NSW Audit Office eyes ‘discounted’ dinner cruise and event funding

In a scathing report quietly tabled in NSW parliament last week, the government watchdog has called on the tourism department to be more transparent.

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A dinner cruise at industry rates and funding for events with low economic and community benefit – just the sort of thing that sparks the attention of the NSW Audit Office.

In a scathing report quietly tabled in NSW parliament last week, the government watchdog did not hold back in suggesting the tourism department perhaps be a little more transparent in some of its wheeling and dealings.

The Sauce was particularly interested in a funding decision that saw Stuart Ayres recommend $8 million go towards two events despite receiving “relatively low scores” in the Destination NSW assessment process.

Stuart Ayres recommend $8 million go towards two events despite previously not meeting KPIs. Picture: Supplied

The events, which neither Mr Ayres nor Destination NSW would disclose due to funding arrangements being “commercial-in-confidence”, had also previously not met KPIs, according to the report.

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The funding was approved for the two recurring events to be spent over three years, with Mr Ayres advising the department at the initial assessment phase that they should be funded.

The report said the decision to fund these events was based on the State government’s “strategic objective” of “promoting Sydney as a creative hub”.

While Mr Ayres has the ministerial discretion – and legislative powers – to recommend funding for any event, the report noted how the directions were provided verbally and “not documented at the time”.

While the audit found that department’s processes for assessing and evaluating the major events it funds were “mostly effective”, its public reporting “does not provide enough transparency”, the office found.

Destination NSW has agreed to provide more detailed reporting information in future.

“This means that members of the public are unable to see whether its activities achieve value for money,” it said.

In response, Destination NSW has agreed to provide more detailed reporting information in future.

The report also zeroed in the department’s gifts policy, highlighting the acceptance of a discounted dinner cruise for a family of four.

The cruise, offered at “an industry rate”, was questioned by the audit office given the Destination NSW Gifts and Benefits policy states that discounts for personal use “should not be accepted”,

“But it is not clear on whether the acceptance of industry rates is covered by the policy,” it said.

The Sauce reckons gifts involving cruises will unlikely be an issue for some time yet.

CHOC AND AWWWW

There were no threats of strikes, no placards and no screaming for a minister’s head.

When Health Services Union boss Gerard Hayes turned up to the NSW Ministry of Health office in St Leonards last week, Maltesers rather than mayhem was in order.

Just why Hayes – who was accompanied by Public Service Association chief headkicker Stewart Little – was showering ministerial bureaucrats with chocolate?

Health Services Union (HSU) Secretary Gerard Hayes (right) has delivered chocolate to frontline health staff during the COVID-19 outbreak. Picture: AAP

Well it seems all the fanfare has been reserved for the frontline health staff, with the role of the backroom bureaucrats in ensuring workers are kept safe overlooked.

“Our security, cleaning and ambulance members are working hard on the frontline of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the excellent, intelligent work of those as the ministry is helping them stay safe,” he said.

“We wanted to say thank you and let them know they are appreciated.”

Awwwww.

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Originally published as NSW Audit Office eyes ‘discounted’ dinner cruise and event funding