​At many times in the life of GIO there has been a tendency for the press, particularly the insurance press to knock government insurance and call out that it was not fair, and it was never more so than after the collapse of the Commonwealth government's scheme for Australian Government Insurance in 1975. Yet GIO has always paid the equivalent of tax to the NSW government, has paid Fire Brigade and other charges, born the brunt of bad risk insurance that other companies would not take, administered the affairs of collapsed companies, and made representations to governments for improvement in safety, drink driving, rehabilitation and many other topics to improve the lot of insurers, has provided funds for the building of hospitals, local government loans, housing loans, and loans to public utilities. 1991 sees a century since the NSW government first involved itself with insurance, sixty five years since Premier Jack Lang set up the Government Insurance Office to transact workers' compensation insurance, and half a century since Premier and Colonial Treasurer William McKell introduced its incorporation. In the last decade GIO of NSW has become a giant, GIO AUSTRALIA, and brings in even more revenue to the NSW Government. Legislation to privatise the GIO was assented to on 22 November 1991.

Jane R. Nauta was Librarian at the Government Insurance Office from 1973 to 1986. During that time she compiled these detailed notes which are a valuable record of the growth and development of a major New South Wales institution. It is the Parliamentary Library's privilege to bring about the publication of these useful historical insights. We are all indebted to Ms Nauta for the diligence of her research.