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Reports

Published

Actions for Managing Contaminated Sites

Managing Contaminated Sites

Planning
Industry
Environment
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Regulation
Risk

NSW Government agencies with large landholdings need to better manage their contaminated sites. When contaminated sites are reported to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) there are long delays in assessing the extent of contamination. The EPA also lacks the management controls to ensure that all significantly contaminated sites are actively monitored and key milestones for remediation are met.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #

Published

Actions for Making the Most of Government Purchasing Power - Telecommunications

Making the Most of Government Purchasing Power - Telecommunications

Whole of Government
Compliance
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement

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.  

Published

Actions for Use of Purchasing Cards and Electronic Payment Methods

Use of Purchasing Cards and Electronic Payment Methods

Treasury
Compliance
Fraud
Procurement

NSW government agencies are not making sufficient use of purchasing cards and EFTs to pay for goods and services. There are potential savings in processing costs of around $22 per transaction from purchasing cards and over $7 when using EFTs instead of cheques.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #243 - released 5 June 2014

Published

Actions for Effectiveness of the New Death and Disability Scheme

Effectiveness of the New Death and Disability Scheme

Justice
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery

More NSW Police officers are returning to work after being injured and there are fewer medical discharges as a result of the new NSW Police death and disability scheme. The new scheme is also costing less and if early trends continue, costs may fall sufficiently to meet the government’s target.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #242 - released 22 May 2014

Published

Actions for NSW State Emergency Service Management of Volunteers

NSW State Emergency Service Management of Volunteers

Justice
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Risk
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

The SES needs to better understand the location, availability and skills of its volunteers so it can properly plan for emergency events. It needs to improve how it selects and retains the right volunteers and provide more up-to-date and focused training. The SES has improved volunteer safety with injury claims falling by 40 per cent to 70 in the four years to 30 June 2013. The average cost of claims has fallen by 58 per cent to $3,547. The SES attribute

Published

Actions for Environmental impact assessment of major projects in NSW

Environmental impact assessment of major projects in NSW

Environment
Management and administration
Regulation
Service delivery

The Audit Office is of the opinion that the basis for environmental impact assessment of major projects in NSW is sound. The key concept of 'environmental significance' is well defined. The system is closely specified. The Department of Urban Affairs and Planning (DUAP) leads a whole-of-government approach to environmental impact assessment and its assessments are comprehensive. However, the Audit Office considers that there are opportunities for im

Published

Actions for Use of the internet and related technologies to improve public sector performance

Use of the internet and related technologies to improve public sector performance

Whole of Government
Cyber security
Information technology
Procurement
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

Notwithstanding the considerable effort, it is not apparent that the Government's vision can be fully achieved without increased efforts. Based on the current position, to ensure that the Government's vision can be achieved the Audit Office is of the view that the following key issues need to be urgently addressed:  more robust mechanisms are needed to monitor, review and report publicly on progress and benefits a greater emphasis sho

Published

Actions for Follow-up audits: Police response to calls for assistance, The levying and collection of Land Tax and Coordination of bushfire fighting activities

Follow-up audits: Police response to calls for assistance, The levying and collection of Land Tax and Coordination of bushfire fighting activities

Justice
Finance
Management and administration
Service delivery

The acceptance of audit recommendations by agencies in the current review was high and represented 96 per cent of the recommendations made. In addition, half of the recommendations in the 1998 audits have been adequately addressed and for over 70 per cent of recommendations there has been some measurable change in practices or performance. But overall, most of these improvements have been incremental. And, for nearly one third of the recommend

Published

Actions for NSW Correctional Industries

NSW Correctional Industries

Justice
Management and administration
Service delivery

Correctional Industries (CIs) have come a long way in NSW.  CIs have grown to employ rates of inmates which rank amongst the highest in the world.  This is a commendable achievement by the Department. Whilst there are other notable achievements to date, the Audit Office believes that CIs have developed to a stage where they can, and should, tackle even more challenging issues. The audit is found that to optimise the development of in

Published

Actions for Controlling and reducing pollution from industry

Controlling and reducing pollution from industry

Planning
Environment
Compliance
Management and administration
Regulation

The regulatory framework introduced under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, along with other initiatives progressively being implemented by the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), should enhance the overall effectiveness of environment protection in NSW. The Audit Office is of the opinion that the framework is consistent with best practice and once fully implemented, should contribute to the achievement of further improvements in