Chapter 1Overview
1.1On 5 February 2026, the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026;
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026; and
1.2Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026.
Portfolio coverage
1.3In accordance with resolutions of the Senate on 23 July 2025, the committee is responsible for the examination of expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Education; and
Employment and Workplace Relations.
Portfolio Additional Estimates 2024–25
1.4The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements for 2025–26 for the Education portfolio and the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 5 February 2026.
Hearings
1.5On 27 November 2025, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, the Minister for Finance, moved that the committee's additional estimates hearings take place on 11 and 12 February 2026.
1.6Accordingly, the committee agreed to consider particulars of proposed expenditure as follows:
Employment and Workplace Relations matters – 11 February 2026
Education matters – 12 February 2026.
1.7The first day of hearings focused on the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, under the responsibility of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The final day of the hearings examined the Education portfolio, under the responsibility of the Department of Education.
1.8The committee heard evidence from the following Ministers:
Senator the Hon Murray Watt, the Minister for Environment and Water, representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations; and
Senator the Hon Dr Jess Walsh, Minister for Early Childhood and Youth representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and the Minister for Education.
1.9Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of their portfolio departments and agencies:
Ms Tania Rishniw, Acting Secretary, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations; and
Mr Tony Cook PSM, Secretary, Department of Education.
1.10The following portfolio agencies from the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio were not required to appear:
Asbestos and Silica Safety and Eradication Agency;
Coal Mining Industry (Long Service Leave Funding) Corporation; and
Seafarers Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Authority.
1.11For the Education portfolio, the committee called all agencies, however the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority was released without questions.
1.12The committee extends its appreciation to the ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting its 2025–26 Additional Estimates hearings.
Questions on Notice
1.13In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee set 9 April 2026 as the date for return of answers to questions on notice arising from the 2025–26 Additional Estimates hearings.
1.14Answers to questions on notice are published on the committee's website.
Hansard transcripts
1.15Committee Hansard transcripts are accessible on the committee's website.
1.16In this report, references to the committee Hansard are to the proof transcripts. Page numbers may vary between the transcripts of the proof Hansard and the official Hansard.
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2025–26: Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.17In accordance with the Senate resolution on 28 August 2025, the committee held two sets of hearings for the 2025–26 supplementary Budget estimates across October and December. The committee examined the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio on 9 October and 3 December 2025. The committee examined the Education portfolio on 10 October and 4 December 2025.
1.18Consequently, the committee agreed to set two separate due dates for answers to questions on notice. In total there were 3005 questions on notice lodged for the 2025–26 Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings.
October hearings
1.19The committee set 21 November 2025 as the due date for answers to questions on notice arising from the Supplementary Budget Estimates 2025–26 hearings in October.
1.20For the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, the committee received 88 answers out of 987 questions on notice by the due date. The remaining answers were received between 22 November 2025 and 13 February 2026.
1.21For the Education portfolio, the committee received 58 answers out of 546 questions on notice by the due date. At the time of writing, one question on notice remains unanswered from the Australian National University.
December hearings
1.22The committee set 29 January 2026 as the due date for answers to questions on notice arising from the December Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings.
1.23For the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, the committee received 358 answers to 964 questions on notice by the due date. The remaining answers were received between 4 February 2026 and 12 March 2026.
1.24For the Education portfolio, the committee received 403 answers out of 508 questions on notice by the due date. At the time of writing, 97 questions on notice remain unanswered from the Australian National University.
1.25The committee encourages all portfolio department and agencies to respond to questions on notice by the due date for future estimates hearings.