Chapter 1
Overview
1.1
The Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
presents its report to the Senate.
1.2 On 4 December 2008[1]
the Senate referred the following documents to the committee for examination
and report in relation to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio:
- Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the
year ending on 30 June 2009 [Appropriation Bill (no. 3) 2008–2009];
- Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect
of the year ending on 30 June 2009 [Appropriation Bill (no. 4) 2008–2009];
- Final budget outcome 2007–08, —Report by the Treasurer (Mr Swan)
and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Mr Tanner), September 2008; and
- Issues from the Advance to the Finance Minister as a final charge
for the year ended 30 June 2008
1.3
Standing committees are required to report to the Senate on 17 March 2009.
Portfolio coverage
1.4 The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes
of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio. Appendix 1
lists the department and agencies under this portfolio.
Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2008–09
1.5
The Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) and the Portfolio Additional
Estimates Statements (PAES) inform senators of the proposed allocation of funding
to Government outcomes by agencies within the portfolio. However, unlike the
PBS the PAES summarise only the changes in funding by outcome since the
Budget. For the first time, the PAES include an Agency Resource Statement, as
well as the information on new measures and the Appropriation Bills.
Portfolio Supplementary Additional Estimates Statements 2008–09
Appropriation (Nation Building and
Jobs) Bill (Nos. 1 & 2) 2008–09
1.6 Under the above appropriation package, supplementary estimates have been
allocated to programs within the department that relate to the Government's National
Building and Jobs Plan announced on 3 February 2009. These Portfolio
Supplementary Additional Estimates Statements were tabled in the Senate
10 February 2009.[2] Appropriations from the National Building and Jobs bill were assigned to the
'Building the Education Revolution' program, with the aim of improving the
quality of facilities in schools around the country. Moreover, the Department has
brought forward funding of $110 million for the 'Trade Training Centres in
Schools' program from 2010–11 to 2009–10 to 'fast track measures to improve the
skills base of the workforce and improve productivity for the future'.[3]
Hearings
1.7
The committee conducted two days of hearings, examining Education
outcomes on 25 February 2009 and Employment and Workplace Relations outcomes
and related agencies on 26 February 2009. In total the committee met for 16
hours and 50 minutes, excluding breaks.
1.8
The following agencies were not required at the hearings:
- Comcare;
- Australian Fair Pay Commission Secretariat; and
- Australian Industrial Registry.
1.9
The following Outcome was released without questioning:
- Outcome 5- Transitions and Youth
1.10
Appendix 2 of this report lists the table of contents of the Hansard transcripts.
These transcripts are available on the committee's homepage under estimates and
on the Hansard website: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/comsen.asp.
Questions on notice
1.11
The committee has drawn the attention of the department and its agencies
to the agreed deadline of Thursday 9 April 2009 for the receipt of answers to
questions taken on notice from this round, in accordance with Standing Order
26.
1.12
For this round, written questions on notice were received from Senators Abetz,
Bernardi, Cash, Fierravanti-Wells, Hanson-Young, Humphries, Macdonald, Mason, Ronaldson
and Siewert.
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