1.1
On 18 February 2021, the Senate referred the following documents to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021; and
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021.
1.2
The committee is required to examine the 2020–21 budget estimates contained in these documents in relation to the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. Following examination, a reporting date of Tuesday, 20 April 2021 was set for the committee to report on its consideration of the 2020-21 Budget estimates.
Hearings
1.3
The committee examined witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 22 March 2021, and witnesses from the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on 23 March 2021. In addition, the committee conducted a cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters estimates hearing on 26 March 2021 in accordance with a Senate motion of 2 December 2020.
1.4
The committee heard evidence from the following senators:
Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries;
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business;
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australian and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport; and
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services.
1.5
Evidence was also provided by:
Mr Simon Atkinson, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications;
Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment;
Mr Hilton Taylor, Acting Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder; and
officers representing the departments and agencies covered by the estimates before the committee.
1.6
The committee thanks the Ministers, departmental secretaries and officers for their assistance and cooperation during the hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcript
1.7
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set
Friday, 7 May 2021, as the date for the return of written answers or additional information, in response to questions placed on notice during the hearings.
1.8
Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice arising from the hearings are tabled in the Senate and posted on the committee's webpage. Links to the Hansard transcripts of these public hearings, and to answers and additional information are also available on the committee webpage at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/rrat.
Record of proceedings
1.9
This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a summary of some of the key issues that were covered by the committee for each portfolio.
Answers to questions on notice – budget estimates 2020–21
1.10
The committee undertook budget estimates hearings from
19 to 22 October 2020 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. On 23 October 2020, the committee examined
cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters. The committee set
3 December 2020 as the deadline for return of answers to questions on notice.
1.11
The committee also undertook a spill over budget estimates hearing on
10 November 2020 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio. The committee set 17 December 2020 as the deadline for return of answers to questions on notice.
1.12
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio took 375 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio took 199 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.13
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio submitted no responses to questions by the deadline. Five responses remain outstanding as of the reporting date.
1.14
The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio submitted all responses by the deadline.
Note on references
1.15
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard; page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcripts.