As an independent statutory authority, the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) is subject to periodic review. These reviews examine the PBO’s functions and performance, and provide opportunities to identify and implement recommendations for continuous improvement in our capability, culture and operations.

The Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit (JCPAA) has statutory oversight of the PBO and, as such, has an essential role in requesting reviews into the PBO and monitoring the PBO’s implementation of recommendations from these reviews.

The key mechanism for these reviews is in accordance with Section 64T of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999, which states that after a general election, the JCPAA may request an independent review into the operations of the PBO.

This mechanism has been exercised twice since the PBO's inception – after the 2016 and 2019 general elections.

Although this is the key mechanism for reviews of the PBO, there are other number of mechanisms for audits and inquiries. 

Since the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office, there have been:

• 2 reviews
• 1 audit
• 1 parliamentary inquiry 

Additionally, there was a Parliamentary inquiry into the proposed Parliamentary Budget Office prior to its establishment.