Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Operations and coordination of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

15

2.36 The Committee acknowledges that the Authority has demonstrated a

commitment to continuous improvement, including by embedding lessons learnt

and improving capability following disaster events.

88 This includes the use of

After-Action Reviews (AARs), which are led by the Authority and bring together

stakeholders following disaster events to identify what worked well and what the

Authority could do to improve its response.

89

2.37 Legal Aid NSW described the Authority's implementation of AARs as a positive

improvement following previous disasters:

Having participated in eight after-action reviews, our experience is that they have

represented genuine, meaningful attempts to listen and respond to feedback from

partner organisations ... They also provide an opportunity to identify and address

ongoing recovery needs.

90

2.38 The Committee recognises the important role of AARs as a complementary

process to the Committee's operational review function, as outlined in Chapter

One.

2.39 The Authority undertook an AAR of the May 2025 NSW East Coast severe

weather event in late-2025.91 Stakeholders provided varying feedback about their

level of engagement with the Authority as part of this process. While several

stakeholders noted that they were given the opportunity to provide feedback,

MidCoast Council advised it was not aware of an AAR conducted by the

Authority.

92

2.40 The Authority told the Committee that the report on the AAR was expected to be

tabled 'in the next month or two' and would be made publicly available.93 At the

time of writing, the report has not been published on the Authority's website.

2.41 The Committee recommends that the Authority publish the report on the AAR.

This will support greater transparency and accountability of post-response review

and process improvement. Any recommendations arising from the AAR should be

implemented with clear timeframes for implementation communicated in the

published report.

2.42 Several stakeholders also highlighted the importance of revisiting and tracking

insights from past AARs to ensure that lessons learnt are not only implemented

but also measured for their effectiveness over time.

94

88 Jacob Walsh, NSW State Director, Australian Red Cross, 3 November 2025, Transcript of evidence, p 4; Susie

George, Executive Director, Regional Delivery, NSW Reconstruction Authority, Transcript of evidence, 20 February

2026, p 37.

89 Submission 49, p 13.

90 Submission 49, p 13.

91 Submission 50, p 6.

92 Homes NSW, Answers to supplementary questions, 7 April 2026, p 3; Service NSW, Answers to supplementary

questions, 25 March 2026, p 6; Kempsey Shire Council, Answers to supplementary questions, 30 March 2026, p 2;

Submission 49, p 13; MidCoast Council, Answers to supplementary questions, 27 March 2026, p 1.

93 Ashlee Abbott, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, pp 31-32.

94 Submission 27, p 9; Service NSW, Answers to supplementary questions, 25 March 2026, p 6.