The Discovering Bendigo project was proposed in 2000 by the City of Greater Bendigo and the Bendigo Trust. Part of the proposal was to extend the heritage tramways system to include a loop track around Lake Weeroona. The Council adopted the proposal and lodged a grant application. Although the grant was approved, the Council terminated the project. The project proposal attracted strong community opposition. This report examined the Council's relationship with the Trust and the management of the project.

The objective of this audit was to assess whether the output performance measures for a selection of Departments were relevant, appropriate and fairly represented performance in delivering the relevant outputs specified in the 2006-07 Budget Paper No. 3, Service Delivery.

International experience has confirmed that developing reliable and effective public transport ticketing systems is both difficult and expensive. Victoria's 'smartcard' public transport ticketing system (NTS) is a case in point. It involves a government investment of more than $500 million, and it promises to transform the operations of the public transport network. This report examined whether the tender process for the NTS was properly conducted and identifies lessons and relevant areas of good practice for future management of major tenders.

This audit examined how effectively the central and regional offices of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development were identifying and supporting schools performing below expected levels.

Specific Purpose Funds (SPFs) are moneys and property received by public health services from various sources and may include donations, bequests and research funding. Public health services disclosed in excess of $255 million in SPF reserves and more than $45 million in trust funds in their 30 June 2007 financial statements. Our audit covered 4 public health services which disclosed a total of around $118 million in SPF reserves and $28 million in trust funds in their financial statements. This audit examined how well 4 public health services managed such funds for the period May 2006 through April 2007.

The good practice guide was developed to assist Victorian public sector agencies with their procurement activities.

The focus of this audit is to determine the extent to which the accountability framework for the Program for Student Disabilities provides clear measures of performance and an appropriate level of accountability.

Purchasing in the Victorian public sector involves significant annual outlays. Spending on goods and services is typically the largest item for agencies after employee costs. In 2005-06, public sector expenditure on goods and services was $14.8 billion. Given the importance of purchasing and the inherent risks, sound management of purchasing is a key goal for the Government and the community. This audit sought to provide assurance that contracting and tendering practices in selected agencies complied with government policy and procedures, and delivered the expected outcomes for the public sector.

This report has found that risk management in Victorian public sector organisations has improved since the last audit in 2003. Further improvements need to be made however to more closely align risk management practices with best practice principles.

The Magistrates' Court of Victoria accounts for approximately 90 per cent of court appearances in the State. The Court sits at 52 metropolitan, suburban and regional locations and comprises 108 magistrates who are supported by 537 registry and administrative staff. Over recent years the Court has been through a period of transition as it has responded to changes arising from the introduction of alternative methods of dispute resolution, reforms to administrative and work force practices, and the introduction of therapeutic and restorative approaches to justice delivery. This performance audit reviews selected administrative functions and activities of the Magistrates' Court. The audit also incorporates a follow-up of the 2005 special review into the Geelong Magistrates' Court.

Over the last 30 years, lifestyle changes in exercise and eating habits have led to more Victorians becoming overweight or obese and increasing numbers of people at risk or suffering from chronic disease conditions. There is an increasing body of evidence to show the effectiveness of health promotion to reduce the onset of chronic disease and promote good health and wellbeing. This audit examined whether the Victorian Government's investment in health promotion had encouraged people to adopt healthier eating habits, to exercise more regularly and to achieve healthy weight levels.

This is an assessment of Victoria's public hospitals' financial performance and sustainability, using indicators of short-term solvency and longer-term viability.