Reports
Actions for Regulation insights
Regulation insights
What this report is aboutIn this report, we present findings and recommendations relevant to regulation from selected reports between 2018 and 2024.This analysis includes performance audits, compliance audits and the outcomes of financial audits.Effective regulation is necessary to ensure compliance with the law as well as to promote positive social and economic outcomes and minimise risks with certain activities.The report is a resource for public secto
Actions for Effectiveness of SafeWork NSW in exercising its compliance functions
Effectiveness of SafeWork NSW in exercising its compliance functions
What this report is about This report assesses how effectively SafeWork NSW, a part of the Department of Customer Service (DCS), has performed its regulatory compliance functions for work health and safety in New South Wales. The report includes a case study examining SafeWork NSW's management of a project to develop a realtime monitoring device for airborne silica in workplaces. Findings There is limited transparency about SafeWork
Actions for Flood housing response
Flood housing response
What this report is aboutExtreme rainfall across eastern Australia in 2021 and 2022 led to a series of major flood events in New South Wales.This audit assessed how effectively the NSW Government provided emergency accommodation and temporary housing in response to the early 2022 Northern Rivers and late 2022 Central West flood events.Responsible agencies included in this audit were the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Reconstruction Authority,
Actions for Driver vehicle system
Driver vehicle system
What this report is aboutTransport for NSW (TfNSW) uses the Driver vehicle System (DRIVES) to support its regulatory functions. The system covers over 6.2 million driver licences and over seven million vehicle registrations.DRIVES first went live in 1991 and has been significantly extended and updated since, though is still based around the same core system. The system is at end of life but has become an important service for Service NSW and the NSW Poli
Actions for Regional NSW 2023
Regional NSW 2023
What this report is about Results of the Regional NSW financial statements audits for the year ended 30 June 2023. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued on all completed audits in the Regional NSW portfolio agencies. The number of monetary misstatements identified in our audits increased from 28 in 2021–22 to 30 in 2022–23. What the key issues were Effective 1 July 2023, staff employed in the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporatio
Actions for State heritage assets
State heritage assets
This audit assessed how effectively the Department of Planning and Environment (Heritage NSW) is overseeing and administering heritage assets of state significance. Heritage that is rare, exceptional or outstanding to New South Wales may be listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977. This provides assets with legal recognition and protection. Places, buildings, works, relics, objects and precincts ca
Actions for Regulation of public native forestry
Regulation of public native forestry
What this report is about The Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) is a state-owned corporation that manages over two million hectares of public native forests and plantations supplying timber to sawmills across NSW. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is responsible for regulating the native forestry industry in NSW. FCNSW must comply with Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs), which set out rules for how timber harvesting may oc
Actions for Natural disasters
Natural disasters
What this report is about This report draws together the financial impact of natural disasters on agencies integral to the response and impact of natural disasters during 2021–22. What we found Over the 2021–22 financial year $1.4 billion from a budget of $1.9 billion was spent by the NSW Government in response to natural disasters. Total expenses were less than the budget due to underspend in the following areas: clean-up assistance, including co
Actions for Universities 2022
Universities 2022
What this report is about Results of the financial statement audits of the public universities in NSW for the year ended 31 December 2022. What we found Unmodified audit opinions were issued for all ten universities. Nine universities reported net deficits in 2022, and all showed a decline from their 2021 results. Results were impacted by a decline in investment income and government grants. Wage remediation provisions across the universities incre
Actions for Regulation and monitoring of local government
Regulation and monitoring of local government
The Office of Local Government (OLG) in the Department of Planning and Environment is responsible for strengthening the local government sector, including through its regulatory functions. This audit assessed whether the OLG is effectively monitoring and regulating the sector under the Local Government Act 1993. The audit covered: the effectiveness of departmental arrangements for the OLG to undertake its regulatory function