Refine search Expand filter

Reports

Published

Actions for Implementing Asset Management Reforms

Implementing Asset Management Reforms

Justice
Planning
Finance
Treasury
Asset valuation
Financial reporting
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management

Hospitals, schools, public housing, roads, bridges, buses and trains are just some of the assets used by government in providing services to citizens. The NSW Government’s asset base is impressive in size - with a value of around $167 billion and with government plans to spend around $8 billion acquiring or replacing assets in the current year. Another $2 billion is spent each year on maintenance. Good asset management is very important to government;

Published

Actions for In-year Monitoring of the State Budget

In-year Monitoring of the State Budget

Finance
Premier and Cabinet
Compliance
Financial reporting
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration

The annual Budget is one of the most important and visible statements about a government’s financial intentions. Once a Budget is released, it is important to monitor variations from the projections it contains. This is done for two reasons - first, to ensure that individual agencies are properly managing their budget allocations and that any genuine emerging need for additional funding is met. second, to ensure that any changes to the State’s overa

Published

Actions for Planning for Sydney's Water Needs

Planning for Sydney's Water Needs

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

Reliably supplying water to our State’s principal city, Sydney, is a major responsibility for the Government. The community has been made keenly aware in recent years that inflows have been decreasing, and that Sydney has been using more water than is available. In April 2005 the water in Sydney’s storages dropped to 41.5 per cent of their capacity – the lowest level since the construction of Warragamba dam in 1960. As Sydney continues to develop, it i

Published

Actions for Follow-up of Performance Audit: Management of Intellectual Property

Follow-up of Performance Audit: Management of Intellectual Property

Whole of Government
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Regulation

Periodically we review the extent to which agencies have implemented the recommendations they accept from our earlier audits. This gives Parliament and the public an update on the extent of progress made. Intellectual property (IP) can have value to the agency concerned and may have the potential for wider commercial use. Poor management of IP can impose risks, including the risk of lost opportunities. Because it is not ‘tangible’ like a building or pla

Published

Actions for Follow-up of Performance Audit: Collecting Outstanding Fines and Penalties

Follow-up of Performance Audit: Collecting Outstanding Fines and Penalties

Finance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Service delivery

Periodically we review the extent to which agencies have implemented the recommendations they accept 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 April 2002 report on how well the State Debt Recovery Office (under the Office of State Revenue) was collecting outstanding fines and penalties.   Parliamentary reference - Report number

Published

Actions for Fraud Control: Current Progress and Future Directions

Fraud Control: Current Progress and Future Directions

Whole of Government
Compliance
Fraud
Management and administration
Regulation
Risk

Periodically we review the extent to which agencies have implemented the recommendations they accept from our earlier audits. This gives Parliament and the public an update on the extent of progress made. Given the size of the NSW public sector, the potential for fraud could run into billions of dollars if not properly managed. It is an area of risk that warrants close and ongoing attention. Over the last decade, we have responded by issuing three perfo

Published

Actions for Government office accommodation

Government office accommodation

Treasury
Finance
Asset valuation
Management and administration
Procurement

The Audit Office has undertaken an audit on Government Office Accommodation. The audit examined the cost effectiveness of long-term leasing versus ownership and the housing of agencies involved with the delivery of core government activities.  Core activities are those intrinsically linked to basic and ongoing functions of Government and Parliament. It recommends that: the Government consider owning office accommodation, as opposed to leasing,

Published

Actions for 1999-2000 Millenium date rollover: Preparedness of the NSW Public Sector

1999-2000 Millenium date rollover: Preparedness of the NSW Public Sector

Whole of Government
Information technology
Risk

Overall, The Audit Office found that the NSW public sector is not as prepared as it could be. Beginning in May 1996, the Department of Public Works and Services (DPWS) commenced a program to increase awareness of, report on and assist agencies with Year 2000 issues. However, significant areas of risk are still yet to be fully assessed, and action to resolve and implement appropriate solutions are lagging in areas of the public sector. A substantial accel

Published

Actions for Corporate Governance - Volume One: In principle

Corporate Governance - Volume One: In principle

Whole of Government
Internal controls and governance

Volume One: Corporate Governance in Principle, considers relations between the Government and boards, and the extent to which boards add value. Various public sector governance models are examined, including those currently operating within NSW and those from five other jurisdictions. It found the role of boards should be clearly defined, and specific criteria developed, so that boards can be clearly classified as either governing or advisory. Legi

Published

Actions for Corporate Governance - Volume Two: In practice

Corporate Governance - Volume Two: In practice

Whole of Government
Internal controls and governance
Workforce and capability

This Report, Volume Two: Corporate Governance in Practice reports upon how actual corporate governance practices by NSW public sector boards compare with “better practice”. It found criteria and processes for appointing directors to boards are not always transparent. It also found a more systematic and rigorous approach to the range of corporate governance issues is required across the public sector if it is to approach "better practice", there is