Reports
Actions for WestConnex: Assurance to the Government
WestConnex: Assurance to the Government
This audit assesses the assurance provided to the NSW Government for the initial stages of the WestConnex project. The audit examined the WestConnex project from concept development to the pre-tender phase for Stage 1A – M4 (Parramatta to Homebush Bay). It did not examine the merit of the project or whether it represented value-for-money. This audit found a number of shortcomings with the governance of the WestConnex project during its early stages and
Actions for Making the Most of Government Purchasing Power - Telecommunications
Making the Most of Government Purchasing Power - Telecommunications
The Auditor-General has found that agencies have consistently failed to negotiate the best price for their telecommunication contracts and are not getting value for money because of inadequate contract and expense management processes. The audit examined six agencies to assess whether the government was getting value for money from its telecommunications contracts. It again raised problems with the way NSW government agencies manage contracts.
Actions for Volume One 2014 - Areas of focus from 2013
Volume One 2014 - Areas of focus from 2013
Today the Auditor-General of New South Wales, Grant Hehir, released his Volume One Report to Parliament for 2014. The observations included in this report are designed to inform readers of common findings from the 2013 financial and performance audits so agencies and audit committees can use them to identify issues that may be relevant to their organisations.
Actions for Volume Eight 2012 focusing on Transport and Ports
Volume Eight 2012 focusing on Transport and Ports
We issued unqualified audit opinions on the transport entities’ 30 June 2012 financial statements. Some of the findings of the report include: government funding to the public transport operators totalled $4.4 billion in 2011-12 ($3.7 billion in 2010-11) passenger services revenue only covered 20 per cent of RailCorp's operating costs Transport for NSW has formalised a protocol to mitigate the risk of potential conflicts of interests
Actions for Managing Overtime: RailCorp and Roads and Maritime Services
Managing Overtime: RailCorp and Roads and Maritime Services
Overtime is a significant cost for RailCorp and Roads and Maritime Services, adding about ten per cent to the cost of regular salaries. RailCorp’s overtime cost was $133.7 million in 2010–11, and at Roads and Maritime Services it cost $49.3 million. Parliamentary reference - Report number #223 - released 20 June 2012
Actions for Volume One 2012 focusing on themes from 2011
Volume One 2012 focusing on themes from 2011
The following overview of audits from 2011 found agency restructures significantly impacted agency financial reporting processes, agencies are having difficulty establishing and enforcing compliance with their own policies and procedures, agencies experienced problems complying with regulations and providing adequate documentation to support their financial statements, the poor quality of some financial statements with 1,256 misstatements identified
Actions for Handback of the M4 Tollway
Handback of the M4 Tollway
This audit focuses on the M4 handback. It looks at whether the road will be in good condition when the State gets it back, and whether it will cope with the extra traffic after the toll is removed. These are critical issues for taxpayers and motorists. Taxpayers don’t want to be responsible for a large repair bill and motorists don’t want to be stuck in traffic jams. To ensure that future private sector partnerships (PPP) deal adequately with handb
Actions for Sustaining Native Forest Operations
Sustaining Native Forest Operations
We found that Forests NSW has adequate estimates of how much timber is available from native forests, now and into the future. It uses an industry accepted process to develop estimates, but more could be done to improve reliability. For instance, yield estimates for the South coast, Eden and Tumut are well overdue for review. We also found that Forests NSW should have sufficient timber to meet its wood supply commitments which are fixed for periods up t
Actions for Review of Eastern Distributor
Review of Eastern Distributor
Following a resolution of the Legislative Council, the Audit Office has undertaken a performance audit of the Eastern Distributor. For a number of reasons, The Audit Office is not in the position to determine “whether the proposed toll and concession period represents the best deal”. In part this is the result of time constraints which do not allow a careful analysis of many toll and concession options. Similarly, the audit does not answer “whether
Actions for Corporate Governance - Volume Two: In practice
Corporate Governance - Volume Two: In practice
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