TPG26-08 NSW Intergovernmental Agreements
This paper provides guidance on the consultation, drafting, negotiation and approval of new and varied Commonwealth-State agreements.
Issued: 12 May 2026 by Secretary, Treasury
Key information
- Status
- Active
- Type
- Treasury Policy and Guidelines
- Identifier
- TPG26-08
- Compliance
- Mandatory
Who needs to know and/or comply with this?
- Departments
- Executive agencies related to Departments
- General Government Sector
- ‘GSF Agencies’ as defined under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018
About
Purpose
This paper provides guidance to NSW Ministers and agencies for the consultation, drafting, negotiation and approval of new and varied Commonwealth-State agreements on behalf of New South Wales. It should be consulted throughout the lifecycle of any intergovernmental agreement, and particularly before any agreement is signed on behalf of NSW, to ensure the official approval processes are followed.
There are three broad types of intergovernmental funding agreements:
§ National Agreements are long term policy agreements and may be supported by National Specific Purpose Payments.
§ Federation Funding Agreements (FFAs) – five sector-based umbrella agreements which were created to consolidate the previous structure of National Partnership Agreements, Project Agreements, and other payments. Accordingly, payments to the states (other than National Agreements) are now facilitated through schedules to the FFAs.
§ FFA Schedules – the most common form of funding agreement which supplant the previously known National Partnership Agreements and Project Agreements. These schedules sit under the five sector-based agreements above.
This TPG replaces the former NSW Treasury Circular TC22-14 on Commonwealth-NSW Funding Agreements.
Overview
As per the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (IGAFFR), the Council on Federal Financial Relations (CFFR) agrees on the negotiation pathway for each new Federation Funding Agreement (FFA) in accordance with the Commonwealth’s Federal Finances Circular No. 2021/02. The pathway agreed by CFFR determines the signatory (either the Portfolio Minister, Treasurer or Premier) of each agreement.
The IGA FFR provides a framework for Commonwealth payments to be made to states and territories to support service delivery, infrastructure provision and reform. CFFR is responsible for all Commonwealth-state funding agreements under the IGA FFR.
The NSW Treasurer represents the NSW Government in CFFR, supported by NSW Treasury. Consistent with national arrangements, the NSW Treasurer is responsible for all Commonwealth-state funding agreements on behalf of NSW Government
This TPG provides guidance on the internal NSW processes and governance measures NSW ministers and agencies must follow to enable the designated signatory to agree to a new or varied funding agreement on behalf of New South Wales.