Chapter 1Overview
Introduction
1.1The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee (the committee) is responsible for examining the additional expenditure of the departments and agencies within the Health, Disability and Ageing and Social Services portfolios.
Referral of documents
1.2On 5 February 2026, the Senate referred the following documents to legislation committees for examination:
particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2025-2026];
particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2025-2026]; and
particulars of proposed additional expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026 [Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2025-2026].
1.3The Portfolio Budget Statements for 2025–26 were tabled in the Senate on the same day.
1.4The Senate assigned 31 March 2026 as the date for the committee to report on its consideration of the Additional Estimates 2025–26.
Additional Estimates hearings
1.5On 27 November 2025, the Senate resolved that the committee’s additional estimates hearings would occur on Wednesday, 11 February and Thursday, 12 February 2026.
1.6On 11 February 2026, the committee examined the additional expenditure for the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio.
1.7On 12 February 2026, the committee continued its examination of the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio before commencing examination of the additional expenditure for the Social Services portfolio.
Health, Disability and Ageing
1.8The committee heard from Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians; Senator the Hon Nita Green, Assistant Minister for Northern Australia, Tourism and Pacific Island Affairs; and Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, representing the following ministers within the Health, Disability and Ageing portfolio:
The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing and the National Disability Insurance Scheme;
The Hon Sam Rae MP, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors;
The Hon Emma McBride MP, Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Rural and Regional Health; and
The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Indigenous Health and Women.
1.9Evidence was also provided by senior officers of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing led by the Secretary, Mr Blair Comley PSM, as well as the following agencies and statutory offices:
the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission;
the Independent Health and Aged Care Pricing Authority;
the Inspector-General of Aged Care;
the Australian Centre for Disease Control;
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare;
the National Disability Insurance Agency;
the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission;
the National Health and Medical Research Council; and
the Professional Services Review.
1.10At the invitation of the committee, Mr Justin Untersteiner, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, appeared at these estimates hearings and gave evidence.
1.11The following agencies were scheduled to appear before the committee, but were released without questioning:
the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care;
the Australian Digital Health Agency;
the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency;
the National Health Funding Body; and
the National Rural Health Commissioner.
Social Services portfolio
1.12The committee heard from Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, Minister for Women, Government Services, Finance and the Public Service, representing the following ministers within the Social Services portfolio:
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Social Services; and
The Hon Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Prevention of Family Violence.
1.13Evidence was also provided by senior officers of the Department of Social Services led by the Secretary, Mr Michael Lye, as well as the following agencies and statutory offices:
the Australian Institute of Family Studies;
the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission; and
the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
Note on this report
1.14This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented to the committee; rather, it outlines some of the key issues considered by the committee during its examination of the additional budget expenditure for 2025–26.
Questions on notice
1.15In accordance with Standing Order 26, the committee informed departments and their agencies of the agreed deadline of 9 April 2026 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice.
1.16Tabled documents from the hearings, in addition to responses to questions on notice and additional information provided to the committee, are tabled in the Senate and published on the committee’s webpage.
Notes on references and additional information
1.17References in this report are to the Proof Committee Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and the official versions of the Hansard transcript.
Acknowledgements
1.18The committee thanks the ministers and officers of the Health, Disability and Ageing and Social Services portfolios who provided evidence and for their support of the committee’s 2025–26 additional estimates hearings.