Not the NSW's new licensing system

Getting a project up and running is sometimes a matter of juggling figures to make its return on investment look unbeatable and the project timeline remarkable. Such juggling carries high risks, as can be seen from a report from the Auditor-General for the Australian state of NSW who has slammed a large State Government IT billing project that is expected to be nine years late and $23 million over budget. The project is intended to centralize the application and issuing of licenses, apart from driver's licenses, used throughout the state. It was intended to replace more than 40 licensing systems in about 20 government agencies, issuing more than 4 million licenses of more than 300 varieties to individuals and businesses.

This is (at least) the second public sector billing project the Auditor-General has criticized. Most notable was his 2003 report, when Sydney Water ran into problems with a new billing system.

Launched in 2001, the project was to have been completed by 2005, although it is not now expected to be concluded until 2014. "It is now nine years late, $23 million over budget and will return less than one-third of the original estimated net savings," Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat said in a report released 7 October. "Put simply, this is poor project management."

Even in 2001 licensing packages such as Hansen were commercially available; nowadays US leader Accela has entered the local market. But governments are often persuaded they can do better developing a bespoke solution