What this report is about Students in rural and remote areas of NSW face greater challenges compared to their metropolitan peers. This report examined how the NSW Department of Education (the department) is ensuring that rural and remote students have access to the same quality of early childhood, school education, and skills pathways as metropolitan students. What we found A decade since the previous (2013) strategy to address educational disadvanta

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 can be l

Effective radio communications are crucial to NSW's emergency services organisations. The Critical Communications Enhancement Program (CCEP) aims to deliver an enhanced public safety radio network to serve the five emergency services organisations (ESOs), as well as a range of other users. This report assesses whether the NSW Telco Authority is effectively managing the CCEP. What we found Where it has already been delivered

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

Introduction The Auditor-General's financial and performance audits of local councils aim to improve financial management, governance and public accountability across the local government sector. Annual Local Government reports to Parliament have consistently highlighted risks and weaknesses across the sector in relation to financial management and governance. We will continue to focus on these matters as a priority area in our forward work program. W

Audit background SafeWork NSW is the workplace health and safety regulator for all NSW workplaces except for mining and petroleum sites. It is responsible for the administration of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Explosives Act 2003, and some of the Dangerous Goods (Road and Rail Transport) Act 2008.  SafeWork NSW was established on 1 September 2015 as one of three entities that replaced WorkCover NSW. SafeWork NSW is not responsible for the admin

This report is about Results of the local government sector financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2022. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued for 83 councils, 11 joint organisations and nine county councils' financial statements. The financial audits for two councils and two joint organisations are in progress due to accounting issues. Fifty-seven councils and joint organisations (2021: 41) required extensions to submi

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 coun

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

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 functions