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Queensland Government approach to Cost-Benefit Analysis Guidelines, 2006
The Cost-Benefit Analysis Guidelines has been released as supplementary guidance material available under the Project Assurance Framework. It provides practical guidance regarding the range of issues to consider when conducting a financial and economic analysis of project options at either the Preliminary Evaluation or Business Case Development stages of the project lifecycle. The Cost-Benefit Analysis Guidelines replace the original Queensland Treasury Project Evaluation Guidelines (PEG) released in 1997, and will continue to be refined as needed.
This report can be found at: http://www.treasury.qld.gov.au/office/knowledge/docs/project-assurance-framework/cost-benefit-analysis-guidelines.pdf
Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis and Alternative Evaluation Methodologies, 2006
Managers in Australian Government agencies are often called on to evaluate programmes and projects to ensure that they represent an efficient and effective use of public money. Cost-benefit analysis (CBA) is a method of quantitative economic analysis that is widely used to evaluate existing and proposed projects, programmes and policies, and which can inform decision-making. Introduction to Cost-Benefit Analysis and Alternative Evaluation Methodologies (hereafter the Introduction to CBA) introduces CBA in a non-technical way and outlines the basic steps for its use.
The Introduction to CBA also discusses two alternative quantitative methods for evaluating proposals that have broad relevance to Australian Government agencies: financial evaluation and cost-effectiveness analysis. However, the Introduction to CBA focuses mainly on CBA. Three case studies are also provided. They are a cost-benefit analysis of an infrastructure proposal; a financial evaluation of a property project; and a cost-effectiveness analysis of a health programme.
The Introduction to CBA also includes a short technical section. Readers seeking a more technical account of these methods should refer to published texts on this matter, including Handbook of Cost-Benefit Analysis (hereafter the Handbook of CBA) published by the Department of Finance and Administration (2006).
This report can be found at: http://www.finance.gov.au/finframework/fc_2006_01.html and in PDF format at: http://www.finance.gov.au/finframework/docs/Intro_to_CB_analysis.pdf
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