Chapter 1Introduction
1.1On 27 November 2025, the Senate referred the following documents to the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026; and
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2026.
1.2A reporting date of 31 March 2026 was set for the committee’s report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2025–26 additional estimates.
Portfolio coverage
1.3In accordance with a resolution of the Senate made on 23 July 2025, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only).
1.4A list of the agencies, independent statutory bodies and officeholders for which the committee has oversight is available at Appendix 1.
Hearings
1.5On 27 November 2025, the Senate resolved that the committee’s additional estimates hearings would be held from 9 to 10 February 2026.
1.6On 9 February 2026, the committee examined the outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
1.7On 10 February 2026, the committee examined the outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only).
1.8The committee heard evidence from the following ministers:
Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water;
Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation, Minister for Science, representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy; and
Senator the Hon Nita Green, Assistant Minister for Northern Australia, Assistant Minister for Tourism and Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, representing the Minister for Communications, Sport and the Minister for the Arts.
1.9Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr Mike Kaiser, Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Mr Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
1.10The following agencies were not required to appear:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio
Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner;
Director of National Parks;
Offshore Infrastructure Registrar;
Offshore Infrastructure Regulator; and
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only)
Australian National Maritime Museum;
Australian Sports Foundation Ltd;
Bundanon Trust;
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia;
National Library of Australia;
National Portrait Gallery of Australia; and
Sport Integrity Australia.
1.11The following outcomes and agencies were requested by the committee, but were subsequently released from the program:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio
Australian Institute of Marine Science;
Australian Renewable Energy Agency;
Clean Energy Regulator;
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Inspector-General of Water Compliance; and
Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only)
Australian Film, Television and Radio School;
Australia Post;
NBN Co Limited;
Screen Australia;
Museum of Australian Democracy;
National Archives of Australia;
National Gallery of Australia; and
National Museum of Australia.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.12In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee set 10 April 2026 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information.
1.13Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice are tabled in the Senate and posted on the committee’s website. Links to the transcripts of the public hearings and to answers, tabled documents and additional information are available on the committee’s website.
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2025–26: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.14The committee’s 2024–25 Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings examined the outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio on 7 October 2025 and 1 December 2025, the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only) on 8 October 2025 and 1 December 2025.
1.15Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Hearings held on 7 and 8 October 2025: 28 November 2025; and
Hearings held on 1 and 2 December 2025: 29 January 2026.
1.16The committee received 577 of the 581 questions taken on notice for the 7 October 2025 hearing for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 28 November 2025. The remaining answers were received by 19 January 2026.
1.17The committee received 144 of the 256 questions taken on notice for the 8 October 2025 hearing for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only) by the due date of 28 November 2025. The remaining answers were received by 9 February 2026.
1.18The committee received 354 of the 359 questions taken on notice for the 1 December 2025 hearing for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 29 January 2026. The remaining answers were received by 9 February 2026.
1.19The committee received none of the 301 questions taken on notice for the 2 December 2025 hearing for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts portfolio (Communications, Sport and the Arts functions only) by the due date of 29 January 2026. All answers were received by 10 February 2026.
Records of proceedings
1.20This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a list of some of the key issues that were canvassed by the committee for each portfolio.
Notes on references and additional information
1.21References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.