1.1
The Senate Economics Legislation Committee (the committee) is responsible for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the Treasury Portfolio, Industry, Science, Energy and Resources Portfolio (Industry Portfolio) and the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications Portfolio (Infrastructure Portfolio).
Documents referred
1.2
The Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) for the Treasury Portfolio and Industry Portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 29 March 2022.
1.3
On 29 March 2022 the Senate referred the following documents to the committee for examination and report in relation to the abovementioned portfolios:
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on
30 June 2023;
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023;
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023;
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on
30 June 2023 [Supply Bill (No.1) 2022-2023];
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023 [Supply Bill (No.2) 2022-2023];
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023 [Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.1) 2022-2023].
Budget estimates hearings
1.4
To facilitate the examination of expenditure and outcomes, the Senate set the
1, 6 and 7 April 2022 as the dates for the committee to hold its 2022—23 Budget estimates hearings, with the first day shared by the Treasury and Industry Portfolios, the second day for the Treasury Portfolio only, and the third day for the Industry and Infrastructure Portfolio.
1.5
During the course of the hearings, the committee agreed to adopt and amend the program, releasing the Infrastructure Portfolio from appearing on the third day of hearings.
1.6
The agencies that appeared before the committee are included in Chapter 2. The following agencies were scheduled to appear before the committee on the
6–7 April 2022, but were released:
Australian Office of Financial Management (AOFM);
Inspector-General of Taxation;
Productivity Commission (PC);
Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO);
National Housing Finance and Investments Commission (NHFIC);
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS);
Australian Energy Regulator (AER);
Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS);
Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS);
Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF); and
Office of Northern Australia.
1.7
Evidence was provided at the hearings by the following Ministers:
Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Minister for Finance;
Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy;
Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, representing the Minister for Industry, the Minister for Science and Technology, and the Minster for Resources and Water; and
Senator the Hon Amanda Stoker, representing the Minister for Industry, the Minister for Science and Technology, and the Minister for Resources and Water.
1.8
Evidence was also provided by senior executive officers of the Treasury Portfolio, led by the Secretary, Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, and of the Industry Portfolio, led by the Secretary, Mr David Fredericks PSM.
1.9
The committee thanks the Ministers and officers who provided evidence at and support for the committee's estimates hearings.
1.10
A verbatim record of the committee's hearings is made via the Committee Hansard and is accessible on the committee's estimates webpage. References in this report are to the proof Committee Hansard.
1.11
A list of the documents tabled during the committee's hearings is available at Appendix 1. A copy of documents tabled are published on the committee's estimates webpage.
Public interest immunity claims
1.12
On 13 May 2009, the Senate passed an order relating to public interest immunity (PII) claims. The order sets out the processes to be followed if a witness declines to answer a question. The full text of this order has previously been provided to departments and agencies and was incorporated in the Chair's opening statement at the commencement of each hearing.
1.13
The committee notes that no PII claims were made by witnesses during its
2022–23 Budget estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.14
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee has drawn the attention of the departments and their agencies to the agreed deadline of
14 April 2022 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice (QoN).
1.15
As the committee is required to report to the Senate before responses to questions are due, this report has been prepared without reference to any QoN responses.
1.16
Responses to QoNs and additional information provided to the committee are tabled in the Senate and uploaded to the committee's estimates webpage and when they become available.
Report structure
1.17
The Senate determined that the committee will report on its considerations of the 2022–23 proposed Budget expenditure on 16 May 2022.
1.18
This report is structured as follows:
Chapter 1—provides an overview of the committee's hearings;
Chapter 2—reports on the key issues considered by the committee during the hearings; and
Appendix 1—lists the documents tabled during the committee's hearings.
1.19
This report does not seek to comprehensively analyse the evidence provided to the committee, rather the report is intended to inform the Senate of the key issues considered by the committee during the course of the hearings.