The NSW Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is investigating why the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) and Department of Finance & Services (DFS) have not yet fully implemented the Auditor-General’s recommendations on disaster recovery plans.
Disaster recovery plans should allow for the continued operation of government in the event of a disaster.
As the State Government’s lead agencies in this area, DPC & DFS are responsible for ensuring all government agencies have adequate plans and testing in place.
Last year, the Auditor-General reported strong concern that nearly one in five of NSW’s largest agencies did not have a disaster recovery plan for their financial systems. Nearly half of the rest had not tested a significant portion of their plans in the past year. This year he continued to note agencies are not testing significant or critical portions of their recovery capabilities and plans.
"It’s too late to find out if a plan works when in the middle of a disaster. This needs fixing now," said PAC Chair, Jonathan O’Dea MP.
"It is disturbing that recommendations on disaster recovery plans have still not been sufficiently addressed after repeated warnings," Mr O’Dea concluded.
The hearing will be held on Thursday, 12 September from 4.15 pm, as part of the Committee’s follow-up of the Auditor-General’s 2012 financial audit reports.
For more information about the Public Accounts Committee hearing, please visit: www.parliament.nsw.govt.au/publicaccounts
