52nd Report
Estimates for the Department of the Senate 2011-12
Introduction
Standing order 19 (2) and (3) requires that the Committee determine the amount to be included in the parliamentary appropriation bill for the Department of the Senate.
Proposed Appropriations for 2011-12
The Committee notes that the Senate Department’s 2011-12 appropriations have been calculated in accordance with current Commonwealth funding policy. Under this policy, the forward estimates reflect:
- an increase in the efficiency dividend from 1.25 per cent to 1.5 per cent;
- funding for an agreed budget measure – the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform; and
- parameter adjustments (comprising partial cost of living supplementation).
The one significant change to the department's budget is the increased funding for the new budget measure, which totals $1.355m over three years commencing in 2010-11. Funding for 2010-11 will be appropriated in the 2011-12 budget period.
The Committee notes that funding for the Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform is the only approved budget measure of the three proposals endorsed by the Committee and submitted to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation. The other two proposals were:
- funding for legislative drafting and advice to meet a higher demand for private senators' bills arising from new opportunities resulting from the parliamentary reform proposals; and
- funding for enhanced information management capacity associated with Government 2.0 and new generation web technology to enable the Senate to maintain an appropriate presence on the Internet.
The Committee notes that there has been no response to its correspondence and no reason given for varying the proposals endorsed by the committee. The committee draws the attention of the government to resolutions of the Senate on 2 December 1985 and 30 November 1988 which set out processes to be followed in these circumstances.
The proposed appropriation has been calculated as follows:
Part 1 - Departmental Annual Appropriation
The current year’s budget for departmental expenses
(as disclosed in the 2010-11 PBS) $20.540m
Adjust for: parameter adjustments; and +0.289m
Additional efficiency dividend (1.5% for 2011-12) -0.101m
Agreed budget measure: Joint Select Committee on Gambling Reform:
Budget year 2010-11 +0.330m
Budget year 2011-12 +0.511m
Total departmental appropriation for 2011-12 $21.569m
Part 2 – Accumulated Prior Year Appropriations, Operating Results and Capital Expenditure
Balance of prior year appropriations (as at 30 April 2011) $10.457m
Part 3 - Special Appropriations (senators' remuneration and entitlements)
Made up of the following three components (for this and next year):
2010-11:
Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 $ 0.736m
Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 $ 1.010m
Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 $14.081m
Total Special Appropriations for 2010-11 $15.827m
2011-12:
Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 $ 0.736m
Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 $ 1.080m
Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 $14.646m
Total Special Appropriations for 2011-12 $16.462m
The total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the appropriation bill for
2011-12 will be $21.569m (compared to $20.540m in 2010-11).
Special appropriations of $16.462m will also be drawn down during the year (compared to an estimate of $15.827m in 2010-11).
Determination
The committee determines that the total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the appropriation bill for 2011-12 is $21.569m and reports to the Senate accordingly.
Senator the Hon John Hogg
Chairman
May 2011
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