, Property NSW had only completed one comprehensive review of an agency, limited reviews of four other agencies, and some regional towns. Outside this process Property NSW chose to rely on other agencies to identify surplus property for recycling, repurposing or vesting ownership to Property NSW.
Property NSW has a role to provide a strategic approach to property asset management and is required to undertake regular reviews of agency property portfolios under the Premier's Memorandum. Property NSW only recently started working to assist agencies to identify under-utilised and surplus properties, or properties to be vested. These reviews should improve the identification of surplus and under-utilised real property assets and assist whole-of-government decisions on the recycling, repurposing of under-utilised assets and vesting of owned office accommodation to Property NSW.
Recommendations
By December 2019, Property NSW should:
  1. combine the results of property portfolio reviews to produce a whole-of-government picture of the NSW Government property portfolio 
  2. devise a strategy and plan to recycle or repurpose under-utilised properties using a whole-of-government picture of the NSW Government property portfolio
  3. develop and report on indicators for progress in reducing the number and value of under-utilised properties at the whole-of-government level, referencing progress against an accurate baseline stocktake.
Property NSW needs to be more proactive in its management of the GPR and in encouraging agencies to provide the information needed to improve this register. In 2012, the Property Asset Utilisation Taskforce report recommended there be a single source of truth on property assets owned by the NSW Government. The GPR is intended to fulfil this role but it is out of date and incomplete.
Without a complete and accurate central register of property, Property NSW cannot provide the NSW Government with a comprehensive picture of its property portfolio, or make whole-of-government decisions about the property portfolio. Property NSW currently supplements the GPR with information from other systems in order to make decisions about leasing, relocations, and property recycling and repurposing. Agencies are required to provide ‘accurate, relevant and useful information’ but are not consistently doing so.
Recommendations
By December 2019, Property NSW should:

4. improve the data held on government owned and leased properties by combining and automating data feeds to construct a single, consolidated and accurate whole-of-government property data set.
Property NSW documents the outcome of decisions about relocations, lease renewals, and utilisation but is unable to provide evidence of how these decisions are reached. Property NSW is also unable to provide evidence of documented guidance for its staff on how decisions should be made. Whilst some level of subjectivity will play a part in such decisions, the lack of documentation and guidance raises issues of consistency, accountability and transparency in decision-making. Property NSW states that it makes decisions based on whole-of-government outcomes rather than equitable and consistent outcomes for client agencies, which is inconsistent with the criteria it reports that it uses when making decisions about leases and relocations.
Recommendations
By December 2019, Property NSW should:

5. document and communicate to stakeholders how its assessment criteria inform key decisions including agency relocations, lease renewals and rectifying under-utilisation
6. include customer satisfaction measures in its annual reports and reviews, in accordance with the requirements set out in the Premier's Memorandum M2012-20
7. improve record-keeping and compliance with the State Records Act 1998 and the Department of Finance, Services and Innovation Records Management Policy.

Published

Actions for Industry 2018

Industry 2018

Industry
Asset valuation
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Service delivery

The Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford, released her report today on the Industry cluster. The report focuses on key observations and findings from the most recent financial audits of agencies in the cluster. Cluster agencies received unqualified audit opinions for 41 out of the 47 financial statements presented for audit for 30 June 2018. Six audits remain incomplete. 'While it is pleasing to note that unqualified audit opinions have been issued, the timeliness of financial reporting needs to be improved through better oversight, prompt resolution of issues, and an increased focus on early close procedures', the Auditor-General said.

This report analyses the results of our audits of financial statements of the Industry cluster for the year ended 30 June 2018. The table below summarises our key observations.

This report provides parliament and other users of the Industry cluster agencies' financial statements with the results of our audits, including our observations, analysis, conclusions and recommendations in the following areas:

  • financial reporting
  • audit observations
  • service delivery.

The Department of Industry (the Department) is the lead agency in a cluster of 50 agencies. Other significant agencies in the cluster include Local Land Services, New South Wales Rural Assistance Authority, Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW), various sporting agencies, Forestry Corporation NSW and Water NSW.

The cluster:

Financial reporting is an important element of good governance. Confidence and transparency in public sector decision making are enhanced when financial reporting is accurate and timely.

This chapter outlines our audit observations related to the financial reporting of agencies in the Industry cluster for 2018.
 

Observation Conclusions and recommendations
2.1 Quality of financial reporting
Unqualified audit opinions were issued for 41 out of 47 financial statement audits. Six audits are continuing.

The number of misstatements identified in financial statements submitted for audit increased from 73 in 2016–17 to 92 in 2017–18.
Conclusion: Agencies continue to address financial reporting issues and ensure significant matters that may impact the audit opinion are appropriately dealt with. The increase in the number of misstatements indicates a renewed focus on quality is required.
2.2 Timeliness of financial reporting
Nineteen out of 37 audit opinions were issued within the statutory deadline. Delays occurred due to the time required to resolve issues identified during the audit, or to obtain appropriate evidence to support balances or disclosures in the financial statements. There were also delays in receiving the signed certification from the agency, required before we can issue an audit opinion.

We reviewed the conduct of early close procedures at 17 agencies. Fifteen of these agencies were assessed as not fully addressing mandatory early close procedures.
Recommendation: Timeliness of financial reporting should be improved through better oversight of the preparation of financial statements, prompt resolution of issues, and an increased focus on early close procedures.
2.3 Key financial reporting issues
Information system limitations continue at TAFE NSW. TAFE NSW implemented additional processes to verify the accuracy and completeness of revenue from student fees. Conclusion: Procedures to address system limitations are costly, causing delays in financial reporting and increased resource commitments for staff, contractors and audit.
Misstatements and internal control issues continue to be identified in accounting for Crown land. The information system used to record Crown land was not designed to facilitate efficient financial reporting. These limitations and other control weaknesses impacted the completeness and accuracy of the Department's financial statements.
Recommendation: The Department should address system limitations and control weaknesses to ensure complete and accurate reporting for Crown land.
Unprocessed Aboriginal land claims continue to increase. Recommendation (repeat issue): The Department should reduce unprocessed Aboriginal land claims.
2.4 Financial information and sustainability
Cluster agencies recorded a combined surplus of $58.0 million compared to a combined deficit of $86.0 million in the previous year.

 

We identified five agencies with potential sustainability issues such as low liquidity or negative net assets. Conclusion: Adequate arrangements are in place to mitigate potential sustainability issues. These arrangements include a commitment from the Department to provide financial support if required. 

Appropriate financial controls help ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and administration of agency policies. They are essential for quality and timely decision making.

This chapter outlines our observations and insights from:

  • our financial statement audits of agencies in the Industry cluster for 2018
  • the areas of focus identified in the Audit Office work program.

The Audit Office Annual Work Program provides a summary of all audits to be conducted within the proposed time period as well as detailed information on the areas of focus for each of the NSW Government clusters.

Observation Conclusions and recommendations
3.1 Internal control
Almost one in three internal control issues identified in 2017–18 were repeat issues. Recommendation (repeat issue): Recommendations to management to address internal control issues from prior years should be addressed promptly to reduce risks and improve processes.
3.2 Information technology controls
User access administration over financial systems remains an area of weakness. Two high risk and 18 moderate risk issues related to user access administration across nine agencies were identified. Recommendation (repeat issue): Agencies' controls over administration of user access to critical systems should:
  • retain documentation of approvals to create, modify and deactivate user access
  • allocate appropriate access rights
  • perform and document regular user access reviews
  • log and monitor privileged/super user account activity
  • deactivate terminated user access on a timely basis.
3.3 Annual work program
Errors continue to be identified in the Crown land database.

Instances were identified where Crown land was not recognised by the appropriate entity, or was recognised by more than one entity.
Recommendation: The Department should ensure the Crown land database is complete and accurate so state agencies and local government councils are better informed about the Crown land they control.
Approximately 700 managers of Crown land do not submit financial statements required by the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983. NSW Treasury and the Department are continuing work to clarify reporting arrangements for these entities.
3.4 Managing maintenance
Some cluster agencies do not monitor their backlog maintenance. Consequently, the total backlog maintenance in the Industry cluster is unknown. This impacts the reliability and consistency of information about assets and their condition. When backlog maintenance is unknown, it is difficult for agencies to develop an accurate and effective maintenance plan that focuses on areas of highest need. It also means agencies' maintenance plans are reactive rather than preventative.
Effective maintenance planning helps agencies to:
  • quantify and budget asset maintenance costs
  • support service delivery at the lowest possible long-term cost
  • reduce service disruptions and losses due to asset failure
  • identify and respond to risks posed by the age and condition of assets.
Recommendation: Cluster agencies should develop an asset maintenance plan and complete an assessment of the condition of their assets to identify any maintenance backlogs. 
Maintenance budgets in some cluster agencies are not set based on actual maintenance needs. Recommendation: Cluster agencies should set their maintenance budgets based on identified maintenance needs to more accurately budget and prioritise expenditure.

Agencies in the Industry cluster provide services across a wide variety of areas. This chapter outlines certain service delivery outcomes for 2017–18 for the Industry cluster. It provides important contextual information about the cluster's operation, but the data on activity levels and performance is provided by Cluster agencies. The Audit Office does not have a specific mandate to audit performance information. Accordingly, the information in this chapter is unaudited. 

In our recent performance audit, Progress and measurement of Premier's Priorities, we identified 12 limitations of performance measurement and performance data. We recommended that the Department of Premier and Cabinet ensure that processes to check and verify data are in place for all agency data sources.

Published

Actions for Transport 2018

Transport 2018

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

The Auditor-General for New South Wales, Margaret Crawford released her report today on key observations and findings from the 30 June 2018 financial statement audits of agencies in the Transport cluster. Unqualified audit opinions were issued for all agencies' financial statements. However, assessing the fair value of the broad range of transport related assets creates challenges.

This report analyses the results of our audits of financial statements of the Transport cluster for the year ended 30 June 2018. The table below summarises our key observations.

This report provides Parliament and other users of the Transport cluster’s financial statements with the results of our audits, our observations, analysis, conclusions and recommendations in the following areas:

  • financial reporting
  • audit observations.

Financial reporting is an important element of good governance. Confidence and transparency in public sector decision making are enhanced when financial reporting is accurate and timely.

This chapter outlines our audit observations related to the financial reporting of agencies in the Transport cluster for 2018.

Observation Conclusions and recommendations
2.1 Quality of financial reporting
Unqualified audit opinions were issued for all agencies' financial statements Sufficient audit evidence was obtained to conclude the financial statements were free of material misstatement.
2.2 Key accounting issues
Valuation of assets continues to create challenges. Although agencies complied with the requirements of the accounting standards and Treasury policies on valuations, we identified some opportunities for improvements at RMS.

RMS incorporated data from its asset condition assessments for the first time in the valuation methodology which improved the valuation outcome. Overall, we were satisfied with the valuation methodology and key assumptions, but we noted some deficiencies in the asset data in relation to asset component unit rates and old condition data for some components of assets. 

Also, a bypass and tunnel were incorrectly excluded from RMS records and valuation process since 2013. This resulted in an increase for these assets’ value by $133 million.

The valuation inputs for Wetlands and Moorings were revised this year to better reflect the assets' characteristics resulting in a $98.0 million increase.

2.3 Timeliness of financial reporting
Residual Transport Corporation did not submit its financial statements by the statutory reporting deadline. Residual Transport Corporation remained a dormant entity with no transactions for the year ended 30 June 2018.
With the exception of Residual Transport Corporation, all agencies completed early close procedures and submitted financial statements within statutory timeframes. Early close procedures allow financial reporting issues and risks to be addressed early in the reporting and audit process.
2.4 Financial sustainability
NSW Trains and the Chief Investigator of the Office of Transport Safety Investigations reported negative net assets of $75.7 million and $89,000 respectively at 30 June 2018.  NSW Trains and the Chief Investigator of the Office of Transport Safety Investigations continue to require letters of financial support to confirm their ability to pay liabilities as they fall due. 
2.5 Passenger revenue and patronage
Transport agencies revenue growth increased at a higher rate than patronage. Public transport passenger revenue increased by $114 million (8.3 per cent) in 2017–18, and patronage increased by 37.1 million (5.1 per cent) across all modes of transport based on data provided by TfNSW. 
Negative balance Opal Cards resulted in $3.8 million in revenue not collected in 2017–18 and $7.8 million since the introduction of Opal. A total of 1.1 million Opal cards issued since its introduction have negative balances. Transport for NSW advised it is liaising with the ticketing vendor to implement system changes and are investigating other ways to reduce the occurrences.
2.6 Cost recovery from public transport users
Overall cost recovery from users has decreased. Overall cost recovery from public transport users (on rail and bus services by STA) decreased from 23.2 per cent to 22.4 per cent between 2016–17 and 2017–18. The main reason for the decrease is due to expenditure increasing at a faster rate than revenue in 2017–18.


 

Appropriate financial controls help ensure the efficient and effective use of resources and administration of agency policies. They are essential for quality and timely decision making.

This chapter outlines our observations and insights from:

  • our financial statement audits of agencies in the Transport cluster for 2018
  • the areas of focus identified in the Audit Office annual work program.

The Audit Office Annual Work Program provides a summary of all audits to be conducted within the proposed time period as well as detailed information on the areas of focus for each of the NSW Government clusters. 

Observation Conclusions and recommendations
3.1 Internal controls 
There was an increase in findings on internal controls across the Transport cluster. Key themes related to information technology, employee leave entitlements and asset management. Eighteen per cent of all issues were repeat issues.
3.2 Audit Office Annual work program
The Transport cluster wrote-off over $200 million of assets which were replaced by new assets or technology.

Majority of this write-off was recognised by RMS, with $199 million relating to the write-off of existing assets which have been replaced during the year. 

RailCorp is expected to convert to TAHE from 1 July 2019. Several working groups are considering different aspects of the TAHE transition including its status as a for-profit Public Trading Enterprise and which assets to transfer to TAHE. We will continue to monitor developments on TAHE for any impact to the financial statements.
RMS' estimated maintenance backlog at 30 June 2018 of $3.4 billion is lower than last year. Sydney Trains' estimated maintenance backlog at 30 June 2018 increased by 20.6 per cent to $434 million. TfNSW does not quantify its backlog maintenance. TfNSW advised it is liaising with Infrastructure NSW to develop a consistent definition of maintenance backlog across all transport service providers. 
Not all agencies monitor unplanned maintenance across the Transport cluster. Unplanned maintenance can be more expensive than planned maintenance. TfNSW should develop a consistent approach to define, monitor and track unplanned maintenance across the cluster.

This chapter outlines certain service delivery outcomes for 2017–18. The data on activity levels and performance is provided by Cluster agencies. The Audit Office does not have a specific mandate to audit performance information. Accordingly, the information in this chapter is unaudited. 

We report this information on service delivery to provide additional context to understand the operations of the Transport cluster and to collate and present service information for different modes of transport in one report. 

In our recent performance audit, Progress and measurement of Premier's Priorities, we identified 12 limitations of performance measurement and performance data. We recommended that the Department of Premier and Cabinet ensure that processes to check and verify data are in place for all agency data sources.

Published

Actions for Universities 2017

Universities 2017

Universities
Asset valuation
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Information technology
Internal controls and governance

The Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford released her report today on the results of financial audits of NSW universities for the year ended 31 December 2017. No qualified audit opinions were issued for any university and the quality and timeliness of financial reporting continues to improve.

This report analyses the results of our audits of financial statements of the ten NSW universities and their controlled entities for the year ended 31 December 2017. The table below summarises our key observations.

This report focuses on our observations on the common issues identified in our audits of the financial statements of the ten NSW universities and their controlled entities in 2017. The universities and controlled entities are listed in Appendix three and four respectively.

The report provides our analysis of universities’ results and findings in the following areas:

  • Financial reporting and performance
  • Teaching and research
  • Financial controls and governance.

Accurate and timely financial reporting is important for universities to make efficient and effective economic decisions. Sound financial performance provides the platform for universities to deliver high quality teaching and research outcomes. 

This chapter outlines our audit observations on the financial reporting and performance of NSW universities for 2017.

Observation Conclusion or recommendation
3.1 Financial reporting
Audit results
The financial statements of all ten NSW universities and 66 out of 69 of their controlled entities received unmodified audit opinions. Two controlled entities did not fully comply with the financial reporting and audit requirements of the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 as they did not submit their financial statements to the Auditor-General. One of these entities was audited under the requirements applicable in its foreign jurisdiction. A third controlled entity submitted financial statements, but only after the statutory due date.
Quality and timeliness of financial reporting
The number of uncorrected misstatements continues to decrease. The quality of financial statements of the universities improved in 2017.
Two universities simplified disclosures in their financial statements. The financial statements of the University of Sydney and Macquarie University are more concise, readable and understandable than those of other universities. 
Six universities finalised their financial statements earlier than in previous years. Universities that performed aspects of early close procedures improved the timeliness of their financial reporting and helped us conclude our audits earlier. 
Eight universities are yet to quantify the impact of new accounting standards applicable in future years.  The two universities that have assessed the impact of the new accounting standards believe the impact will be material.
An accounting issue was identified relating to the recognition and measurement of payroll tax liabilities on employees' defined benefit superannuation contributions payable to the superannuation funds. Recommendation: NSW universities should clarify the recognition and measurement of their liability for payroll tax on their defined benefit superannuation obligations before 31 December 2018. 
3.2 Financial performance
Sources of revenue from operations
Government grants as a proportion of total revenue decreased over the past five years by 6.4 per cent.

The Australian Government announced funding freezes to Australian Government grants revenue for the next two years.

Universities are expanding other revenue streams to decrease their reliance on grant funding. The revenue stream that has increased the most significantly over the past five years is overseas student revenue.

Revenue from overseas student course fees increased by 23 per cent in the last year and contributed $2.8 billion to the NSW university sector in 2017. Overseas student revenue exceeded domestic student revenue by 37 per cent, and comprised over a quarter of NSW universities' total revenues in 2017. The growth in overseas student revenue has not been shared equally in the sector. Some universities are more dependent on overseas student revenue than others.
Revenue from overseas students from four countries comprised 37 per cent of total student revenues for all NSW universities.  Recommendation: NSW universities should assess their student market concentration risk where they rely heavily on students from a single country of origin. This increases their sensitivity to economic or political changes in that country.
Universities' data shows as much as 71 per cent of their overseas student revenue comes from a single country of origin. 
Research income of NSW universities was $1.1 billion in 2016 and has grown by 9.8 per cent between 2012 and 2016. Two universities attracted 65.2 per cent of the total research income received by all NSW universities.
Other revenues
Total philanthropic revenue increased by 1.0 per cent to $151 million in 2017.

Philanthropic revenue has been increasing for the past five years.

Two universities attracted 76.8 per cent of the total philanthropic dollars received by all NSW universities.

Average investment returns fell from 7.0 per cent in 2013 to 5.8 per cent in 2017, while total investments grew to $5.4 billion in 2017 from $3.5 billion in 2013.

Universities have structured their investment portfolios between fixed and non-fixed income assets, seeking to optimise their returns in a low interest rate environment within the limits of their risk management strategies.

Investment income is a significant source of revenue for some, but not all universities. Two universities' investment funds represented 52.3 per cent of the total investment funds of all NSW universities combined.

Low interest rates have made investment in fixed income assets less attractive for universities. Over the last five years universities have increased their investment in non-fixed income (or market based) assets by 67.1 per cent.  
Most NSW universities have established investment governance frameworks.  
Financial sustainability indicators
Operating expenditure per equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) increased by 3.0 per cent in 2017. The universities that have been able to attract international students to grow their operational revenues have been able to leverage economies of scale to maximise their average margin per EFTSL. Other universities have had to rely on containing costs to achieve higher EFTSL margins.
For six universities, the growth in operating expenditure has exceeded the growth in operating revenue, reducing operating margins. The risk associated with narrowing margins is compounded where universities have a high reliance on student revenues from a single source. Sudden changes in demand can challenge the ability of those universities to adjust their cost structures.

As the margin between operating revenue and operating expenditure decreases, operational results are more at risk from unexpected fluctuations, such as Australian Government higher education reforms and reduced overseas student enrolments.

Smaller operating margins reduce the funds available to invest in upgrading infrastructure and implement corporate strategies to meet future challenges.

Eight universities have current ratios greater than one in 2017.    
Controlled entities
Sixteen of the universities' 58 controlled entities that operate business activities reported losses in 2017 (15 in 2016). Overall, the financial performance of controlled entities operating business activities was positive, but results in 2017 were lower than in 2016. 
The total profit of controlled entities operating business activities decreased 5.5 per cent to $77.5 million in 2017 ($82.6 million in 2016). Universities may be able to improve their overall performance by reassessing the viability of business ventures that continue to make losses and/or rely on them for financial support. 
Eighteen controlled entities relied on guarantees of financial support from their parent entity in 2017 (19 in 2016).  

Teaching and research are key objectives of universities and they invest most of their resources in achieving high quality academic and research outcomes to maintain or advance their reputations and rankings in Australia and abroad. Universities have also committed to achieving certain government objectives.

This chapter outlines teaching and research outcomes for NSW universities for 2017.

Observation Conclusion or recommendation
4.1 Teaching outcomes
Achieving Australian Government target
NSW universities met the Australian Government target of having 40 per cent of 25 to 34 year-olds with bachelor degrees ten years earlier than the original target date of 2025.

The proportion of 25 to 34 year-olds in NSW holding a bachelor degree increased to 43.4 per cent in 2017.

In 2009, when the target was originally set, only 35.5 per cent of 25 to 34 year-olds held a bachelor degree.

Graduate employment rates

Seven universities exceeded the national average of 71.8 per cent for the proportion of their undergraduates who obtain full-time employment.

Four universities achieved better than the national average of 86.1 per cent for the proportion of their postgraduates who obtain full-time employment.

Most NSW universities' employment outcomes are better than the national average.
Student enrolments by field of education
NSW universities have increased enrolments in fields of study that align with known skills shortages in NSW identified by the Australian Government for 2016 and 2017. Alignment of student intake with identified shortages helps ensure graduates secure timely employment on completion of their studies. 
Achieving diversity outcomes

NSW universities agreed to targets set by the Australian Government for enrolments of students from low socio economic status (SES) and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

NSW universities can improve outcomes for these students by implementing policies to increase enrolments and support students to graduation.

Three universities exceeded the target of 20 per cent of low SES student enrolments in 2017.

Six universities met their Indigenous student enrolment target in 2017. The target is having a growth rate in the enrolment of Indigenous students that is more than 50 per cent higher than the growth rate of non-Indigenous student enrolments.

At the current rate, it is unlikely most universities will reach the agreed low SES target by 2020.

Appropriate financial controls help ensure efficient and effective use of resources, and the implementation and monitoring of university policies. Governance consists of frameworks, processes and behaviours that enable the universities to operate effectively and comply with relevant laws and policies.

This chapter outlines our audit observations on the financial control and governance of NSW universities for 2017.

Observation Conclusion or recommendation
5.1 Internal controls
Internal control findings

Eighty-three internal control deficiencies were identified during our audits, of which 40 related to Information Technology (IT).
High risk
We identified a high risk finding in relation to storage of unencrypted username and password information on a database without appropriate access restrictions. We performed additional audit procedures to conclude that the control deficiency did not present a risk of material misstatement in the university's financial statements.
Moderate risk
Forty-three moderate risk control deficiencies were identified, of which 22 related to IT and 21 related to governance and financial reporting.

Recommendation: NSW universities should ensure controls, including information technology controls, are properly designed and operate effectively to protect intellectual property, staff and student data, and assets. Universities should rectify identified deficiencies in a timely manner.
Repeat findings
Twenty-four findings were repeat internal control deficiencies, of which 18 related to IT. 
IT issues can take some time to rectify because specialist skill and/or partnering with software suppliers is often required to implement new controls. However, until rectified, the vulnerabilities those control deficiencies present can be significant.
Cyber security
Our audits identified opportunities to improve cyber security controls and processes to reduce risks, including risks relating to financial loss, reputational damage and breaches of privacy laws.

Recommendation: NSW universities should strengthen their cyber security frameworks to manage cyber security risks. This includes developing:

  • procedures, protocols and supporting systems to effectively identify, report and respond to cyber security threats and incidents
     
  • staff awareness training and programs, including programs tailored for a range of audiences.

Use of credit card and work-related travel
All NSW universities had appropriate published policies on the use of credit cards, and have internal controls and processes to implement those policies.

The risks of unauthorised use can be mitigated by regular monitoring, and reporting breaches for investigation and disciplinary action.

Appropriately designed and implemented preventive and detective controls are most effective when enforcement and disciplinary activities are oversighted by university audit and risk committees.