The Review was initiated by the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers at the Premiers' Conference in July 1993. It operates under the auspices of the Council of Australian Governments.

The Steering Committee for the Review was established in 1994 to manage the Review. It comprises senior representatives from Australian, State and Territory governments. It is chaired by the Chairman of the Productivity Commission. See a list of current Steering Committee members.

The Productivity Commission acts as the Secretariat for the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision.

The Steering Committee is guided by the Review's terms of reference.

See more background information on the Review, including working groups, specialist input and parallel exercises and Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators.