• Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations
• Funding Framework
• National SPPs
• National Agreements
• National Partnerships, Project Agreements and Implementation Plans
• Toolkit for Drafters of New Agreements
• Federal Finances Circulars
• Performance Reporting
• National Minimum Data Sets
• Other Related Information
• Links to other IGAs & related sites

Performance Reporting

The accountability of governments to the public is being enhanced through simpler, standardised and more transparent public performance reporting for all jurisdictions, underpinned by clearer roles and responsibilities.

The new framework for federal financial relations replaces Commonwealth prescriptions on state and territory service delivery with a new focus on the achievement by all levels of government of mutually agreed objectives and outcomes. As a consequence, the community needs to know which level of government is accountable for the delivery of a particular service, and whether that government's policies and programs are:

• effective in contributing to the desired outcomes;
• being implemented efficiently;
• reaching those people for whom they are intended.

The reporting framework will focus on the achievement of results, efficient service delivery and timely provision of publicly available performance information.

Performance Reporting for National Agreements

The performance reporting framework for the National Agreements is based on:

• high-level performance indicators;
• the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision having overall responsibility for collating the necessary performance data; and
• the COAG Reform Council publishing performance data relating to National Agreements, and National Partnerships to the extent that they support the objectives in National Agreements, within three months of receipt from the Steering Committee, along with a comparative analysis of this performance information that:
  • focuses on the high‑level National Agreement performance indicators;
  • highlights examples of good practice;
  • highlights contextual differences between jurisdictions which are relevant to interpreting the data;
  • reflects COAG's intention to outline transparently the contribution of both levels of government to achieving performance benchmarks and to achieving continuous improvement against the outcomes, outputs and performance indicators.

Performance Reporting for National Partnerships

The COAG Reform Council will be the independent assessor of whether pre‑determined milestones and performance benchmarks have been achieved before an incentive payment to reward nationally significant reforms or service delivery improvements under a National Partnership reward payment is made. The final decision on payments will be made by the Commonwealth.

To assist the COAG Reform Council , the agreements underpinning each National Partnership reward payment will clearly set out the milestones and performance benchmarks that must be achieved for each jurisdiction to be eligible for a payment.

The COAG Reform Council may draw on existing subject or technical experts when an assessment of performance is required.

Conceptual Framework for performance reporting

This conceptual framework [PDF 76KB] supports performance reporting under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations. The focus is on performance reporting under National Agreements and reform-based National Partnership Agreements.

National Minimum Data Sets

The Standing Council on Federal Financial Relations will maintain a register of the national minimum data sets required to allow comparative reporting of governments' achievement against agreed objectives and outcomes. In undertaking this task, it will consult with other COAG Councils and data collection agencies.