Audit of state and regional invasive species management in NSW




Status:

Advice provided

Advice date:

September 2024

Summary

The NSW Premier tasked us to review the impacts and risks of invasive species in NSW and the effectiveness of management strategies.

The purpose of the review was to advise the Minister for Agriculture, as the lead minister for the review, and the Minister for Environment of strategic opportunities to improve the management of invasive species in NSW across all land tenures for environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits. As part of the review, we conducted audits of the implementation of state and regional invasive species management plans. The lead agencies that were responsible for implementation of these plans were the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services, respectively.

In August 2024, we completed audits of state and regional invasive species management plans.

In relation to the state plan, the audit found that almost all the key deliverables had either been successfully implemented, implemented late, or progressed to some extent. However, the audit also found several key gaps in state invasive species management that should be addressed, including:

  • a lack of clear planning, prioritisation and monitoring of implementation
  • stronger coordination and collaboration for pest animal incursions is required
  • biosecurity information systems remain highly fragmented.

In relation to the regional plans that were audited, the audit found that LLS has delivered many aspects of its pest animal and weed management functions efficiently and effectively, however several key areas of management were identified which could be improved, including:

  • compliance and enforcement policies, procedures and activities for pest animal management
  • processes for surveillance and regional incursion prevention and response for pest animals
  • regional MERI frameworks.

In September 2025, the NSW Government approved the responses to the reports, supporting or supporting in principle all of the recommendations.

Key documents