Preface


Preface

On 13 February 2008, the Senate referred to the committee the examination of estimates of proposed additional expenditure for the financial year 2007-08. The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio. The portfolio additional estimates statements were tabled on 13 February 2008.

Reference of documents

The Senate referred to the committee, for examination and report, the following documents:

  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2008 (relating to Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2007-08);
  • Particulars of proposed certain additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2008 (relating to Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2007-08);
  • Issues from the Advance to the Finance Minister as a final charge for the year ending on 30 June 2008; and
  • Final budget outcome 2006-07 – Report by the Treasurer (Mr Costello) and the Minister for Finance and Administration (Senator Minchin), September 2007.[1]

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the Additional Estimates on or before 18 March 2008.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 18 February and 19 February 2008.

Over the course of the four days' hearings, totalling over 21 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner;
  • Attorney-General's Department (AGD);
  • Australian Crime Commission;
  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI);
  • Australian Customs Service (ACS);
  • Australian Government Solicitor (AGS);
  • Australian Federal Police (AFP);
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO);
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC);
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC);
  • Family Court of Australia;
  • Federal Magistrates Court;
  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC);
  • Migration Review Tribunal (MRT); and
  • Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT).

Copies of Hansard are available on the internet at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/index.htm.

An index of the Hansard for each portfolio appears at Appendix 3 and Appendix 4.

Ministers

The committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Minister for Human Services representing the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs, and from Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks Ministers and officers for their assistance.

Questions on notice

Further written explanations, and answers to questions on notice, will be tabled as soon as possible after they are received. That information is also available on the committee's internet page at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/index.

The committee has resolved that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the Additional Estimates round is 2 April 200 8.

Report

In this report, the committee draws the attention of the Senate to issues raised in the two days of hearings. These included:

Australian Federal Police

  • number of Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers deployed overseas;
  • strength of the International Deployment Group (IDG); and
  • the AFP investigation into Dr Mohammad Haneef.

Attorney-General's Department

  • the impact on specific programs resulting from an increase in the efficiency dividend to 2% (pro-rated) for the 2007-08 financial year; and
  • security clearances for newly appointed ministerial staff.

Procedural issues arising during consideration of the Attorney-General's portfolio

  • legal advice to the government regarding possible compensation for the Stolen Generation; and
  • legal advice regarding the sitting of parliamentary chambers with quorum rules suspended.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

  • the impact on specific programs resulting from an increase in the efficiency dividend to 2% (pro-rated) for the 2007-08 financial year;
  • skilled migration;
  • the citizenship test;
  • Ministerial powers under the Migration Act; and
  • Ms Cornelia Rau.

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