A topline financial examination of state government department spending since the pandemic has identified increases in disturbing social trends.

WA Auditor-General Caroline Spencer and her team have been examining the state’s pandemic response while auditing the financial statements and KPIs of government departments.

The report is the second part of its Audit Results Report – Annual 2020-21 Financial Audits of State Government Entities and contains selected findings and observations from the annual financial and KPI audits of state government entities for 2020-21, relating to the impacts of COVID-19 on entities and the community.

“COVID has had such an impact on all our lives, it has been a major disruption to public sector delivery and public administration,” Spencer told Gareth Parker on 6PR Breakfast.

“The amount of money that is being spent on the COVID response, and the way our lives are being impacted by policy decisions and public sector agencies’ implementation of those, is very significant.”

The audit uncovered a $3 billion hole for WA’s tourism sector, for example, than before the pandemic, with spending well down as the state’s borders remained shut to interstate and international travellers.

“There was an increase of 24 per cent in family violence than pre-pandemic, and we know that’s predominantly women and children,” Spencer said.

“We also saw an increase of 23 per cent in bets processed by Racing and Wagering WA.

“These are the things that go to the social fabric of our community and therefore are worthy of our examination.”

Press PLAY below to hear more findings from the audit