Chapter 1Introduction
Introduction
1.1On 14 May 2024, the Senate referred the following documents to the Environment and Communications Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2025; and
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2025.
1.2A reporting date of 2 July 2024 was set for the committee’s report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2024–25 budget estimates.
Portfolio Coverage
1.3In accordance with a resolution of the Senate on 27 July 2022, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts (Communications and the Arts functions only).
1.4A list of the agencies, independent statutory bodies, and officeholders for which the committee has oversight is available at Appendix 1.
Hearings
1.5On 19 October 2023, the Senate resolved that the committee’s budget estimates hearings would be held from 28 to 31 May 2024, with a cross portfolio hearing on Murray Darling Basin Plan matters on 7June 2024.
1.6On 28 and 29 May 2024, the committee examined the outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
1.7On 30 and 31 May 2024, the committee examined the Communications and the Arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio.
1.8On 7 June 2024, the committee held a hearing on cross portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters. In addition to the relevant areas within the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the committee also called the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and Geoscience Australia from outside the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
1.9On 18 June 2024, the committee held a spillover hearing to examine NBN Co Limited and the Australian Postal Corporation under the Communications and the Arts portfolio.
1.10The committee heard evidence from the following ministers:
Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and the Minister for the Environment and Water; and
Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, representing the Minister for Communications and the Minister for the Arts.
1.11Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of the portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr David Fredericks, Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Mr Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
1.12The following agencies were not required to appear:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust.
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts portfolio
Australian Film, Television and Radio School;
Australian National Maritime Museum;
Bundanon Trust;
Classification Review Board;
Museum of Australian Democracy;
National Archives of Australia;
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia;
National Library of Australia; and
Screen Australia.
1.13The following outcome and agencies were requested by the committee, but were subsequently released from the program:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio
Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner;
Australian Energy Regulator;
Australian Institute of Marine Science;
Australian Renewable Energy Agency;
Climate Change Authority;
Clean Energy Finance Corporation;
Clean Energy Regulator;
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in relation to Outcome 3: Advance Australia’s environmental, scientific, strategic and economic interests in the Antarctic region by protecting, researching and administering in the region, including through international engagement;
Director of National Parks;
Offshore Infrastructure Registrar;
Offshore Infrastructure Regulator; and
Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, and the Arts portfolio
Classification Board; and
Special Broadcasting Service Corporation.
Industry, Science and Resources portfolio
Geoscience Australia.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.14In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set 18 July 2024 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice. On 24 June 2024, the committee granted the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio an extension until 25 July 2024 for the return of answers.
1.15Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice are tabled in the Senate and posted on the committee's website. Links to the transcripts of the public hearings and to answers, tabled documents and additional information are available from the committee’s website.
Additional Estimates 2023–24: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.16The committee’s 2023–24 additional estimates hearings examined outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio on 12 February 2024, the Communications and the Arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio on 13 February 2024 and Cross Portfolio Murray Darling Basin Plan matters on 16 February 2024. An additional hearing on 27 February 2024 examined the Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
1.17Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Hearings held on 12, 13 and 16 February 2024: 5 April 2024; and
Hearing held on 27 February 2024: 16 April 2024.
1.18The committee received answers to 208 of the 374 questions taken on notice for the 12 and 16 February 2024 hearings for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 5 April 2024. The remaining answers were received by 14 May 2024.
1.19The committee received answers to 64 of the 154 questions taken on notice for the 13 February 2024 hearing for the Communications and Arts portfolio by the due date of 5 April 2024. The remaining answers were received by 30 May 2024.
1.20As part of the cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters hearing on 16February 2024, the committee examined the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). During the hearing the ACCC took two questions on notice, both of which were not received by the due date of 5April 2024, being received on 15 April 2024.
1.21The committee received answers to 24 of the 29 questions taken on notice for the 27 February 2024 hearing for the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 16 April 2024. The remaining answers were received by 14 May 2024.
Records of proceedings
1.22This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a list of some of the key issues that were canvassed by the committee for each portfolio.
Note on references and additional information
1.23References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.