Introduction
1.1
On 18 February 2021, the Senate referred the following items to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the committee):
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2020-2021];
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2020-2021]; and
Final budget outcome 2019-20 and the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts for 2019-20.
1.2
The portfolio additional estimates statements (PAES) for 2020-21 for the portfolios allocated to the committee were tabled in the Senate on 18 February 2021.
1.3
A reporting date of Tuesday, 20 April 2021 was set for the committee's report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2020-21 additional estimates. This date was later extended until 25 May due to the scheduling of two spillover hearings.
Portfolio coverage
1.4
In accordance with a resolution of the Senate on 31 August 2016, as amended on 12 February 2018 and 13 February 2020, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio, excluding Agriculture and Water;
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio, excluding Industry, Science, and Resources; and
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio, excluding Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
1.5
A list of the agencies, independent statutory bodies and office-holders for which the committee has oversight is available at Appendix 1.
Proposed Additional Expenditure for 2020-21
1.6
The Proposed Additional Expenditure for 2020-21 for the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio; the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio; and the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 18 February 2021.
Hearings
1.7
On 2 December 2020, the Senate resolved that additional estimates hearings for the committee would occur on 22 and 23 March 2021, with an additional day, if required, on 26 March.
1.8
The committee examined the environment outcomes and agencies of the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio followed by the emissions and energy outcomes and agencies of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio at the hearing on 22 March 2021. On 23 March, the committee examined the communications and arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and on 26 March the committee examined NBN Co Limited. Finally, on 3 May, the committee held a spillover hearing to continue the examination of the energy outcomes of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio.
1.9
The committee heard evidence from the following minsters:
Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy and Minster for Women's Economic Security, representing the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts; and
Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction.
1.10
Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of the portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment;
Mr David Fredericks, Secretary, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources; and
Mr Simon Atkinson, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
1.11
The following portfolio agencies were not required to appear:
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Office of the Supervising Scientist
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio
Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner (previously known as National Wind Farm Commissioner)
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio
Australia Business Arts Foundation Ltd. (Creative Partnerships Australia)
Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Australian National Maritime Museum
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
National Library of Australia
National Museum of Australia
National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Classification Review Board
1.12
The committee extends its appreciation to the ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting its 2020‑21 additional estimates hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.13
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set 7 May 2021 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information. For the spillover hearing held on 3 May, the committee set the date for the return of written answers as 15 June.
1.14
Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice arising from the hearings are tabled in the Senate and posted on the committee's website. Links to the transcripts of these public hearings and to answers, tabled documents and additional information are available at: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/ec.
Budget estimates 2020-21: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.15
The committee's 2020-21 budget estimates examined the environment outcomes of Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on
19–20 October 2020, the emissions and energy outcomes of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio on 20 October, and the communications and arts outcomes of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 21–22 October.
1.16
Spillover hearings were held on 9 and 11 November. The former examined the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia Post and NBN Co Limited. The latter examined the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, including the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, and the Threatened Species Scientific Committee.
1.17
Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio: 3 December 2020;
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio: 3 December 2020;
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio: 10 December 2020; and
Spillover hearings: 21 December 2020.
1.18
The committee received answers to 144 of the 147 questions taken on notice from the 19–20 October 2020 hearings for the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio by the due date of 3 December. The remainder were received on 4 December. From the spillover hearing held on 11 November,
29 of the 30 answers to questions on notice were received by the due date of
21 December with the remaining answer received on 12 February 2021.
1.19
The committee received answers to 3 of the 106 questions taken on notice from the 20 October 2020 hearing for the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio by the due date of 10 December. The remainder were received progressively throughout the period up until the last answer was received on 22 February 2021.
1.20
The committee received answers to 59 of the 239 questions taken on notice from the 21–22 October 2020 hearings for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio by the due date of
3 December. The remainder were received progressively throughout the period up until the last answer was received on 19 March 2021. From the spillover hearing held on 9 November, 9 of the 106 answers to questions on notice were received by the due date of 21 December with the remaining answer received progressively up until the last answer was received on
19 March 2021.
1.21
On 16 February 2021, pursuant to standing order 74(5), Senators Urquhart and Kitching asked the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Senator the Hon Jane Hume, for an explanation of answers not being provided to questions placed on notice during the consideration by the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee of the 2020-21 budget estimates. At this date, there were 118 overdue answers to questions on notice. Senator Hume provided an explanation and stated that: “I will contact the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts in relation to these questions.” Senators Urquhart and Kitching then responded to the minister’s explanation in turn.
Record of proceedings
1.22
This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a brief list of some of the key issues that were canvassed by the committee for each portfolio.
Note on references and additional information
1.23
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.