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Reports

Published

Actions for 2016 - An overview

2016 - An overview

Education
Community Services
Finance
Health
Industry
Justice
Local Government
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Transport
Treasury
Universities
Whole of Government
Environment
Asset valuation
Compliance
Cyber security
Financial reporting
Fraud
Information technology
Infrastructure
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Procurement
Project management
Regulation
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

This report focuses on key observations and findings from 2016 audits and highlights key areas of focus for financial and performance audits in 2017. The quality and timeliness of financial reporting continued to improve across the NSW public sector in 2016. Only one qualified audit opinion was issued and most agencies signed their financial statements on time. We found the Government’s cluster governance arrangements were unclear and inconsisten

Published

Actions for Assessing major development applications

Assessing major development applications

Planning
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Shared services and collaboration

The Planning Assessment Commission (the Commission) has improved its decision-making processes for major development applications in recent years. The Commission has improved how it consults the public and manages conflicts of interest, and now also publishes records of its meetings with applicants and stakeholders. The Planning Assessment Commission (the Commission) is an independent body es

Published

Actions for Implementation of the NSW Government’s program evaluation initiative

Implementation of the NSW Government’s program evaluation initiative

Industry
Justice
Planning
Premier and Cabinet
Treasury
Environment
Financial reporting
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Risk
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

The NSW Government’s ‘program evaluation initiative’, introduced to assess whether service delivery programs achieve expected outcomes and value for money, is largely ineffective according to a report released today by NSW Auditor-General, Margaret Crawford. Government services, in areas such as public order and safety, health and education, are delivered by agencies through a variety of programs. In 2016–17, the NSW Government estimates that it will sp

Published

Actions for Government expenditure and transport planning in relation to implementing Barangaroo

Government expenditure and transport planning in relation to implementing Barangaroo

Industry
Treasury
Transport
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Service delivery

Barangaroo is an ambitious and significant development on Government-owned Sydney Harbour foreshore. Construction on the 22 hectare CBD site is expected to take 12 years to 2023. Developer contributions to Government of $1 billion are to provide for public domain and other Government development costs, including a six hectare Headland Park. When completed the precinct is to service an anticipated 26,000 workers and residents and up to 33,000 visitors a d

Published

Actions for Transport of Dangerous Goods

Transport of Dangerous Goods

Planning
Finance
Compliance
Management and administration
Project management
Regulation
Risk
Service delivery

Dangerous goods make up 10-15% of domestic freight and have potential to harm people, property and the environment. They include substances such as explosives, flammable liquids and gases, and oxidising agents. However, Government inspection programs were limited. The Office of Environment and Heritage carried out very few checks in the four years up to 2010, with no inspections made in the metropolitan area. This is despite Port Botany handling around 5

Published

Actions for Recycling and Reuse of Waste by the NSW Public Sector

Recycling and Reuse of Waste by the NSW Public Sector

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

The Government’s WRAPP initiative has achieved its intended outcome. The public sector has reduced the proportion of waste going to landfill from 27 per cent to eight per cent over the last six years, and has increased its use of recycled content materials. Most agencies have played their part, identifying how waste can be reduced and changing practices accordingly.   Parliamentary reference - Report number #181 - released 11 June 2008

Published

Actions for Protecting our Rivers

Protecting our Rivers

Environment
Industry
Compliance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Regulation
Shared services and collaboration

At the time of our 2003 audit agencies were unable to measure the water quality in NSW rivers as they had not established a comprehensive and ongoing monitoring system for water quality. Agencies are now developing a monitoring system to measure the progress against the State Plan 2006 target to improve the condition of riverine ecosystems by 2015. It may not be possible to identify an overall trend in the condition of riverine ecosystems by the State Pl

Published

Actions for Managing the Amalgamation of the Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority

Managing the Amalgamation of the Greyhound and Harness Racing Regulatory Authority

Industry
Information technology
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Shared services and collaboration
Workforce and capability

The Authority has achieved staff reductions and salary related savings in line with targets. That said, the amalgamation was not project managed effectively. It has been slow to implement some of its key objectives against plans and the costs of the amalgamation have increased to the extent that it is unable to meet key objectives. Stakeholders are dissatisfied with the amalgamation outcomes. This dissatisfaction would have been mitigated with bette

Published

Actions for Managing Departmental Amalgamations

Managing Departmental Amalgamations

Industry
Finance
Internal controls and governance
Management and administration
Project management
Service delivery
Shared services and collaboration

Both Commerce and DPI substantially achieved their stated amalgamation savings objectives as set by government. The departments are expected to achieve savings targets of about $150 million and $190 million respectively over their first four years. Our analysis indicates that there are two key factors in successful amalgamations. The first is effective early planning by departments based on clear objectives, supported by quick action. Second, significant