Foreword

The commencement of the 44th Parliament sees the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) well placed to continue supporting Senators, Members and the work of the Parliament.

The independent and non-partisan mandate of the PBO allows it to engage with parliamentarians and parliamentary committees to help improve the integrity of the policy development process, better inform public policy debates, and strengthen budget and fiscal policy transparency.

The PBO’s first year of operation saw a very strong demand for its services in the months leading up to the 2013 general election and during the caretaker period. The work of the PBO during this period helped to level the playing field for non-government parties and independent parliamentarians, in particular by giving them access to costing and budget information services that previously were not available to them.

Notwithstanding the PBO’s formal responsibilities, much of the PBO’s engagement with parliamentarians to date has been of an informal and iterative nature. This has enabled the PBO to play an effective role in the provision of budgetary information for, and the costing of, a wide range of policy proposals, many of which were ultimately put forward as fully-costed election commitments.

As well as continuing to support parliamentarians and parliamentary committees, a priority for the PBO in 2013–14 will be to devote more resources to its self-initiated program of published research. The program, as outlined in this work plan, extends beyond the current financial year. It focusses on the broad themes of budget sustainability and transparency.

The PBO’s recent move to its permanent Parliament House accommodation is a welcome development, not only for staff but also because of the improved accessibility it will provide for parliamentarians wishing to access the services of the PBO.

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