Program 1.10: National partnership payments to the States
Program objective
The objectives of Program 1.10 are:
- the Government provides financial support for the States and Territories to be spent on improving outcomes in the areas specified in each of the National Partnership agreements. These payments support the delivery of specified outputs or projects, facilitate reforms or reward those jurisdictions that deliver on nationally significant reforms.
This program also has links to the portfolios of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Attorney General’s; Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy; Climate Change and Energy Efficiency; Defence, and Veteran’s Affairs; Education, Employment and Workplace Relations; Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts; Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Health and Ageing; Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government; Prime Minister and Cabinet; and Resources, Energy and Tourism.
Program deliverables
The program deliverables are:
- payments to the State and Territories will be made on the basis set out in each of the National Partnership agreements and any related agreements.
Key performance indicators
The key performance indicators are:
- the Australian Treasury will make payments to the States and Territories that reflect the requirements, the amounts and timeframes set out in each of the National Partnership agreements and any related agreements. These payments will only be made upon the Australian Treasury’s receipt of any authorisations in respect of performance benchmarks or payment schedules set out in each of the National Partnership agreements;
- the Australian Treasury will provide advice to the States and Territories on the components of each payment prior to each payment being made; and
- the Australian Treasury will review the reports provided by each State and Territory on their expenditure under each of the National Partnership agreements.
Analysis of performance
The Treasury facilitated the Government’s 2009-10 financial support for the States and Territories in improving outcomes in areas specified in National Partnership agreements.
National Partnership payments for 2009-10 were $21.5 billion comprising:
- payments to support state health services of $739.4 million;
- payments to support state education and skills services of $7.9 billion;
- payments to support state community services of $1.6 billion;
- payments to support affordable housing services of $6.0 billion;
- payments to support state infrastructure services of $4.2 billion;
- payments to support state environmental services of $445.1 million;
- payments to support other state services of $234.8 million; and
- contingent payments to the States of $434.2 million.
Payments were made by the Treasury on advice from portfolio agencies, with amounts to be paid certified by the agency’s Chief Financial Officer, or other authorised delegate.
All payments were accurately determined and made in a timely manner in accordance with the payment arrangements specified in National Partnership agreements.
Advice was provided to the States and Territories prior to each payment being made.