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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 Sale of the TAB

Sale of the TAB

Treasury
Internal controls and governance
Procurement

The Audit Office is of the opinion that: the sale was delivered with reasonable efficiency and effectiveness the sale yielded a satisfactory return to the NSW Government. The possibility for a higher return was limited to about 2% to 4% on gross proceeds of $936m. It would have required setting a higher share price for all investors and adopting a more flexible approach to share allocation the Government’s objective to promote community an

Published

Actions for Review of Walsh Bay

Review of Walsh Bay

Finance
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management

The decision to seek development of Walsh Bay without a Master Plan and/or detailed study as to the state of the precinct presented significant problems throughout the life of the project. Now, four years later, negotiations still continue on the details of the final scheme. Based on the latest estimates, it will not provide a financial return as was originally expected. The audit found no evidence to indicate why the former Government wished to expedite

Published

Actions for The coordination of bushfire fighting activities

The coordination of bushfire fighting activities

Justice
Management and administration
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

The NSW model of rural fire fighting is complex, and requires an extensive amount of coordination and cooperation to function properly. This has inherent risks. In general, the model has been made to work quite well and much improvement in rural fire fighting has been achieved over the past decade. The efforts of all concerned should be recognised and applauded especially since any change must be developed cooperatively between a number of agencies and g

Published

Actions for Planning statewide services

Planning statewide services

Health
Information technology
Management and administration
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

The Audit Office is of the view that: there is no system wide plan for the location of emergency departments. This function is undertaken by each Area Health Service coordination between the Department and the NSW Ambulance Service could be improved in aspects such as the collocation of facilities and direct communications between ambulances and emergency departments there is no policy framework that recognises the increasing role and impa

Published

Actions for Police response to fraud

Police response to fraud

Justice
Fraud
Information technology
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

This audit was initiated following concerns expressed by the Department of Agriculture about the Police’s handling of a suspected fraud that it had first reported in 1996. The Department’s main concern related to the long delays before a full Police investigation took place. Nevertheless, the current review highlighted a number of areas that, in the opinion of The Audit Office, require closer examination and resolution by the Police Service in implement

Published

Actions for Management of sickness absence NSW public sector volume 1

Management of sickness absence NSW public sector volume 1

Whole of Government
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

Information relating to the NSW public sector wide sickness absence levels, unlike in some other states, are presently not maintained or monitored centrally. The salaries and wages paid to individuals whilst on sickness absence on a public sector wide basis in 1996-97 was estimated to be $368.3m. This estimate does not take into account any flow -on effect resulting from sickness absence, eg overtime or other replacement cost. Improved management o