Introduction
1.1
On 29 March 2022, the Senate referred the following items to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the 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; and
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023.
1.2
A reporting date of 16 May 2022 was set for the committee's report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2022–23 budget estimates.
Portfolio coverage
1.3
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;
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio excluding Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
1.4
A list of all the agencies, independent statutory bodies and officeholders that the committee has oversight can be found in Appendix 1.
Portfolio Budget Statements 2021–22
1.5
The Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) 2022–23 for Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio; Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio; and the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio were tabled in the Senate on Tuesday, 29 March 2022.
Hearings
1.6
On 1 December 2021, the Senate resolved that budget estimates hearings for committees’ would occur on 31 March 2022 and 4 to 5 April 2022, with an additional day, if required on 8 April 2022.
1.7
On 31 March 2022, the committee examined the energy outcomes and agencies of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio; the environment outcomes and agencies of the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio; and the communications and the arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio.
1.8
On 4 April 2022, the committee continued its examination of the energy outcomes and agencies of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio; and the environment outcomes and agencies of the Agriculture, Water and Environment portfolio.
1.9
On 5 April 2022, the committee continued its examination of the communications and the arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio.
1.10
The committee heard evidence from 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 Energy and Emissions Reduction; the Minister for the Environment; and the Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts.
1.11
Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers from 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;
Mr Simon Atkinson, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
1.12
The following portfolio agencies were not required to appear:
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio
Australian Energy Infrastructure Commissioner
Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio
Director of National Parks
Office of the Supervising Scientist
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
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
Classification Review Board
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
National Library of Australia
National Museum of Australia
National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Special Broadcasting Service
1.13
The committee extends its appreciation to the minister and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in conducting its 2022–23 budget estimates hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.14
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set 20 May 2022 as the date for the return of written answers for the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio and the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio. For the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio, the committee set 27 May 2022 as the date for the return of written answers.
1.15
Written answers and information provide to the committee in response to questions on notice arising from the hearings are tabled in the Senate and published on the committee's website. Links to the transcripts of these public hearings and to answers, tabled documents and addition information are available at: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_estimates/ec
Additional Estimates 2021–22: Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.16
The committee's 2021–22 additional estimates examined the environmental outcomes and agencies of the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio and the energy outcomes and agencies of the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio on 14 February 2022. The communications and arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio were then examined on 15 February 2022.
1.17
Answers to questions on notice were due to be returned by 22 March 2022.
1.18
For the Industry, Science, Energy and Resources portfolio, the committee received answer to 2 of 57 questions taken on notice by the due date of 22 March 2022. The remaining answers were received on 30 March 2022, on the eve of budget estimates hearings.
1.19
For the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio, the committee received answers to all 91 questions taken on notice by the due date of 22 March 2022.
1.20
For the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio, the committee received answers to 74 of 104 questions taken on notice by the due date of 22 March 2022. Further answers were received progressively throughout the period until the last answer was received on 4 April 2022.
1.21
The committee notes that the supply of late answers, and particularly when they are supplied on the eve of or during the next set of hearings, is not conducive to the transparency and accountability of government expenditure and departmental administration.
Record of proceedings
1.22
This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a brief summary of some of the key issues that were examined by the committee for each portfolio.
Notes on reference and additional information
1.23
References to the Hansard transcripts are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.