Reports
Actions for Rail freight and Greater Sydney
Rail freight and Greater Sydney
The movement of freight contributes $66 billion annually to the NSW economy. Two thirds of all freight in NSW moves through Greater Sydney, and the volume of freight moving through Greater Sydney is expected to increase by 48 per cent by 2036. This audit assessed the effectiveness of transport agencies in improving the use of rail freight capacity in Greater Sydney, and to meet current and future freight demand. What we found
Actions for Access to health services in custody
Access to health services in custody
This audit assessed whether adults in custody have effective access to health services. The audit examined the activities of Justice Health and Corrective Services NSW. What we found The majority of custodial patients receive timely health care, but a small proportion of patients are not receiving care within target timeframes. Eleven per cent of scheduled health appointments are not attended, and agencies can do more to unde
Actions for Managing climate risks to assets and services
Managing climate risks to assets and services
This report assessed how effectively the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) and NSW Treasury have supported state agencies to manage climate risks to their assets and services. Climate risks that can impact on state agencies' assets and services include flooding, bushfires, and extreme temperatures. Impacts can include damage to transport, communications and energy infrastructure, increases in hospital admi
Actions for Fast-tracked Assessment Program
Fast-tracked Assessment Program
This report examines the effectiveness of the Fast-tracked Assessment Program, administered by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) between April 2020 and October 2020. The program aimed to support the construction industry during the COVID-19 crisis by accelerating the final assessment stages for planning proposals and development applications. DPIE selected projects and planning proposals f
Actions for Managing cyber risks
Managing cyber risks
This audit assessed how effectively Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and Sydney Trains identify and manage their cyber security risks. The NSW Cyber Security Policy (CSP) sets out 25 mandatory requirements for agencies, including implementing the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s Essential 8 strategies to mitigate cyber security incidents, and identifying the agency’s most vital systems, their ‘crown jewels’. The audited agenc
Actions for Water management and regulation
Water management and regulation
Water regulation aims to achieve sustainable environmental, economic and social outcomes from the management of water resources, consistent with the Water Management Act 2000. Following recommendations from reviews into water theft, reforms were made to strengthen water regulation, compliance and enforcement – including the establishment of the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) in 2018. The Department of Planning and Environment shares responsibi
Actions for Universities 2020 audits
Universities 2020 audits
Results of the financial statement audits of the public universities in NSW for the year ended 31 December 2020. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued for all ten universities. Two universities reported retrospective corrections of prior period errors. Universities were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with student enrolments decreasing in 2020 compared to 2019 by 10,032 (3.3 per cent). Of this decrease 8,310
Actions for WestConnex: changes since 2014
WestConnex: changes since 2014
The report examined whether Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and Infrastructure NSW (INSW) effectively assessed and justified major scope changes to the WestConnex project since 2014. What we found NSW Government decisions to fund WestConnex-related projects outside WestConnex's $16.812 billion budget have reduced transparency and understate the full cost of WestConnex. The NSW Government's decision to separate Sydney Gateway from W
Actions for Responses to homelessness
Responses to homelessness
The report assessed how effectively the Department of Communities and Justice is responding to homelessness through the NSW Government’s Homelessness Strategy. It also assessed the effectiveness of the department’s efforts to address street homelessness in its COVID-19 response. What we found The strategy was designed to build evidence to inform future state-wide action rather than to end homelessness. The department receive
Actions for Report on Local Government 2020
Report on Local Government 2020
Results of the local government sector council financial statement audits for the year ended 30 June 2020. What we found Unqualified audit opinions were issued for 127 councils, 9 county councils and 13 joint organisation audits in 2019–20. A qualified audit opinion was issued for Central Coast Council. Councils were impacted by recent emergency events, including bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. The financial implications