Management and accountability

Our people

• 995 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff employed
• 6% identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
• 3.2% identify as having a disability
• 58.1% identify as female.

Human resources

The role of the Local Land Services’ human resources team is to work with management and people leaders to ensure staff are engaged, supported and safe in the workplace. The team is committed to developing leaders within the organisation and equipping them with the best tools available.

Source: Public Service Commission approved Workforce Profile Report 2025.

Note 1. Based on sum of 8a Calculated Census period FTE from the Public Service Commission approved Workforce Profile Report 2025 (per standard logic of DRNSW annual report) -consistent with year-on-year logic.

Note 2. Excludes casual staff.

Number and remuneration of senior executives

Source: Public Service Commission approved Workforce Profile Report 2025.

Note 1. Based on active headcount as at census period (3h=1), including non-SE employees acting consecutively in SE roles for 3+ months as at census.

Source: Public Service Commission approved Workforce Profile Report 2025.

Note 1. Based on active headcount as at census period (3h. Active census date status only).
Note 2. Where there is a single senior executive in a select band, no salary is provided.

Our governance

Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act)

Review of proactive release program

The Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (GIPA Act) provides members of the public with the right to access Government information. Local Land Services is committed to ensuring the public’s right to information meets the requirements of the GIPA Act, and that responses to requests for information are handled efficiently and effectively. Local Land Services reviews its programs to ensure that information that is in the public’s interest and assists people with access to services is made publicly available on the Local Land Services website.

Local Land Services proactively releases information based on public interest in favour of disclosure and to enhance transparency.

Number of access applications received

In the 2024–2025 reporting period, Local Land Services received 7 formal access applications under the GIPA Act. Local Land Services made decisions on seven applications in the financial year.

Statistical information about access applications

The following tables are set out according to Schedule 2 of the Government Information (Public Access) Regulation 2018.

* More than one decision can be made in respect of a particular access application. If so, a recording must be made in relation to each such decision. This also applies to Table 10 Number of applications by type of applicant and outcome.

*A personal information application is an access application for personal information (as defined in clause 4 of Schedule 4 to the Act) about the applicant (the applicant being an individual).

*More than one public interest consideration may apply in relation to a particular access application and, if so, each such consideration is to be recorded (but only once per application). This also applies in relation to Table 14 -Timelines.

*The Information Commissioner does not have the authority to vary decisions but can make recommendations to the original decision-maker. The data in this case indicates that a recommendation to vary or uphold the original decision has been made by the Information Commissioner.

Privacy Management

Local Land Services respects the privacy of members of the public who use our services and our employees.

The Treasury Policy and Guidelines TPG23-10 requires a statement of action taken by Local Land Services in complying with the with the provisions of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (PPIPA) and statistical details of any review conducted by or on behalf of Local Land Services under Part 5 of PPIPA.

Local Land Services is supported by the DPIRD in relation to its privacy management.

The DPIRD Privacy Management Plan outlines how Local Land Services complies with the provisions of PPIPA and the Health Records and Information Privacy Act 2002 (HRIPA). During the reporting period, no reviews under Part 5 of PPIPA were conducted.

The DPIRD Personal Information Data Breach Policy meets the requirements of the Mandatory Notification of Data Breach Scheme. Local Land Services is included in this policy.

Local Land Services employees are informed and educated about the privacy legislation and its requirements through online privacy training modules, guidance material on the DPIRD intranet and advice provided through the DPIRD Legal and Governance branch.

Consultants

Local Land Services incurred no consultant related expenditure during the period 1 July 2024 –30 June 2025.

International Travel

Two Local Land Services district vets travelled to Kenya in 2025 for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD) training, hosted by the European Union. The training provided firsthand experience in recognising, diagnosing, and managing foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious livestock disease, that is considered one of Australia’s greatest biosecurity risks due to the serious implications for agriculture.

Legislative overview / update

There were no changes to the Local Land Services Act 2013 during the 2024–2025 financial year, except for reflecting changes to the Government Sector Finance Legislation (Repeal and Amendment) Act 2018 No 70.

Risk management and assurance

In alignment with the NSW Treasury Internal Audit and Risk Management Policy for the General Government Sector (TPP20-08), Local Land Services undertook a comprehensive approach to risk management and assurance throughout the 2024–2025 financial year.

Risk Management

Local Land Services’ management framework, aligned with ISO 31000:2018, focuses on systematically identifying, assessing, managing, and monitoring risks. Key risk management activities during the 2024–2025 reporting period included:

• Increased resourcing to the risk management function: the position of Chief Risk Officer (CRO) was separated from the Chief Audit Executive function. The CRO was elevated to an Executive position with increased support, including dedicated resourcing to manage privacy and information risk.
• Risk Appetite: the Local Land Services Board reviewed and updated the Local Land Services Risk Appetite Statement (RAS). Ongoing efforts to embed the RAS across all levels of Local Land Service continue to facilitate risk-based decision making within the levels set by the Local Land Services Board.
• Strategic Risk Management: Local Land Services’ strategic risks were actively managed in line
• with the organisation’s strategic objectives and the Local Land Services Board’s approved risk appetite.
• Operational Risk Management system: risks were managed through the online Electronic Risk Management System (EMS). This allowed real time reporting and oversight including controls and treatment actions. Risks were regularly reviewed by management to ensure consistent application and escalation where required.
• Risk culture and maturity: risk management was regularly highlighted and discussed through such meetings as CEO briefings, Senior Executive Meetings and regional business unit meetings. Specific awareness activities throughout the year, such as Risk Awareness Week and Privacy Awareness Week reinforced key messaging on risk ownership.
• Cyber security: risk was managed through close relationships between the Local Land Services Information and Communication Technology team, DPIRD cyber team and Local Land Services risk team to manage evolving areas of risk.
• Emerging risks: proactively identified and reported emerging risks to the Senior Executive Team and Local Land Services Board to allow for timely assessment and action, including monitoring, further analysis, or escalation.

Internal Audit Overview

Internal audit is essential for ensuring our risk management processes are effective and that our agency complies with relevant regulations and policies. Key internal audit activities for the year include:

• Strategic Internal Audit Plan (FY2024/2025 – FY2026/2027): Local Land Services developed a three-year rolling strategic internal audit plan, in line with TPP 20-08 requirements.
• Annual Audit Plan Execution: the annual audit plan was carried out as planned, focusing on high- risk areas identified through risk management processes. Audits undertaken during the reporting period included reviews of the Internal Audit and Risk Management frameworks, contract management, hazardous substances as well as a portfolio led audit of vehicle safety.
• Findings and Recommendations: Local Land Services has acted on audit findings by implementing corrective actions to strengthen our internal controls. Additionally, Local Land Services implemented an audit and issues findings module within Protecht (the organisation’s risk management information management system) to capture past audit actions and ensure action accomplishment by key risk owners.
• Finance, Risk and Audit Committee Oversight: the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee actively oversaw audit activities and through regular meetings provided advice and guidance to the Accountable Authority on governance processes, risk management and control frameworks, and external accountability obligations.
• Internal Audit External Assessment: In compliance with TPP 20-08, Local Land Services engaged an external party to review the internal audit framework.

Internal Audit and Risk Management Attestation Statement for the 2024–2025 financial year for Local Land Services

We, Tess Herbert and Kate Lorimer-Ward, are of the opinion that Local Land Services has internal audit and risk management processes in operation that are, excluding the exemptions or transitional arrangements described below, compliant with the seven (7) Core Requirements set out in the Internal Audit and Risk Management Policy for the General Government Sector, specifically:

Membership

The independent chair and members of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee are:

• Independent Chair, Christine Hawkins, 1 July 2023 –30 June 2027
• Independent Member 1, Gary Humphreys, 28 February 2019–30 June 2026
• Independent Member 2, Jennifer Palmer, 1 July 2023 –30 June 2027

Tess Herbert
Local Land Services Board Chair.

Kate Lorimer-Ward
Chief Executive Officer.