Introduction
1.1
On 10 February 2022, the Senate referred the following items to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2021–2022];
Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2021–2022]; and
Final budget outcome 2020–21 and the advances under the annual appropriation Acts for 2020–21.
1.2
The portfolio additional estimates statements (PAES) for 2021–22 for the portfolios allocated to the committee were tabled in the Senate on 10 February 2022.
1.3
A reporting date of 29 March 2022 was set for the committee's report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2021–22 additional estimates.
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 2021–22
1.6
The proposed Additional Expenditure for 2021–22 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 10 February 2022.
Hearings
1.7
On 1 December 2021, the Senate resolved that additional estimates hearings for the committee would occur on 14 and 15 February 2022, with an additional day, if required, on 18 March 2022.
1.8
The committee examined the energy outcomes and agencies of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio, followed by the environment outcomes and agencies of the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio at the hearing on 14 February 2022. On 15 February, the committee examined the communications and arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio.
1.9
The committee heard evidence from the following ministers:
Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, Minister for International Development and the Pacific, representing the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction;
Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy and Minister for Women's Economic Security, representing the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts;
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience and Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education; and
Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Industry Development, representing the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.
1.10
Evidence 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 Industry, Science, Energy and Resources;
Mr Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; 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
Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio
Clean Energy Finance Corporation
Australian Energy Infrastructure 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
2021–22 additional estimates hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.13
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set 22 March 2022 as the date for return of written answers or additional information.
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 2021–22: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.15
The committee's 2021–22 budget estimates examined the environment outcomes of the agriculture, water and the environment portfolio on 24 May 2021, the energy outcomes of the industry, science, energy and resources portfolio on 25 May, and the communications and arts outcomes of the infrastructure, transport, regional development and communications portfolio on 26–27 May.
1.16
A spillover hearing was held on 7 June 2021, to examine the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
1.17
Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio: 9 July 2021, with a late question set for 24 August 2021;
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio: 16 July 2021;
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio: 9 July 2021; and
Spillover hearing: 16 July 2021.
1.18
The committee received answers to 153 of the 173 questions taken on notice for the 24 May 2021 hearings for the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio by the due date of 9 July 2021. The remainder were received progressively throughout the period up until the last answer was received on 4 August 2021. An answer to a late question was received on the due date of 24 August 2021.
1.19
The committee received answers to 115 of the 116 questions taken on notice for the 25 May 2021 hearings for the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio by the due date of 16 July 2021. The remaining answer was received on 10 September 2021.
1.20
The committee received answers to 97 of the 225 questions taken on notice for the 26–27 May 2021 hearings for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio by the due date of 9 July 2021. Further answers were received throughout the period until 27 August 2021. As of 15 March 2022, two questions remain unanswered. The committee received answers to 16 of the 74 questions taken on notice for the spillover hearing by the due date of 16 July 2021. Further answers were received progressively throughout the period until 5 October 2021. As of 15 March 2022, seven questions remain unanswered. The committee received answers to 8 of 11 additional questions taken on notice for the spillover hearing by the due date of 24 August 2021. Further answers were received throughout the period until 9 September 2021. As of 15 March 2022, one question remains unanswered.
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2021: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.21
The committee's 2021–22 supplementary budget estimates examined the energy outcomes of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio and the environment outcomes of the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on 25 October 2021, and the communications and arts outcomes of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 26 October 2021.
1.22
A spillover hearing was held on 29 November 2021 to examine the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Special Broadcasting Service Corporation and Australian Communications and Media Authority.
1.23
Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio: 10 December 2021;
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio: 10 December 2021;
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio: 10 December 2021; and
Spillover hearings: 24 January 2022, with one additional question set for 7 February 2022.
1.24
The committee received answers to all of the 60 questions taken on notice for the 25 October 2021 hearings for the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio by the due date of 10 December 2021.
1.25
The committee received answers to 4 of the 39 questions taken on notice for the 25 October 2021 hearings for the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio by the due date of 10 December 2021. The remainder were received on 7 February 2022.
1.26
The committee received answers to 135 of the 201 questions taken on notice for the 26 October 2021 hearings for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio by the due date of 10 December 2021. The remainder were received progressively throughout the period up until the last answer was received on 11 February 2022. From the spillover hearing held on 29 November 2021, 37 of 77 answers were received by the due date of 24 January 2022 with the remaining answers received progressively throughout the period until 15 February 2022. As at 15 March 2022, two answers are yet to be received. The answer to the additional question from the spillover hearing was received by the due date of 7 February 2022.
Record of proceedings
1.27
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
1.28
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.
1.29
Copies of the Hansard transcripts, documents tabled at the hearings (see Appendix 2), and additional information received after the hearings are tabled in the Senate and available on the committee's website.