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Reports

Published

Actions for Government Advertising 2009

Government Advertising 2009

Premier and Cabinet
Finance
Treasury
Compliance
Management and administration
Procurement
Regulation

We found that the two NSW Health campaigns had followed the required approval processes and were appropriate. We had some concerns with the two Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) campaigns. The revised Guidelines, which incorporate recommendations from earlier audit reports, are a positive step towards reducing the risk that publicly funded advertising could be used inappropriately. But there are still parts of the Guidelines that require a sub

Published

Actions for Handback of the M4 Tollway

Handback of the M4 Tollway

Transport
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management

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

Published

Actions for Environmental Grants Administration

Environmental Grants Administration

Planning
Environment
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Shared services and collaboration

We found many aspects of good grants management, particularly in the Trust. All of the programs we looked at are clearly aligned to the Government’s objective to improve environmental outcomes. The Trust also has good practices for allocating grants. Performance in respect of results was mixed although many grants delivered tangible benefits - homes were protected from floods, degraded waterways restored and endangered habitats protected. Generally we f

Published

Actions for Tackling Cancer with Radiotherapy

Tackling Cancer with Radiotherapy

Health
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

Overall radiotherapy services are managed in a reasonably efficient and effective manner. Much is being done to further improve efficiency and effectiveness, and more can be done. While New South Wales has a number of well-established radiotherapy treatment centres, the high capital cost limits their availability in all hospitals. Some patients need to travel long distances and be away from their homes for up to seven weeks. The projected growth in deman

Published

Actions for Grants Administration

Grants Administration

Premier and Cabinet
Treasury
Health
Community Services
Planning
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Risk

We found no significant difference in the funding of government and opposition electorates. However, more money was given to electorates that were safely held by the major parties. These seats received $1.29 for every dollar given to marginal and independent seats with government marginals getting the least. Electorates also receive different levels of funding according to which region they are in. Such variations may reflect valid agency objectives such

Published

Actions for Sustaining Native Forest Operations

Sustaining Native Forest Operations

Industry
Management and administration
Procurement
Risk

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

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 Ambulance Service of NSW: Readiness to respond

Ambulance Service of NSW: Readiness to respond

Health
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

This performance audit indicates that the Service has considerable work to do to reach its aspirations of being recognised amongst leading examples of best practice services. The commitment of the Service to serving the community and the professionalism of the Service's officers is not in question. It is, however, apparent that a number of barriers to performance will need to be overcome for the Service to perform as well as it would wish.   Parli

Published

Actions for Using computers in schools for teaching and learning

Using computers in schools for teaching and learning

Education
Information technology
Infrastructure
Management and administration
Workforce and capability

Realisation of the Government’s objectives for integrating computers into the school environment is a major change that will take some time to achieve. The logistics of equipping schools with computers and making them operational have been approached energetically by the Department. Four years into the Computers in Schools Program, student and teacher access to computer hardware, software and the Internet is now substantially greater and teachers are now

Published

Actions for Hospital emergency departments: Delivery services to patients

Hospital emergency departments: Delivery services to patients

Health
Management and administration
Service delivery
Workforce and capability

There have been notable changes in the provision of emergency department services over the last decade, principally by increasing the number, seniority and training of staff and upgrading facilities. More recently, programs have focussed on achieving improvements in emergency department waiting times (the time taken to see a doctor) and access block (delay in accessing a hospital bed). However, these programs have had limited effect. Although waiting tim