1. Performance Information Australian Government experience Mike Rombouts Strategic Review Branch

2. 1980s Budget Reforms Medium term expenditure framework o Rigorous forward estimates o Commitment to medium term fiscal targets Disciplines on new spending o Portfolio obligations to find offsets o Tighter rules on spending proposals arising outside of budget Financial Management Improvement Plan (FMIP) 2

3. Evolution of evaluation 3 Ad-hoc 1980’s – Portfolio Evaluation Plan Devolved approach 1999 Outcomes and Outputs Framework Lapsing Program Review

4. 4 Examples of Performance Information Mechanisms Special reviews established by Portfolio Ministers APSC Capability Reviews Cabinet Implentation Unit Reviews Agency led evaluations Productivity Commission Finance Stategic and Expenditure Reviews Published budget documents Question Time Estimates APS Act, KPIs etc. Audit Office performance audits Parliamentary Committees inquiries on government activity The MediaAcademiaCitizens External Accountability Improving Delivery Strategic Policy and Budget

5. Current work Finance currently working on a strengthened whole-of- government model for Performance and Evaluation Expected to be delivered to Government in late 2011 Balancing competing priorities of: o Effective and efficient performance and evaluation information o Information useful for agencies improving current programs o Minimal impost on agencies 5

6. Strategic Reviews Introduced 2007 Undertaken by Finance department. Ministers endorse 4-5 topics per year Topics may be cross-portfolio or matters of particular importance Team formed from existing Finance staff and usually staff from program agencies. Eminent person may be appointed to lead review Form Reference Group of senior agency officials to meet periodically and discuss review progress. 6

7. Shared Outcomes – Inter-Governmental Agreement Ministerial Council for Federal Financial Relations o Embracing a partnership model between the Commonwealth Government and State and Territory Governments. o Key features: ̶ Agreement based ̶ Performance reporting a central component of agreements  Performance Indicators  Agreed ‘National Minimum Datasets’ 7

8. Conclusions and Questions Mike Rombouts Strategic Review Branch www.finance.gov.au www.federalfinancialrelations.gov.au