1.1
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee (the committee) is responsible for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the Treasury Portfolio and the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Portfolio (Industry Portfolio) excluding matters relating to energy.
1.2
On 15 April 2021, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia issued an Administrative Arrangement Order (AAO). The provisions of the AAO resulted in the allocation of matters relating to small business policy and programmes to the Department of the Treasury from 15 April 2021. This change to the allocation of departments and agencies passed in the Senate Chamber on 12 May 2021.
Documents referred
1.3
On 11 May 2021, the Senate referred the following documents to the committee for examination and report in relation to the abovementioned portfolios:
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022];
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022]; and
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022].
1.4
The Portfolio Budget Statements for the Treasury Portfolio and Industry Portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 11 May 2021.
Budget estimates hearings
1.5
To facilitate the examination, the Senate set 1-4 June 2021 as the dates for the committee to hold its 2021-22 Budget estimates hearings, with the first two days set aside for the Treasury Portfolio and the last two days for the Industry Portfolio.
1.6
The agencies that appeared before the committee are included in chapter 2. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation and Australian Institute of Marine Science were scheduled to appear on 4 June 2021, but were released by the committee.
1.7
Evidence was provided at the hearings by the following Ministers:
Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Finance;
Senator the Hon. Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy;
Senator the Hon. Zed Seselja, representing the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology;
Senator the Hon. Jonathon Duniam representing the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology;
Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds representing the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia; and
Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston representing the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia.
1.8
Evidence was also provided by senior officers of the Treasury Portfolio, led by Secretary Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, and of the Industry Portfolio, led by Secretary Mr David Fredericks PSM.
1.9
The committee thanks the ministers and officers who provided evidence at, and support for, the committee's estimates hearings.
1.10
A verbatim record of the committee's hearings is made via the Committee Hansard and is accessible on the committee's estimates webpage. References in this report are to the proof Committee Hansard.
1.11
A list of the documents tabled during the committee's hearings is available at Appendix 1. Tabled documents are published on the committee's estimates webpage.
Public interest immunity claims
1.12
On 13 May 2009, the Senate passed an order relating to public interest immunity (PII) claims. The order sets out the processes to be followed if a witness declines to answer a question. The full text of this order has previously been provided to departments and agencies and was incorporated in the Chair's opening statement at the commencement of each hearing.
1.13
The committee notes that no PII claims were made by witnesses during its 2021-22 Budget estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.14
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee has drawn the attention of the departments and their agencies to the agreed deadline of 16 July 2021 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice (QoN).
1.15
As the committee is required to report to the Senate before responses to questions are due, this report has been prepared without reference to any QoNs.
1.16
Responses to QoNs and additional information provided to the committee are tabled in the Senate and published on the committee's estimates webpage as they become available.
Report structure
1.17
The Senate determined that the committee will report on its consideration of the 2021-22 proposed Budget expenditure on 13 July 2021.
1.18
This report is structured as follows:
Chapter 1―provides an overview of the committee's hearings;
Chapter 2―reports on the key issues considered by the committee during the hearings; and
Appendix 1―lists the documents tabled during the committee's hearing.
1.19
This report does not seek to comprehensively analyse the evidence provided to the committee, rather the report is intended to inform the Senate of the key issues considered by the committee during the course of the hearings.