1.1
On 1 December 2021, the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022; and
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022.
Portfolio Coverage
1.2
In accordance with resolutions of the Senate on 13 February 2020 and 12 May 2021, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolio:
Education, Skills and Employment, including Industrial Relations.
1.3
A full list of agencies is available at Appendix 1.
Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2021–22
1.4
The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2021–22 for the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio and the Attorney-General's portfolio (covering Industrial Relations matters) were tabled in the Senate on 10 February 2022.
Hearings
1.5
On 1 December 2021, the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston, moved that Additional estimates hearings for the committee would occur from Wednesday, 16 February 2022 to Thursday,
17 February 2022.
1.6
Accordingly, the committee agreed to consider particulars of proposed expenditure as follows:
Employment and Industrial Relations matters —16 February 2022
Education, Skills and Employment matters—17 February 2022.
1.7
The first day focused on employment and industrial relations matters under the responsibility of the Attorney–General's Department and its agencies. The second day focused on the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio under the responsibility of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and its agencies.
1.8
The committee heard evidence from the following Ministers:
Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, Attorney–General and Minister for Industrial Relations
Senator the Hon. Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, and Assistant Minister for Industry representing the Minister for Industrial Relations
Senator the Hon. Amanda Stoker, Assistant Minister to the Attorney–General representing the Minister for Education and Youth.
1.9
Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of their portfolio departments and agencies:
Ms Katherine Jones PSM, Secretary, Attorney–General's Department
Dr Michele Bruniges AM, Secretary, Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
1.10
The committee extends its appreciation to the Ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting its Additional Estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.11
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee agreed that the date for the return of answers in response to questions placed on notice from the Additional Estimates 2021–22 hearings from 16 to 17 February would be
25 March 2021.
Hansard transcripts
1.14
In this report, references to the Committee Hansard are to the proof transcripts. Page numbers may vary between the transcripts of the Proof Hansard and the Official Hansard.