Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Additional Estimates 2012–13

1.1        On 7 February 2013, the Senate referred the following to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (the committee):

  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2012–2013];
  • Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2012–2013];
  • Final Budget Outcome 2011–12; and
  • Issues from the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts for 2011–12.

Portfolio coverage

1.2        The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the following:

  • Parliament;[1]
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio; and
  • Finance and Deregulation Portfolio.

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements

1.3        The Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) sought additional estimates and variations for 2012-13. The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2012–13 for the Finance and Deregulation Portfolio was tabled in the Senate on 7 February 2013.

1.4        Finance sought net additional funding of $27.6 million through Appropriation Bill (No. 3) as follows:

  • $0.2 million in 2012–13 to extend overseas travel entitlements for the leader of the Opposition and the leaders of minority parties; and
  • $27.4 million in 2012–13 for the MoP(S) Act Enterprise Agreement.

1.5        Finance also sought net additional funding of $5.0 million in Appropriation Bill (No. 4), for the establishment of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Company.

1.6        It was also indicated in the PAES that Finance's administered special appropriation will increase by $1.1 billion in 2012–13 due to revisions of superannuation estimates.[2]

1.7        The parliamentary departments and the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio did not seek additional funding through the 2012–13 additional estimates.

Hearings

1.8        The committee held public hearings on Monday, 11 February 2013 (parliamentary departments and Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio) and Tuesday, 12 February 2013 (Finance and Deregulation Portfolio). The committee took evidence from the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon. John Hogg; Senator the Hon. Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Leader of the Government in the Senate, and Senator the Hon. David Feeney, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, representing the Prime Minister; and Senator the Hon. Penny Wong, Minister for Finance and Deregulation, together with officers of relevant departments and agencies. The committee expresses its appreciation for the assistance of the President, Ministers, Departmental Secretaries and the officers who appeared before it.

1.9        The Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security was released from the hearing on 11 February 2013 without examination, while the following agencies were not required to attend the hearings:

  • Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation;
  • Australian River Co Ltd;
  • Independent National Security Legislation Monitor;
  • National Australia Day Council;
  • Office of National Assessments; and
  • COAG Reform Council Secretariat.

1.10      A delegation from the Parliament of Afghanistan attended the hearing on Tuesday, 12 February 2013, during examination of the Finance and Deregulation Portfolio, to observe proceedings. The delegation included the chair of the Economic Budget and Finance Committee, the chair and members of the Public Accounts Subcommittee, the Deputy Minister for Finance and the Auditor-General. The delegation's focus was to learn from international practice in conducting their roles in budget and oversight processes.

Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts

1.11      Most departments and agencies provided answers to questions on notice from the supplementary budget estimates hearings in October last year by the due date of 30 November 2012. However, the committee notes the late submission of a number of answers to questions on notice for the Finance and Deregulation Portfolio, with only 21 answers out of a total of 111 outstanding questions received by the due date. The committee hopes to see a more timely provision of answers in the future.

1.12      The committee has set 2 April 2013 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice arising from the additional estimates hearings. This information, together with the Hansards transcripts of proceedings of hearings, are published on the committee's website at:

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate_Committees?url=fapa_ctte/estimates/add_1213/index.htm.

Note on references

1.13      References to the estimates Hansard are to the proof Hansard; page number may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcript.

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