Tasmanian Auditor-General Reports $47 Million Spent on HR Program Without Modules Delivered

The Tasmanian auditor-general Martin Thompson stated that the Health Department spent $47 million over four years on a human resources and payroll system upgrade that delivered none of the intended modules. The program began in 2020 as the Human Resource Information System initiative.

Its scope expanded in 2021 to cover all government agencies before an external review in 2024 led to its transfer to the Department of Premier and Cabinet and rebranding as the Human Resource Transformation Program.

Thompson wrote that Health's planning, early implementation, and program governance were not effective or economical. He noted the business case and other critical documents were never finalized and that the project was managed as an IT system project rather than an organizational change program.

The auditor-general also stated that Health did not provide sufficient briefings to ministers, leaving Parliament without adequate information on progress and the cabinet decision to expand the program.

7 million. 8 million. Martin Thompson made three recommendations: the Health Department should ensure approved business cases exist before starting future IT projects; the Department of Premier and Cabinet should finalize its business case before proceeding; and the department should use defined project gates to resolve design issues.

Both departments accepted the recommendations and stated they have already been completed, including approval of the Human Resource Transformation Program business case this month. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said some of the auditor-general's conclusions were incomplete and potentially misleading.

He stated the report does not adequately characterize the program's context, the basis for key decisions, or the extent of work undertaken. DPAC secretary Katherine Morgan-Wicks said the program is one continuous project and that pausing it for an external review in 2024 reflected good governance.

Independent MP Peter George said millions of taxpayer dollars had gone to waste and credited the auditor-general with exposing the spending.