Victorian public sector agencies collect,
create, use, hold and distribute a wide range of information,
including personal information about individual members of the
public, to perform their functions. Personal data used and stored
by agencies can range from ‘identifying information’ such as names,
birth dates and addresses, to sensitive or highly confidential data
such as details of a person’s health status, or criminal
record.
The audit will determine whether the integrity
and confidentiality of personal information held by a selection of
agencies, is maintained.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
In 2006 the deployment of advanced metering
infrastructure to electricity consumers using less than 160 MWh per
year—generally small businesses and residential customers—was
approved. Advanced metering infrastructure enables remote reading
and connection of meters and two way communications. The rollout
was to commence at the end of 2008 and be completed over four
years. The project is being managed by the Department of Primary
Industries (DPI) and delivered by the private sector electricity
distributors.
The audit will examine whether the economic
value of the rollout was adequately analysed and justified, and the
effectiveness of DPI’s stakeholder and project management.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
The objective of the audit is to determine the
effectiveness of the management framework operated by the DPCD,
whether CSF grants have been made in compliance with the Act, and
whether the funds provided to beneficiaries are being spent for the
purposes approved.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
Since 2003–04 more than $330 million has been
committed to building and upgrading police stations and
courthouses, to provide a safer community and more efficient
justice services. The Department of Justice and Victoria Police are
working together to consider opportunities for police to co-locate
with courts and other emergency services.
The audit will examine implementation of the
Department of Justice and Victoria Police's asset investment
programs. It will assess how well strategic and operational
priorities for building and upgrading have been determined, and
whether individual projects have been adequately justified and
delivered on time and on budget.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
Inner budget agencies operate around 8 800
passenger and light commercial vehicles with an estimated value of
$215 million. Local councils also operate vehicle fleets in their
own right. Good fleet management should result in the optimal use
of public resources to minimise fleet life-cycle costs.
The audit will examine whether the public
sector passenger fleets and those of a selection of councils are
operationally justified and well managed. This will include
examining the adequacy of control over fleet full life cycle costs
and the environmental impact of fleets.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
Development contributions are payments or
works-in-kind provided by developers towards the supply of
infrastructure to support new land developments. Obligations for
development contributions are created under the Planning and
Environment Act 1987 (the Act) and councils can seek
contributions through development contribution plans, planning and
building permit processes, and voluntary agreements with
developers. The Act sets out procedures and responsibilities for
councils for collecting and administering development contributions
(infrastructure levies). The value of development contributions
collected across all Victorian councils was approximately $600
million in 2007–08, a decrease of around 9 per cent from 2006–07
($659 million).
The audit will examine the development
contributions levied by selected councils and whether these
contributions are being used appropriately.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
Community Corrections Orders (CCOs) are a
non-custodial sentencing option for offenders, enabling them to
stay in the community where their chance of rehabilitation is
greater. Corrections Victoria manages offenders subject to CCOs. In
the context of a prisoner population that has increased by nearly
60 per cent in the decade to 30 June 2007, CCOs are a significantly
cheaper alternative: the annual cost of managing an offender on a
CCO is around $7 000 compared with around $80 000 for a prisoner.
However, cost is not the only consideration—it is important that
the courts have confidence in CCOs as a viable sentencing
option.
The audit will examine Corrections Victoria’s
management of CCOs. It will assess whether the program is achieving
its objectives, including the extent of offender compliance, and
the effectiveness of the actions taken to address
non-compliance.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
The link between self-esteem and educational
achievement is well documented. A long-standing challenge for
schools is to provide an environment that addresses the learning
needs and wellbeing of each student. The Department of Education
and Early Childhood Development guides and supports schools in
improving student wellbeing through student welfare services.
Support provided to students includes: Student Support Services
Officers, such as speech therapists and psychologists; school
nurses; the School Focused Youth Strategy, in conjunction with the
Department of Human Services; and the Program for Students with a
Disability.
The audit will examine whether school student
welfare services have resulted in improved student wellbeing.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
Each year nineteen per cent of Victorians
experience mental illness. This taken together with the
de-institutionalisation of mental health services, means police and
emergency services personnel increasingly have to deal with people
with mental health issues. For the wellbeing of all involved, and
to minimise the potential for harmful outcomes, it is imperative
that police and emergency services can respond effectively to such
situations.
The audit will examine the appropriateness of
the response by police and emergency services to incidents
involving people with mental health issues.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
The Department of Transport estimates that
around 6 percent of Victorians experience a disability that affects
how they use the public transport system. Many older Victorians
also need public transport that is more convenient and easier to
access. This demand will increase with the ageing of the
population—one in four Victorians will be over 60 by 2021.
Historically, the design of Victoria’s public transport system has
made it difficult for persons with disabilities and the frail to
enjoy the same access as the fully fit or unencumbered. The
Department of Transport has developed and is implementing the
Accessible Public Transport Action Plan 2006–2012.
The audit will examine the Department of
Transport’s plans to make the public transport system more
accessible to all Victorians, their implementation, and whether
initiatives completed have improved accessibility for persons with
disabilities.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of December 2009.
This report details the results of the audit of the consolidated
financial statements for the State of Victoria. Areas covered
include the results of the audits, the State’s financial result,
significant events and other items of interest.
The report is expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of
December 2009.
Results of Financial Statement Audits for Entities with 30 June
2009 Balance Dates – core entities
Outlined in this report are results and commentary about the
financial statement audits not already included in specific sector
reports. This covers all Departments and other government entities
with 30 June balance dates not included in the Human Services and
Water reports outlined below.
Areas of note to be covered include the results of the audits,
effectiveness of internal control, financial management, focus on
each of the major government Departments and commentary on the
financial framework.
The report is expected to be tabled by the end
of December 2009.
Human Services: Results of the 2008-09 Financial Audits
This report outlines the results of financial statement audits
of selected entities in the human services sector. Areas of focus
include an overview of the results of audits, commentary on
effectiveness of internal control and timeliness of reporting, and
public hospital investment management and financial
sustainability.
Entities subject to our audit in the sector include public
hospitals and associated companies, trusts and joint ventures.
The report is expected to be tabled in December 2009.
Water: Results of the 2008-09 Financial Audits
The results of financial statement audits in the water sector
are detailed in this report. There is a sector overview and
analysis and commentary on the effectiveness of internal control,
financial sustainability, performance reporting and sector
developments.
There are 19 water entities with direct responsibility for the
provision of water and sewerage services and two other entities
with functions directly related to the water industry in Victoria.
The 19 water entities comprise a metropolitan wholesale water
corporation, three metropolitan retail water companies, thirteen
regional water corporations and two rural water corporations.
The report is expected to be tabled by the end of December
2009.
Local Government: Results of the 2008-09 Financial Audits
This report provides analysis and commentary on the results of
financial statement audits for all local government entities in
Victoria. That is 79 Councils, nine related entities and 12
regional libraries.
The report will also provide a sector overview and commentary on
the quality of reporting, effectiveness of internal control,
financial sustainability and impacts from the bush fires earlier
this year.
The report is expected to be tabled by the end of December
2009.
Irrigation efficiency programs
The 2004 Our Water, Our Future policy
aims to contribute to improving the efficiency of Victorian
irrigation systems by 25 per cent by 2020. A number of irrigation
renewal projects have now been completed or are underway. In June
2007, the next stage of the policy announced a further $2 billion
to be spent over five years upgrading irrigation channels in the
‘foodbowl’ in northern Victoria, to capture lost water, and $750
million to pipe one third of the saved water to the Sugarloaf
Reservoir.
The audit will examine the management of
irrigation renewal projects by the Department of Sustainability and
Environment and water authorities, including whether intended
outcomes have been achieved. It will also examine the case to
proceed with the foodbowl upgrade and the Sugarloaf pipeline,
including estimates of costs and water savings.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of March 2010.
Environmental management in Victorian parks
Victoria has around four million hectares of
wilderness, national, state or regional parks and reserves. This
equates to around 17 per cent of the state’s land. Parks perform a
crucial role in protecting biodiversity and ecosystem processes,
providing clean air and water, regulating climate, maintaining
healthy waterways and preventing soil erosion. Parks also provide a
significant public benefit, contributing around $960 million
annually to Victoria’s economy through tourism, employment and
management expenditure. Pest plants are a major cause of
biodiversity loss—threatening natural ecosystems, invading native
plant communities and resulting in a reduction of plant diversity
and loss of habitat for native fauna. Pest plants can also impact
on the economic value of adjacent land and damage cultural values
and park assets. Pest animals threaten the survival of a range of
native fauna and have caused local species extinctions through a
combination of habitat modification and predation. They can also
have environmental impacts, including degraded water quality, soil
stability and vegetation cover due to burrowing and grazing.
The audit will examine the effectiveness of
weed and pest programs in protecting Victoria’s parks.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
Tendering in local government
Local government spends more than $2.7 billion
on goods and services annually.
Major areas of local government expenditure
include roads and associated infrastructure, construction and
maintenance, waste management and plant and equipment. Effective
tendering and contracting are central to the delivery of many
projects and services, and are critical to councils achieving their
objectives including delivering value for money to ratepayers. In
2008 a local government procurement strategy was released to drive
efficiencies in council procurement practices and to improve
service delivery. The strategy outlines a range of initiatives to
improve the sector’s procurement capability. Enhanced procurement
practices have the potential to deliver annual savings of $180–350
million. Projects underway in 2009 include initiatives to improve
collaborative procurement arrangements, sector-wide training, and
development of best practice guidelines for procurement
capability.
The audit will examine the adequacy and
application of policies, guidelines and procedures for tendering
and contracting in local government. It will assess the extent of
legislative compliance, adherence to probity standards and
effectiveness of tendering practices in minimising waste and misuse
of public resources, for a selection of major procurements.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
Teacher performance
Teacher performance critically influences
student learning outcomes. Schools manage teacher performance and
development under the School Accountability and Improvement
Framework which is overseen by the Department of Education and
Early Childhood Development. The School Accountability and
Improvement Framework articulates three outcomes that government
schools strive to achieve, i.e., improved student learning,
enhanced student engagement and wellbeing, and successful
transitions and pathways.
This audit is important given our audit of
Literacy and Numeracy Achievement tabled in
January 2009. It will examine the application
of the teacher performance and development process in government
primary and secondary schools, including the extent to which it has
facilitated high standards of teacher quality and improved
education outcomes.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
Biotechnology development (replaces Bio21 and Synchrotron
project)
Victoria has been at the forefront of
Australia’s biotechnology-based industry for over
80 years. Biotechnology has been the focus of
sustained funding, policy, programs and projects in Victoria since
2000. The Department of Innovation Industry and Regional
Development reports that the value of
biotechnology deals signed from 2004 to 2007 exceeded its target of
$1 billion by at least $3 billion, and estimates that the
biotechnology sector is worth $21 billion to the state’s
economy.
The audit will examine the transparency,
accountability and value for money of outcomes delivered by public
sector investment in the biotechnology sector. It will include an
examination of whether investments in the Bio21 biotechnology
precinct and the Synchrotron project have delivered intended
outcomes.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
VicForests
Following the release of the 2002 Our
Forests, Our Future policy, a new commercial entity,
VicForests, was established as a means of separating commercial
functions from policy and regulatory functions and to enable
management of the state’s commercial interface with industry.
VicForests commenced operations in 2004. Its key responsibilities
include the sale and supply of timber resources in Victorian state
forests, developing and managing an open and competitive sales
system for timber resources, and pursuing other commercial
activities as agreed by the Treasurer and responsible minister.
The audit will examine the organisational
efficiency and effectiveness of VicForests in meeting its
legislative objectives.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
Hazardous waste management
Hazardous wastes are by products of producing
everyday goods and services, like the manufacture of motor vehicles
and plastics, or the dry cleaning of clothes. These wastes, also
referred to as prescribed wastes, require a high level of control
with the Environment Protection Act 1970 (the Act)
regulating their management. The Environment Protection Authority
(EPA) enforces the Act and uses a range of strategies to promote
compliance.
The audit will examine the effectiveness of
the EPA’s enforcement of the Environment Protection Act
1970 and the Environment Protection (Prescribed Waste)
Regulations 1998.
The report is expected to be tabled in
Parliament by the end of June 2010.
Water demand and supply management
A number of programs designed to curb the demand for, and boost
the supply of, water have been developed and implemented in
response to the ongoing drought and the state’s growing population.
As rainfall has remained low, the community has been encouraged to
increase water recycling. Industries, hospitals, parks and sports
grounds use recycled water, and for certain urban centres,
recycling forms a critical component of their water supply. In
2007–08, Melbourne recycled 23 per cent of its wastewater. The
upgraded Eastern Treatment Plant, scheduled for completion in 2012,
expects to provide around 135 000 megalitres of recycled water per
year. Greater attention has also been given to using groundwater to
support a significant amount of Victorian agriculture and provide
water supplies to urban centres, such as Geelong. Licensing
arrangements established under the Water Act 1989 regulate
groundwater allocation for commercial and irrigation purposes.
The audit will examine how well the demand and supply of
Victoria’s recycled and ground water is being managed by the
Department of Sustainability and Environment and water authorities.
It will include the extent to which planning takes into account
future needs, and whether compliance with licensing arrangements is
monitored and enforced.
The report is expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of
June 2010.
Irrigation Water Stores: Lake Mokoan and Tarago Reservoir
Lake Mokoan
The area occupied by Lake Mokoan was originally a wetland
system. In 1971 the lake was created building a dam and flooding
the wetland. It was to serve the Murray and Goulburn irrigation
areas however the required infrastructure was not built due to
water quality and blue-green algae outbreaks. Lake Mokoan is one of
the two main storages on the Broken River System that allow water
to be for release on demand from water users. Lake Mokoan has been
described as inefficient because it is large with a full capacity
of 362,450 ML, shallow and exposed, loosing about 50,000 ML each
year by evaporation. This is about 13% of its full capacity.
The decision to decommission Lake Mokoan in 2009 was announced
in the white paper Securing Our Water Future Together 2004. This
will deliver: ‘44,000 megalitres in water savings annually to
improve environmental flows for the Snowy and Murray Rivers whilst
maintaining irrigator’s reliability of supply and delivering
increased efficiencies for water supply by undertaking a range of
works’ The full decommissioning has been delayed until 2010 due to
the additional time required to respond to the alternatives
proposed by Justice for Broken Valley, a stakeholder group
representing irrigators, and to negotiate the purchasing of water
entitlements with irrigators.
Lake Tarago
Tarago Reservoir was constructed in 1969 to supply several towns
near Neerim South and the Mornington Peninsula and Westernport
regions. It has a total capacity of 37.5 billion litres, making the
sixth largest of Melbourne’s ten reservoirs.It supplied water to
Gippsland Water customers and some irrigators, as well as
Melbourne. Melbourne Water stopped using untreated water from the
Tarago Reservoir in 1994 when it became unsuitable for drinking,
and accessed supplies from its other storages.
In June 2005, the Victorian Minister for Water announced that
Tarago Reservoir would be reconnected to Melbourne Water’s supply
network. In order to do this Melbourne Water has built a Water
Treatment Plant. It will provide about 15 billion litres more water
a year.
The audit will examine the effectiveness of managing the
decommissioning of Lake Mokoan and the recommissioning of the
Tarago Reservoir. In particular the audit will examine the extent
to which:
- there were sound governance frameworks
- the advice to Government regarding the case to proceed was well
founded
- effective consultation and communication occurred with the
community and stakeholders.
The report is expected to be tabled in Parliament by the end of
June 2010.