Pre-election Policy Costing Mechanisms in Australia : Whitehall in Year Five of the UK Coalition: Lessons from Elsewhere

This report examines two systems that enable political parties in Australia to have policy plans independently assessed and costed. These systems help governing and non-government parties access necessary expertise to test and improve policy ideas, particularly in the pre-election period.

From a public interest perspective, these systems are designed to improve the quality of policies put to the electorate, and to increase the chance that whatever government is subsequently formed it has an affordable and implementable policy programme.

From a British point of view, the Australian experience offers a set of lessons about how the Civil Service and other official bodies could support and inform the development of policies in the run-up to future general elections, particularly in a context where further hung parliaments and coalitions appear likely.