Appropriations for the Parliament
In 1981, the Senate Select Committee on Parliament’s Appropriations and Staffing considered appropriations for the Parliament, in view of the unique constitutional position of the Parliament vis-à-vis the Executive.
The Committee noted section 53 of the Constitution’s reference to the ‘ordinary’ annual services of the Government, before observing:
… the Parliament may be ordinary; it may be annual; it may even be regarded as a service; but it is not a service of the Government. It is therefore inconsistent with the concept of the separation of powers and the supremacy of Parliament to treat the provisions made for the Parliament as being an ordinary annual service of the Government.” (Parl. Paper 151/ 1981, p.18)
The Committee recommended:
… all items of expenditure administered by the Executive departments on behalf of the Parliament be brought together in [a] Parliamentary Appropriation Bill …
Since 1982, the appropriations for the Parliamentary departments have been provided for via a distinct Appropriation Bill. Quarantining appropriations in this way only applies to the Parliamentary departments (of which there are currently four). It does not extend to other aspects of the finances of the Parliament, such as providing for the remuneration and allowances of parliamentarians.
Even though, under the Constitution, the Judiciary is also distinct from the Executive, there is no equivalent practice whereby the Judiciary is provided for via a distinct Appropriation Bill.