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Department of the Senate

Section 1: Resources for 2007-08

1.1 Appropriations and other resources

The total appropriation for the department in the 2007-08 Budget is $34.7m (compared with $34.1m in 2006-07).

Table 1.1 on the following page shows total appropriations for the Department of the Senate. The department receives annual departmental and special administered appropriations. 

The department draws on special appropriations for the payment of senators' salaries and allowances; superannuation; and postage and freight expenses.  Annual departmental appropriations are received for the price of the department's outputs.

The department’s total resources are $40.0m, of which 87% ($34.7m) is contributed by  total appropriations.  The balance of $5.3m (13%) represents revenue from other sources and is mainly accounted for by:

•    resources received free of charge (e.g. office space); and
  
•    sales of goods and services (e.g. publications and  training  programs).

There have been no significant changes in the department's appropriation since the  2006-07 budget.

Table 1.2 summarises the department’s other receipts available to be used for 2007-08.  Table 1.3 summarises the department’s special appropriations for 2007-08.  Table 1.4 provides estimates of special account flows and balances.  These tables can be found on pages 13 and 14.

Table 1.1:  Appropriations and other resources 2007-08 (‘000)

1.2 Other resources available to be used

Table 1.2 provides details of resources obtained by the department for provision of goods and services.  These resources are approved for use by the department and are included in Table 1.1.

Table 1.2:  Other resources available to be used

1.3 Special appropriations

Table 1.3:  Estimates of expenses from special appropriations

The legislation establishing these special appropriations is administered by Department of Finance and Administration and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Arrangements have been entered into with these departments to allow the Department of the Senate to draw upon these appropriations.

1.4 Special accounts

Special accounts provide a means to set aside and record amounts used for specified purposes. Special Accounts can be created by a Finance Minister’s Determination under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. These Determinations may be disallowed by the Parliament. Special Accounts can also be established by the passage of separate legislation. Abolition of Special Accounts requires a Determination to be made by the Finance Minister or, for those Accounts established by legislation, by repeal of the legislation in whole or part. Table 2.6 shows the expected additions (credits) and reductions (debits) for each account used by the Department of the Senate.

Table 1.4: Estimates of special account flows and balances

The cash inflows and outflows relating to this special account related exclusively to the department's Comcare Trust Account. The purpose of this account is to make compensation payments in accordance with the Safety and Rehabilitation Act 1998.

The department projects no transactions for its Services for other Governments and Non-Agency Bodies Special Account which currently has a nil balance.

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