43rd Report: Estimates for the Department of the Senate 2006-07

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43rd Report: Estimates for the Department of the Senate 2006-07

11 May 2006

© Commonwealth of Australia 2006

View the report as a single document - (PDF 146KB)

Members of the Committee

  • The President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. Paul Calvert (Chairman)
  • The Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator the Hon. Nick Minchin
  • The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Chris Evans
  • Senator Andrew Bartlett
  • Senator the Hon. Ron Boswell
  • Senator the Hon. John Faulkner
  • Senator Jeannie Ferris
  • Senator the Hon. Bill Heffernan
  • Senator Robert Ray

The committee

The Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing, appointed under standing order 19, determines the amounts for inclusion in the parliamentary appropriation bills and reports to the Senate on its determinations prior to the Senate’s consideration of those bills.

The committee examines matters affecting the staffing and administration of the Department of the Senate, including proposals to vary the staffing structure, and other matters referred to it by the Senate. The committee makes an annual report to the Senate on the operations of the Senate’s appropriations and staffing and related matters (standing order 19(3)).

The committee has the explicit capacity to scrutinise security funding and administration and to advise the President and the Senate as appropriate. Under a resolution of the Senate agreed to in 1987 the committee also examines proposed changes in the structure and responsibilities of the parliamentary departments.

The committee is chaired by the President and includes the Senate Leaders of the Government and the Opposition as ex officio members.

Secretary

Neil Bessell

Senate Table Office

43rd Report

Introduction

Standing order 19 requires that the committee determine the amount to be included in the parliamentary appropriation bill for the Department of the Senate.

Proposed Appropriations for 2005-06

The committee notes that Department of the Senate’s 2006-07 appropriations have been calculated in accordance with current Commonwealth funding policy. Under this policy, the forward estimates reflect the loss of 1.25% efficiency dividend each year and, in the absence of funding for new policy proposals, only parameter adjustments (or partial cost of living supplementation) are possible.

The committee notes that administered annual appropriations will be reduced to nil, reflecting the transfer of the funding for the Citizenship Visits Program to the Department of Education, Science and Training.

The committee further notes that proposed appropriations have been calculated as follows:

Part 1—Departmental Annual Appropriation

The current year’s budget for departmental expenses
(as disclosed in the 2005-06 PBS)

$19.618m

Adjust for miscellaneous adjustments: parameter adjustments, efficiency dividend and depreciation expense

0.446m

Total departmental appropriation $20.064m

Part 2—Administered Annual Appropriation

The current year’s budget for administered expenses
(as disclosed in the 2005-06 PBS)

$0.768m
Subtract transfer of Citizenship Visits Program ($0.768m)
Total administered appropriation $0.000m

Part 3—Special Appropriations

2005-06:
     Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990
     Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004
     Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990
     Total special appropriations for 2005-06


$1.574m
$0.158m
$11.864m
$13.596m

Add adjustment for estimated increases:
     Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990
     Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004
     Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990
     Total estimated increases


$0.018m
$0.006m
$0.387m
$0.411m

2006-07:
     Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990
     Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004
     Remuneration and Allowances Act 1990
     Total special appropriations for 2006-07


$1.592m
$0.164m
$12.251m
$14.007m

The total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the appropriation bill for 2006-07 will therefore be $20.064m (compared to $20.386m in 2005‑06). Special appropriations of $14.007m will also be drawn down during the year (compared to an estimate of $13.596m in 2005-06).

Determination

The committee determines that the total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the appropriation bill for 2006-07 is $20.064 million and reports to the Senate accordingly.

(Paul Calvert)
Chairman
May 2005