On 26 March 2015, the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit resolved to inquire into and report on the development of the Commonwealth Performance Framework to ensure an effective, integrated performance management system that continues to improve accountability to the Parliament and the public, with particular reference to:

• enhancing the effectiveness of key performance information under the framework, including:

• performance measures that both foreshadow and subsequently assess the impact of government programs

• criteria that performance information must satisfy, to enable performance comparisons across Commonwealth entities and ensure auditable performance information

• reporting of high level, quantitative key performance information across Australian government

• enhancing the effectiveness of performance documentation under the framework, including annual reports, corporate plans and Portfolio Budget Statements

• enhancing the effectiveness of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 rule and Department of Finance Resource Management Guides for the Commonwealth performance framework

• Commonwealth entity requirements concerning implementation of the performance framework

• Australian and international models

• any other relevant matters

The Committee may release interim reports on the progress of the inquiry.

The Committee has previously inquired into various aspects of the Development of the Commonwealth Performance Framework and tabled its Report 453 on 18 December 2015.