Research Paper Series 2015–16
PDF version [1.90MB]
Research Branch
May 2016
Introduction to the 2016 Budget Briefings
As is customary, the Library is providing a series of Budget
Review briefings to assist parliamentarians to consider key issues posed by the
2016–17 Budget, selected on the basis of significance, complexity or degree of
controversy.
The list is below—the Library will progressively publish
each article over the next couple of days.
Other Library publications you may also find useful:
In reading the Library’s budget briefs, several issues
should be borne in mind.
2016–17 Budget Review topics list
The Budget as a whole
The 2016–17 Budget: a quick guide (PDF 440KB)
Budget Overview – the Headline numbers
The economic and fiscal context
Reactions from interest groups
Budget Briefs
Arts and media
Broadcasting licence fees
Public broadcasting
Climate change, energy,
science and the environment
Clean energy support
Environment
Science and Innovation
Corporate regulation
Resourcing of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Defence
Defence budget overview
Defence personnel
Education
School education
Tertiary education
Foreign affairs
Foreign affairs and Official
Development Assistance
Health
Aged care
Dental health
Hospital funding
Medicare
Tobacco excise increase
Immigration and border
protection
Immigration and border protection overview
Indigenous affairs
Indigenous affairs
Infrastructure
Infrastructure expenditure
Infrastructure funding methods
Law, policing and national security
Legal aid and legal assistance services
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner: reinstatement of ongoing funding
Law enforcement and crime prevention
Cybersecurity
Public sector
Public sector staffing and efficiencies
Selected government ICT measures
Social services and welfare
Domestic and family violence
Investment approach to welfare
Welfare savings to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Youth employment measures
Superannuation
Changes to superannuation tax
concessions and contribution arrangements
Taxation
Corporate Tax rate reduction—large businesses
Implementing OECD taxation initiatives
Diverted profits tax ('Google tax')
Small business company tax rate changes
Personal income tax changes
Tax integrity package—establishing the tax avoidance taskforce
Wine equalisation tax rebate changes
Other issues
The Prime Minister has indicated
his intention to call a double dissolution election on 2 July. As the
Parliamentary Library’s FlagPost
article
explains, if that is to happen, the Governor-General must dissolve both houses
on or before 11 May.[1]
Funding for the ordinary
functions of government and for some programs ends on 30 June 2016. To provide
funding from 1 July 2016, the Government introduced Supply Bills which passed
Parliament without amendment on Wednesday 4 May 2016. They provide departmental
and administered funding for five months from 1 July 2016.
The Appropriation Bills tabled on
Budget night provide funding for the remaining seven months of the 2016–17
financial year. However, as with any other Bills remaining on the notice papers,
these Bills will lapse on the dissolution of Parliament. Should the double
dissolution be called, new Appropriation Bills, and any other budget-related
legislation, will be needed after the election for the seven months not covered
by the Supply Bills.
Several other events will shape
the consideration of the current Budget.
First, the Reserve Bank of
Australia (RBA) is due to release its quarterly Statement on Monetary Policy
(SoMP) at 11.30 am on Friday 6 May. This sets out in detail the RBA’s latest
views on the Australian economy and forecasts.
Second, within ten days of the
issue of the writ for a general election, the Secretary to the Treasury and the
Secretary of the Department of Finance are required to release publicly the Pre-election
Economic and Financial Outlook (PEFO), which is required under the Charter
of Budget Honesty Act 1998.
The purpose of the PEFO is to
provide updated information on the economic and fiscal outlook. The information
in the report takes into account, to the fullest extent possible, all government
decisions made before the issue of the writ and all other circumstances that
may have a material effect on the economic and fiscal outlook.
Parliamentarians are invited to
raise any points requiring clarification or amplification directly with the
research specialists who authored the briefs. Any general comments are also
welcome and can be raised with me or by writing to the Parliamentary Library.
Dr Dianne Heriot
Parliamentary Librarian
[1].
D Muller, ‘So you’ve been prorogued – common questions answered’, FlagPost,
Parliamentary Library blog, 23 march 2016.
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