Reports
Actions for Regulation insights
Regulation insights
What this report is aboutIn this report, we present findings and recommendations relevant to regulation from selected reports between 2018 and 2024.This analysis includes performance audits, compliance audits and the outcomes of financial audits.Effective regulation is necessary to ensure compliance with the law as well as to promote positive social and economic outcomes and minimise risks with certain activities.The report is a resource for public secto
Actions for Planning and Environment 2023
Planning and Environment 2023
What this report is about Results of the Planning and Environment portfolio financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2023. The audit found Unqualified audit opinions were issued for all completed Planning and Environment portfolio agencies. Seven audits are ongoing. The Catholic Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (CMCT) did not comply with its obligations under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 (GSF Act) to prepare and submit f
Actions for Regional NSW 2023
Regional NSW 2023
What this report is about Results of the Regional NSW financial statements audits for the year ended 30 June 2023. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued on all completed audits in the Regional NSW portfolio agencies. The number of monetary misstatements identified in our audits increased from 28 in 2021–22 to 30 in 2022–23. What the key issues were Effective 1 July 2023, staff employed in the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporatio
Actions for State heritage assets
State heritage assets
This audit assessed how effectively the Department of Planning and Environment (Heritage NSW) is overseeing and administering heritage assets of state significance. Heritage that is rare, exceptional or outstanding to New South Wales may be listed on the State Heritage Register under the Heritage Act 1977. This provides assets with legal recognition and protection. Places, buildings, works, relics, objects and precincts ca
Actions for Regulation of public native forestry
Regulation of public native forestry
What this report is about The Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW) is a state-owned corporation that manages over two million hectares of public native forests and plantations supplying timber to sawmills across NSW. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is responsible for regulating the native forestry industry in NSW. FCNSW must comply with Integrated Forestry Operations Approvals (IFOAs), which set out rules for how timber harvesting may oc
Actions for Natural disasters
Natural disasters
What this report is about This report draws together the financial impact of natural disasters on agencies integral to the response and impact of natural disasters during 2021–22. What we found Over the 2021–22 financial year $1.4 billion from a budget of $1.9 billion was spent by the NSW Government in response to natural disasters. Total expenses were less than the budget due to underspend in the following areas: clean-up assistance, including co
Actions for Regulation and monitoring of local government
Regulation and monitoring of local government
The Office of Local Government (OLG) in the Department of Planning and Environment is responsible for strengthening the local government sector, including through its regulatory functions. This audit assessed whether the OLG is effectively monitoring and regulating the sector under the Local Government Act 1993. The audit covered: the effectiveness of departmental arrangements for the OLG to undertake its regulatory function
Actions for Planning and managing bushfire equipment
Planning and managing bushfire equipment
This audit assessed the effectiveness of the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) and local councils in planning and managing equipment for bushfire prevention, mitigation, and suppression. What we found The RFS has focused its fleet development activity on modernising and improving the safety of its firefighting fleet, and on the purchase of new firefighting aircraft. There is limited evidence that the RFS has undertaken strategic f
Actions for Bushfire recovery grants
Bushfire recovery grants
The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) program was created after the 2019–20 bushfires, and commits $541.8 million to bushfire affected areas in New South Wales. It is co-funded by the Commonwealth and NSW governments. This audit assessed how effectively the Department of Regional NSW (the department) and Resilience NSW administered rounds one and two of the BLER program. These rounds were: Round one: early co-funding,
Actions for Planning and Environment 2022
Planning and Environment 2022
Result of the Planning and Environment cluster agencies' financial statements audits for the year ended 30 June 2022. What we found Unmodified audit opinions were issued for all completed 30 June 2022 financial statements audits of cluster agencies. Seven audits are ongoing. Disclaimed audit opinions were issued for the 2010–11 to 2015–16 financial statements of the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation (WAMC), as mana