31 Parliamentary appropriations

The committee, having considered the report of Estimates Committee A, recommends that—

1. the provisions of the resolution of the Senate dated 25 March 1982, relating to the responsibilities of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing with respect to the estimates for the Senate, are reaffirmed;
2. the estimates of expenditure for the Senate to be included in the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill shall continue to be those determined by the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing;
3. if before the introduction of the bill the Minister for Finance should, for any reason, wish to vary the details of the estimates determined by the committee the minister should consult with the President of the Senate with a view to obtaining the agreement of the committee to any variation;
4. in the event of agreement not being reached between the President and the minister, then the Leader of the Government in the Senate, as a member of the Appropriations and Staffing Committee, be consulted;
5. the Senate acknowledges that in considering any request from the Minister for Finance the committee and the Senate would take into consideration the relevant expenditure and staffing policies of the government of the day; and
6. in turn the Senate expects the government of the day to take into consideration the role and responsibilities of the Senate which are not of the executive government and which may at times involve conflict with the executive government.

(2 December 1985 J.676)

Note: Resolution of a committee of the whole, adopted by the Senate on 2 December 1985. The resolution of 25 March 1982 appointed the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing (now known as the Standing Committee on Appropriations, Staffing and Security) with the responsibility, inter alia, of determining appropriations for the Senate.

The committee, having considered the Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing—

1. reaffirms the resolution of 2 December 1985 concerning the determination of the estimates of expenditure for the Senate to be included in the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill;
2. requires the Minister for Finance to process the Senate department's estimates as early as practicable to enable any differences between the minister and the committee to be resolved in accordance with the resolution; and
3. expects that the resolution will be adhered to in determining those estimates in the future.

(30 November 1988 J.1214)

Note: Resolution of a committee of the whole, adopted by the Senate on 30 November 1988.

The committee, having considered the report of Estimates Committee A, recommends—

That the Senate reaffirms the resolution of 2 December 1985 relating to the determination of appropriations for the Senate, and calls upon the President, the Leader of the Government in the Senate and the Minister for Finance to observe and comply with the procedures set out in that resolution.

(29 November 1989 J.2273)

Note: Resolution of a committee of the whole, adopted by the Senate on 29 November 1989.

32 Parliamentary departments – structure and responsibilities

The Senate declares that no changes in the structure or responsibilities of the parliamentary departments should be made until—

1. particulars of proposed changes have been provided to all senators;
2. the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Staffing has examined the proposed changes and reported to the Senate; and
3. the Senate has approved of the changes.

(3 June 1987 J.1951)

33 Administration of parliamentary security

That the President direct, for his part, that any advice on security matters affecting senators, Parliament House and the parliamentary precincts tendered by the Secretary or another officer of DPS shall be co-signed by the Usher of the Black Rod or another officer of the Department of the Senate nominated by the Clerk, and, unless it is so co-signed, it shall not constitute satisfactory advice to the President.

(16 June 2004 J.3480)

Note: Part of a longer resolution adopting and endorsing the Appropriations and Staffing Committee's 40th report.