Programme 1.7: Assistance to the states for skills and workforce development

Date

Programme objective

The Government provides financial support for the states and territories to be spent in the delivery of skills and workforce development services.

This programme also has links to the Education and Industry portfolios.

Programme deliverables

The programme deliverable is:

  • payments to the states and territories are made in accordance with the payment arrangements specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement.

Key performance indicators

The key performance indicators are:

  • the Commonwealth Treasury will transfer to each state and territory the amounts of their monthly and annual entitlements under the National Skills and Workforce Development SPP and will make the payments on the dates specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement;
  • the Commonwealth Treasury will provide advice to the states and territories on the components of each payment prior to each payment being made; and
  • the states and territories are required to spend the National Skills and Workforce Development SPP in the skills and workforce sector. Each state and territory Treasurer will provide a report to the Council on Federal Financial Relations demonstrating expenditure of the National Skills and Workforce Development SPP within the sector in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement. The Commonwealth Treasury will review these reports provided by the states and territories.

Analysis of performance

The Treasury facilitated the Government's 2013-14 financial support for the states and territories in the delivery of skills and workforce development services.

  • Total expenses under the National Skills and Workforce Development SPP were $1.4 billion. Payments were made in accordance with each state and territory's monthly and annual entitlements.
  • Payments were made in a timely manner in accordance with payment arrangements specified in the Intergovernmental Agreement.
  • Advice was provided to the states and territories prior to each payment being made.

To demonstrate that the Skills and Workforce Development SPP has been spent in the relevant sector, each state and territory Treasurer will provide a report to the Council within six months of 30 June 2014, disclosing relevant information in accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement.