enhanced-commonwealth-performance-framework-discussion-paper

Attachment B: Australian National Audit Office—
key findings and recommendations
The main Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) reports that contain comments on the
Australian Government’s performance measurement and reporting framework are:
• Audit Report No. 28 2012–13: The Australian Government Performance Measurement and
Reporting Framework—Pilot Project to Audit Key Performance Indicators
• Audit Report No. 5 2011–12: Development and Implementation of Key Performance
Indicators to Support the Outcomes and Programs Framework
• Audit Report No. 23 2006–07: Application of the Outcomes and Outputs Framework
• Audit Report No. 11 2003–04: Annual Performance Reporting
• Audit Report No. 21 2013–14: Pilot Project to Audit Key Performance Indicators
In its audit reports, the ANAO has consistently encouraged Commonwealth entities to:
• improve the specification of outcomes and programme objectives, noting their
importance to measuring an entity’s impact
• provide clearer articulation of the purpose, objectives, strategies and associated
priorities and performance indicators of an entity through clearer linkages between
strategic plans, programme documentation and Portfolio Budget Statements
• ensure that performance information relates to the objectives of the programme and
enables an assessment of the extent to which the objectives are being achieved
• develop and implement more representative sets of key performance indicators (KPIs)
to measure qualitative and quantitative aspects of a programme or contract deliverable
that can be used to inform an assessment of the relative effectiveness of the strategies
used and achievement against the objectives
• collect, analyse and report performance data against these KPIs, with a focus on:
o identifying definitions and data sources for each KPI in an entity’s performance
framework
o implementing effective systems and practices to capture, monitor and report
against the KPIs
o conducting regular data integrity checks to assess the accuracy and reliability of
the data collected
o providing sufficient explanatory information to enable internal and external
stakeholders to accurately assess programme performance
• develop a comprehensive whole-of-life programme evaluation strategy at the outset of
the programme.
The ANAO has consistently encouraged the Department of Finance to distribute updated and
improved guidance materials to Commonwealth entities, and provide training on the
framework to promote a common understanding. This includes:
• describing the outcomes and programmes framework and its role in providing a logical
organisation to the programmes and activities being delivered in support of an entity’s
outcomes within the resources allocated
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