PREFACE


PREFACE

On 26 November 2009, the Senate referred to the committee the examination of estimates of proposed additional expenditure for the financial year 2009-10.  The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's Portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio. The portfolio additional estimates statements were tabled on 26 November 2009.  A correction to the Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2009-2010 was tabled at the committee's hearing on 9 February 2010.

Reference of documents

The Senate referred to the committee, for examination and report, the following documents:

  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2010 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2009-2010];
  • Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2010 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2009-2010];
  • Final budget outcome 2008-09 – Reports by the Treasurer (Mr Swan) and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Mr Tanner), September 2009; and
  • Issues from the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts – Report for 2008-09.

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the Additional Estimates on or before 23 February 2010.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 8 and 9 February 2010.

Over the course of the two days' hearings, totalling over 22 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
  • Attorney-General's Department;
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service;
  • Australian Federal Police;
  • Australian Human Rights Commission;
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation;
  • Classification Board and Classification Review Board;
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship;
  • Family Court of Australia;
  • Federal Court of Australia;
  • Federal Magistrates Court of Australia; and
  • High Court of Australia.

Copies of Hansard are available on the internet at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/index.htm.

An index of the Hansard for each portfolio appears at Appendix 3 and Appendix 4.

Ministers

On 8 February 2010, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State, and Senator the Hon Mark Arbib, Minister for Employment Participation and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Government Service Delivery, representing the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs.  On 9 February 2010, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks ministers and officers for their assistance.

Questions on notice

Further written explanations, and answers to questions on notice, will be tabled as soon as possible after they are received. That information is also available on the committee's internet page at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/index.

The committee has resolved that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the Additional Estimates round is 26 March 2010.

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