Commonwealth Funding Agreements

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (the IGA) provides the overarching framework for financial relations between the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments.

Collaborative funding arrangements between the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments are formalised through four types of agreement under the IGA, National Agreements, National Partnerships, Implementation Plans and Project Agreements.

An extensive body of documentation has been prepared by First Ministers and Treasury Departments across Australia to provide assistance for Line Agency Officers developing agreements under the IGA.

This documentation is publicly available on the website of the Standing Council on Federal Financial Relations. 

The Standing Council website contains:

• the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGA)
• copies of all current agreements under the IGA 
  • National Agreements
  • National Partnerships 
  • Other related agreements
• resources to assist the development of new agreements, including a drafters' toolkit, and federal financial circulars.

Requirements for all agencies developing or revising agreements under the IGA

Officers in line agencies should inform the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Queensland Treasury whenever a new agreement or revision to an existing agreement is proposed. Contact details are QCOAG@premiers.qld.gov.au and QIGR@treasury.qld.gov.au

Cabinet requires a formal analysis of the financial implications of all agreements which include Reward Payments to inform CBRC’s value for money deliberations. Treasury has developed guidelines and a template departments can use to assess the likely cost of implementing proposals compared with the likely value of reward payments.

Agencies should also refer to the National Partnership Checklist, which is a useful guide for evaluating draft agreements.

Last reviewed 14 February 2012