The NSW Auditor General has revealed further government waste and mismanagement in Volume Five of his 2008 Financial Audit Report, according to the Member for Davidson and Chair of the Opposition’s WasteWatch Committee, Jonathan O’Dea.
“One of the most glaring examples is the Government’s mishandling of JusticeLink, which should have been up and running by now, for the benefit of all in the community and particularly those involved in the delivery of justice services,” Mr O’Dea said.
“JusticeLink is planned to be an integrated multi-jurisdictional court administration system with web-based services for court users.
“It is designed to have the capability for electronic exchange of information between justice sector agencies. However, it has suffered massive delays and cost blowouts.
“It was estimated the project, which started in 2001, would cost $30.3 million.
This blew out to $43.5 million and it is now estimated to cost $48.2 million, excluding costs to complete training and implementation”, said Jonathan O’Dea.
“The history of JusticeLink suggests that it will not even be operational by the revised starting date of December 2009.
“One insider suggested it might even be scrapped, like the TCard Project,” Mr O’Dea said.
“Project after project has demonstrated that delays and cost blowouts are this Government’s modus operandi.
“This is yet another example of waste and mismanagement highlighted by the Auditor-General at a time when the NSW Government is delivering budget cuts and denying the public key government services, especially in Sydney’s north and north west”, Jonathan O’Dea concluded.
