As the accountable authority of the PBO, I present the PBO Corporate Plan 2026-27, as required under paragraph 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

This Plan has been prepared in accordance with section 16E of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014.

This Plan also serves as the PBO’s Work Plan for 2026-27, as required by section 64Q of the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.

The year ahead will be an important period for the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) as we continue to support parliamentarians through high-quality policy costings and budget analysis, respond to the recommendations of the Independent post-election review of the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO Review), deepen our research and self-initiated publications, and prepare for the next general election.

At the centre of this work is our role as an effective, independent and non-partisan service for the Parliament. We help parliamentarians develop informed policy proposals by analysing their fiscal impact, supporting understanding of the budget context in which those proposals sit, and enabling participation in public debate with access to credible and timely analysis.

In 2026-27, we expect demand for our costing and budget analysis services to continue to grow. We will focus on providing responsive and robust advice, while strengthening the systems, models and processes that support consistent and efficient service delivery.

Research and self-initiated publications will remain central to our contribution to budget transparency. Through accessible analysis, data, interactive tools and explanations of key fiscal concepts, we will support parliamentarians, their staff and the broader public to better understand the budget and the choices that shape Australia’s fiscal position.

Preparing for the next election will also be a key priority. The parliamentary cycle shapes both the timing and intensity of our work. As the next election approaches, we will build on lessons from previous cycles, ensure our people, data, models and systems are ready for increased demand, and prepare to deliver our election costing functions and the Election Commitments Report with accuracy, independence and timeliness.

Across all of this work, we will continue to expand education and outreach on the budget and fiscal policy. By working with parliamentarians, their staff, parliamentary departments and other partners, we will make our services more visible, accessible and useful, and support a stronger shared understanding of the budget across the Parliament.

This Corporate Plan sets out how we will deliver that work in the year ahead and continue to build a PBO that enriches Australia’s democracy by providing the Parliament and the public with independent information, analysis and tools to support sound policy choices and informed public debate.

Sam Reinhardt

Parliamentary Budget Officer