1.1
On 18 February 2021, the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2020-2021]
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2020-2021]
Estimates of proposed additional expenditure for 2020-21–Portfolio additional statements–Portfolios and executive departments.
Portfolio coverage
1.2
In accordance with a resolution of the Senate on 31 August 2016, as amended on 12 February 2018 and on 13 February 2020, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Education, Skills and Employment, including Industrial Relations
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, excluding Industry, Science, Energy and Resources but including Small Business.
1.3
A full list of agencies is available at Appendix 1.
Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2020-21
1.4
The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2020–21 for the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio, the Attorney-General's portfolio (covering Industrial Relations matters) and the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio (covering Small Business matters) were tabled in the Senate on 18 February 2020.
Hearings
1.5
On 1 December 2020, the Minister for Families and Social Services,
Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, by leave, moved that Additional estimates hearings for the committee would occur from Wednesday, 24 March 2021 to Thursday, 25 March 2021.
1.6
Accordingly, the committee agreed to consider particulars of expenditure as follows:
Employment and Industrial Relations matters, including Small
Business—24 March 2021
Education, Skills and Employment matters—25 March 2021.
1.7
The first day focused on employment and industrial relations matters under the responsibility of the Attorney-General's Department and its agencies, and on small business matters under the responsibility of the
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and its agencies. The second day focused on the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio under the responsibility of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and its agencies.
1.8
The committee heard evidence from the following Minsters:
Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Senator the Hon. Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, and Assistant Minister for Industry representing the Minister for Industrial Relations
Senator the Hon. Amanda Stoker, Assistant Minister to the
Attorney-General representing the Minister for Education.
1.9
Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of their portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr Iain Anderson, Acting Secretary, Attorney-General's Department
Mr David Fredericks PSM, Secretary, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources
Dr Michele Bruniges AM, Secretary, Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
1.10
The committee extends its appreciation to the Ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting its
2020-21 Additional estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.11
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee agreed that the date for the return of answers in response to questions placed on notice from the Additional estimates 2020-21 hearings from 24 to 25 March would be
7 May 2021.
Hansard transcripts
1.14
In 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.