In October 2005, the National PPP Forum endorsed a National Benchmarking Study. The University of Melbourne was commissioned in January 2008 to oversee the collection of data from projects identified from Phase I of the study and to undertake a high level study to evaluate the time and cost performance of PPP projects and Traditional public sector projects. It was anticipated that most, if not all State, Territory and Australian governments would provide data on all PPP projects and approximately 40 Traditional public sector projects that met the criteria for nominated projects.
The projects were nominated for the Study according to the following selection criteria:
1. All contracted PPPs commenced since 2000;
2. Contracted Traditional projects;
3. Projects approved since January 2000 with a capital cost of $20 million or more; and
4. A balance of social, economic, technological and water PPP and Traditional projects.
The two objectives of the Study were to:
1. provide a statistical basis to improve the quality and accuracy of financial estimates and timeframes in infrastructure project procurement across government; and
2. provide a basis for further research in terms of the development of benchmarks which can be used to assist in measuring optimism bias for projects.
Future research may include the assessment of when and why certain project risks occur in order to develop measures to improve national delivery of PPP and Traditional public sector projects.