Appendix E – Report requirements and methodology

 

The PBO’s legislation requires that, for each major party, the Election Commitments Report (ECR) contains costings of all election commitments that, in the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s best professional judgement, would have a material impact on the budget. The report must also include the total combined impact of those commitments.

To fulfil these requirements, the PBO must first identify all relevant commitments, and then cost and aggregate them accurately and robustly.

This appendix provides detailed information regarding the legislative requirements and methodology for compiling the ECR covering:

  • Legislative requirements and consultation processes
  • Additional features for the 2025 ECR
  • Identification of election commitments
  • Costing of election commitments
  • Aggregating election commitments.

What is the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO)?

The PBO was established in 2012 to inform the Parliament by providing independent and non-partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy and the financial implications of proposals.

We do this in 3 main ways:

  • By responding to requests made by senators and members for costings of policy proposals or for analysis of matters relating to the budget across the full term of the parliament. This includes analysis provided to Parliamentary inquiries.
  • By conducting and publishing information to enhance the public understanding of the budget and fiscal policy settings.
  • By publishing a report after every election that provides transparency around the fiscal impact of the election commitments of major parties, and minor parties and independents that choose to be included.

Further information and an introduction to the PBO's services is available here: About the PBO.