‘Utterly damning’ review finds offsets scheme fails to protect NSW environment

The eastern pygmy possum is listed as vulnerable in New South Wales. The state’s auditor general has found the government did not properly design the environmental offsets scheme. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/EPA

A New South Wales government environmental offsets scheme is failing to protect some of the state’s most endangered species and ecosystems and is riddled with integrity and transparency concerns, according to a review by the state’s auditor general.

The report, described as “utterly damning” by conservationists, prompted opposition and crossbench MPs to call for an overhaul of the scheme.