Reports
Actions for Cyber security in local government
Cyber security in local government
What this report is aboutNSW local councils provide a wide range of essential services and infrastructure to their communities and are increasingly reliant on digital technologies.Councils need to manage cyber security risks to ensure their information, data and systems are appropriately safeguarded. Councils also need to be prepared to detect, respond and recover when a cyber security incident occurs.The audit assessed how effectively three selected cou
Actions for Design and administration of the WestInvest program
Design and administration of the WestInvest program
What this report is aboutWestInvest is a $5 billion funding program announced in September 2021 to provide ‘local infrastructure to help communities hit hard by COVID-19’ in 15 local government areas (LGAs) selected by the government. It was divided into three parts: $3 billion for NSW government agency projects; $1.6 billion for competitive grants to councils and community groups; and $400 million for non-competitive grants to councils.Following the cha
Actions for Effectiveness of SafeWork NSW in exercising its compliance functions
Effectiveness of SafeWork NSW in exercising its compliance functions
What this report is about This report assesses how effectively SafeWork NSW, a part of the Department of Customer Service (DCS), has performed its regulatory compliance functions for work health and safety in New South Wales. The report includes a case study examining SafeWork NSW's management of a project to develop a realtime monitoring device for airborne silica in workplaces. Findings There is limited transparency about SafeWork
Actions for Flood housing response
Flood housing response
What this report is aboutExtreme rainfall across eastern Australia in 2021 and 2022 led to a series of major flood events in New South Wales.This audit assessed how effectively the NSW Government provided emergency accommodation and temporary housing in response to the early 2022 Northern Rivers and late 2022 Central West flood events.Responsible agencies included in this audit were the Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Reconstruction Authority,
Actions for Driver vehicle system
Driver vehicle system
What this report is aboutTransport for NSW (TfNSW) uses the Driver vehicle System (DRIVES) to support its regulatory functions. The system covers over 6.2 million driver licences and over seven million vehicle registrations.DRIVES first went live in 1991 and has been significantly extended and updated since, though is still based around the same core system. The system is at end of life but has become an important service for Service NSW and the NSW Poli
Actions for Regional, rural and remote education
Regional, rural and remote education
What this report is about Students in rural and remote areas of NSW face greater challenges compared to their metropolitan peers. This report examined how the NSW Department of Education (the department) is ensuring that rural and remote students have access to the same quality of early childhood, school education, and skills pathways as metropolitan students. What we found A decade since the previous (2013) strategy to address educational disadvanta
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 Management of the Critical Communications Enhancement Program
Management of the Critical Communications Enhancement Program
Effective radio communications are crucial to NSW's emergency services organisations. The Critical Communications Enhancement Program (CCEP) aims to deliver an enhanced public safety radio network to serve the five emergency services organisations (ESOs), as well as a range of other users. This report assesses whether the NSW Telco Authority is effectively managing the CCEP. What we found Where it has already been delivered
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 Financial Management and Governance in MidCoast Council
Financial Management and Governance in MidCoast Council
Introduction The Auditor-General's financial and performance audits of local councils aim to improve financial management, governance and public accountability across the local government sector. Annual Local Government reports to Parliament have consistently highlighted risks and weaknesses across the sector in relation to financial management and governance. We will continue to focus on these matters as a priority area in our forward work program. W