1.1
On 29 March 2022, the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (committee) for examination and report:
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.
Portfolio coverage
1.2
In accordance with resolutions of the Senate on 13 February 2020 and as amended on 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 Budget Estimates Statements 2022–23
1.4
The Portfolio Budget Estimates Statements 2022–23 for the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio and the Attorney-General's portfolio (covering Industrial Relations matters) were tabled in the Senate on 29 March 2022.
Hearings
1.5
On 1 December 2021, the Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, moved that Budget estimates hearings for the committee would occur from Friday, 1 April 2022 to Thursday, 7 April 2022, and if required, Friday 8 April 2022.
1.6
Accordingly, the committee agreed to consider particulars of proposed expenditure as follows:
Employment and Industrial Relations matters —1 April 2022
Education, Skills and Employment matters—6 April 2022
Education, Skills and Employment matters — 7 April 2022.
1.7
The first and second days of hearings focused on employment and industrial relations matters under the responsibility of the Attorney-General's Department and its agencies, and on the Education, Skills and Employment portfolio under the responsibility of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and its agencies. The third and final day of hearings 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 Linda Reynolds, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services
Senator the Hon Amanda Stoker, Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General representing the Minister for Education
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and Minister for Women's Safety.
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 2022–23 Budget estimates hearings.
Questions on notice
1.11
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee set 27 May 2022 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice arising from the 2022–2023 budget estimates hearings.
1.12
Answers to questions on notice are published on the committee's website.
Hansard transcripts
1.13
Committee Hansard transcripts are accessible on the committee's website.
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.