As part of its ongoing commitment to sustaining and strengthening performance and accountability across its operation, the ACT Government invested in the Accountability in Government initiative. Key components of this initiative included:

• a review of the ACT Government Performance and Accountability Framework;
• development of an ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework and supporting Directorate Guidelines;
• release of a revised Evaluation Policy and Guidelines to inform agency work into the future; and
• development of the Measuring Our Progress website.

The Policy and Cabinet Division of the Chief Minister and Cabinet Directorate is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and supporting the ongoing program of work arising from the Accountability in Government initiative. This program has been designed to enhance accountability to the community and strengthen performance across government.

A Framework for Strengthening ACT Government Performance and Accountability

Good governance is characterised by a focus on delivering more appropriate, efficient and effective public services for which the Government is accountable. The set of mechanisms developed and used by governments to achieve these ends are commonly referred to as Performance and Accountability Frameworks.

The ACT Government Performance and Accountability Framework has been refreshed to:

• assist the Government achieve its priorities for social progress and contribute to real sustainable improvements in the wellbeing of Canberrans;
• ensure transparent and accountable decision making and resource allocation; and
• embed the principles of evaluation to measure and assess the impacts and merits of government policies and initiatives.

The update, Strengthening Performance and Accountability: A framework for the ACT Government has been developed and includes a number of key actions to strengthen government accountability and performance which have been or a currently in the process of being implemented.

Strengthening Performance and Accountability: A framework for the ACT Government [ DOC 2.2MB]
Strengthening Performance and Accountability: A framework for the ACT Government [ PDF 1MB]

In working towards the refreshed Performance and Accountability Framework, the Allen Consulting Group was commissioned to review existing systems within the ACT Government, identify principles of better practice and outline options going forward. This work resulted in the publication of Performance and Accountability in the ACT: Towards a new framework.

Performance and Accountability in the ACT: Towards a new framework [ PDF 1.1MB]

Strategic Planning

As part of the Council of Australian Governments' (COAG) reform agenda, the COAG Reform Council (CRC) has assessed capital city strategic planning systems against a suite of COAG-agreed national criteria, including integration, consistency, provision for infrastructure and land release, and implementation arrangements.

The COAG Reform Council Review of Capital City Strategic Planning Systems: Report to the Council of Australian Governments is available on the COAG Reform Council website.

The ACT Government prepared input to inform the COAG Reform Council's assessment of capital cities strategic planning systems. This includes an Overview of the ACT Strategic Planning System along with the ACT Government's self-assessment against each of the COAG Reform Council's strategic planning criteria.

Submission to COAG Reform Council Cities Self Assessment [ DOC 3.2MB]Submission to COAG Reform Council Cities Self Assessment [ PDF 1.7MB]Appendix A - Urban Form Analysis [ PDF 5.5MB]Appendix B - Overview of the ACT Strategic Planning System [ PDF 368.1KB]

Service Planning

Under the Performance and Accountability Framework the Government agreed a suite of reforms to improve its performance and accountability. A key reform is development of an ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework. Achieving Results for the Community: An ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework and Strategic Service Planning: ACT Government Directorate Guidelines outline and guide strengthened strategic service planning processes. It will better integrate planning and decision making across Government, including resource allocation. Robust planning is central to good governance. The ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework will ensure that ACT Government Directorates continue to design and plan effective and sustainable services into the future.

Achieving Results for the Community: An ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework [ PDF 961.3KB]Achieving Results for the Community: An ACT Government Strategic Service Planning Framework [ DOC 714.5KB]

Strategic Service Planning: ACT Government Directorate Guidelines [ PDF 762.6KB]Strategic Service Planning: ACT Government Directorate Guidelines [ DOC 289.8KB]

Centre for International Economic Report

Strategic service planning for the ACT Government: Components, principles and processes [ PDF 244.7KB]Strategic service planning for the ACT Government: Components, principles and processes [ DOC 229KB]

Measuring our Progress

The Government launched the Measuring Our Progress website in 2010 to engage the community in working collaboratively towards the vision of societal progress outlined in the Canberra Plan: Towards Our Second Century (the Canberra Plan). This was a key action to arise from the Accountability in Government initiative.

The website reports on 28 indicators of societal progress in Canberra which are aligned with the themes of the Canberra Plan. These include a society that is:

• healthy;
• fair and safe;
• educated and skilled;
• prosperous;
• vibrant with great neighbourhoods;
• sustainable; and
• provided with high quality services.

Measuring our Progress Website

ACT Government Evaluation Policy and Guidelines (December 2010)

Evaluation refers to the measurement and assessment of the impacts and merits of government policies and initiatives. It helps identify strengths and achievements, and opportunities for improvement.

As part of the broader commitment to strengthening the Government's Performance and accountability mechanisms the ACT Government has developed Evaluation Policy and Guidelines to provide guidance to ACT agencies for embedding evaluation in their operations, setting evaluation objectives, strategies, and priorities, and conducting evaluations.

The Policy and Guidelines aims to build evaluation maturity across government, and to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of government services.

ACT Government Evaluation Policy and Guidelines [ PDF 900KB]
ACT Government Evaluation Policy and Guidelines [RTF 1MB]

Organisational Performance and Measurement Guide

Performance measurement and reporting is central to the ACT Government Performance and Accountability Framework.  This Organisational Performance Measurement Guide outlines a method for developing appropriate and tailored performance measurement indicators. Strengthening performance reporting will improve effective performance management and alignment between project outputs and outcomes.

The step by step guide provides:
• guidance on using results logic frameworks; and
• direction on selecting appropriate and relevant performance indicators.

Organisational Performance Measurement Guide [ PDF 657.9KB]
Organisational Performance Measurement Guide [ DOC 337]