Chapter One - Introduction
1.1
On Thursday 10
February 2005, the Senate referred to the Committee the following
documents for examination and report in relation to the Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry and Transport and Regional Services portfolios:
(a) Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in
respect of the year ending 30 June
2005;
(b) Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure
in respect of the year ending on 30
June 2005;
(c) Statement of savings expected in annual appropriations
made by Act No. 88 of 2004 (Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2004-2005) and Act No. 89
of 2004 (Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2003-2004);
(d) Issues from the Advance to the Minister for Finance as
a final charge for the year ended 30
June 2004; and
(e) Final budget outcome 2003-04, Report by the Treasurer
and Minister for Finance and Administration, September 2004.
1.2
The Committee considered the Portfolio Additional
Estimates Statements 2004-2005 for each portfolio at hearings on 14, 15 and 18 February 2005. The hearings were conducted in accordance
with the agreed agenda as follows:
(a) Monday, 14 February – Transport and Regional Services
portfolio;
(b)
Tuesday, 15 February – Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry portfolio;
(c)
Friday, 18 February – Transport and Regional Services
portfolio.
1.3
The Committee heard evidence from Senator The Hon Ian
Macdonald, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation, representing the
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator The Hon Ian Campbell,
Minister for Territories and Local Government, representing the Minister for
Transport and Regional Services; and Senator the Hon Richard
Colbeck, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry. Evidence was also provided by Ms
Joanna Hewitt,
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr
Mike Taylor,
Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services and officers
representing the departments and agencies covered by the estimates before the
Committee.
1.4
The Committee thanks the Ministers, Departmental
Secretaries and officers for their assistance and cooperation during the
hearings.
Questions on Notice
1.5
In accordance with Standing Order 26, the Committee is
required to set a date for the lodgement of any written answers or additional
information. The Committee requested
that written answers and additional information should be submitted by Friday, 1 April 2005. Following a
request from the Department of Transport and Regional Services, the Committee
agreed to extend the date for the submission of written answers and additional
information from that Department to 8
April 2005.
Administration of written answers or additional information
1.6
Answers to questions taken on notice at the Additional
Estimates hearings will be tabled in the Senate in separate volumes entitled Additional Information provided during the
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee’s examination of additional estimates
2004-2005. Documents not suitable for inclusion in the additional
information volumes will be available on request from the Committee
secretariat.
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