2.1
This chapter lists the key topics discussed for each department and agency examined during the committee's hearings for budget estimates 2021–22. Page numbers of the Proof Hansard for that day's hearing are indicated in brackets as a reference.
Parliamentary departments—Monday 24 May 2021
Department of the Senate
2.2
Topics discussed for the Department of the Senate included:
Advice given to the President of the Senate in relation to the alleged assault in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House in March 2019 (pp. 3–5)
Continued need for information and communications technology (ICT) workarounds (pp. 6–7)
Committee Report Builder (pp. 6–7)
Effect of the parliamentary computer network upgrade (pp. 6–7)
ICT outage across the Anzac Day long weekend (p. 7)
Department of Parliamentary Services
2.3
The President of the Senate, Senator the Hon Scott Ryan, made an opening statement addressing the recent ICT outage and thanking the ICT staff who worked to rectify the problem. The President also addressed retail licenses within Parliament House, mobile phone reception in the building, an audit of all Commonwealth Government pass holders to Parliament House and the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS) media contact policy.
2.4
Topics discussed for DPS included:
The alleged assault in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House in March 2019 (pp. 10–26)
Senate President’s contact with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) (pp. 10–11)
DPS contact with the AFP (p. 11)
AFP potential intersection with privilege matters, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Code of Practice or the Electronic Access Control System (EACS) Code of Practice (p. 11)
Department of Finance notification of after-hours access to the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House (pp. 11–13)
Cleaning of an office in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House
(p. 12, 15)
Incident reports by the Department of Finance and DPS (pp. 13–15)
Access to CCTV footage (pp. 15–17)
Legal advice provided to DPS (p. 18)
Policy changes within DPS (pp. 18–21, 22–24)
Different administrative authorities within Australian Parliament House (APH) (pp. 21–22)
Access of certain individuals to the APH building (pp. 25–26)
Budget functions in Parliament House (pp. 26–27, 40–41)
Media contact policy (p. 28)
Cyber security (pp. 28–32)
Security system contracts (pp. 32–33)
Recycling and composting within Parliament House (pp. 34–35)
Inquiry into the operation and management of DPS (pp. 36–38)
Whistle blower protections (pp. 38–40)
Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio—Monday 24 May 2021
National Recovery and Resilience Agency
2.5
The Coordinator-General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRRA), the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC, made opening comments acknowledging the establishment of the NRRA.
2.6
Topics discussed for the NRRA included:
Bushfire recovery funding (pp. 44–50)
Guidelines within funding programs (pp. 50–51)
Cost of establishing the NRRA (p. 52)
Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants (pp. 52–54)
Leave taken by former National Bushfire Recovery Coordinator Mr Andrew Colvin APM OAM (pp. 56–57)
Advisory board vacancies, flood recovery agency (p. 57)
On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme (pp. 57–58)
Office for Women
2.7
The Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne made an opening statement addressing the establishment of the Cabinet Taskforce on women’s safety and economic security. Senator Payne also addressed the creation of the roles of the Minister for Women’s Safety, Minister for Women’s Economic Security and Assistant Minister for Women. Senator Payne acknowledged the government’s announcement of the Women’s Budget Statement, the National Women’s Safety Summit as well as the Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Independent Review into Commonwealth Parliamentary Workplaces (Jenkins Review) and the Roadmap for Respect response. Senator Payne also noted the publication of the second National Action Plan for Women, Peace and Security for 2021 to 2031.
2.8
Topics discussed for the Office for Women included:
Annual funding (pp. 59–62)
Staff secondment to the Treasury (pp. 62–63)
Impact of COVID-19 on women (p. 63)
Gender pay gap (p. 64, 71)
Superannuation (pp. 64–66)
Women’s Budget Statement (pp. 68–70)
Definition of ‘woman’ (pp. 70–71)
Working from home and caring for children (pp. 71–72)
Supporting single mothers (pp. 72–73)
National Women’s Alliances (p. 74)
Respect@Work recommendations (p. 75)
Workplace Gender Equality Agency
2.9
Ms Mary Wooldridge, Agency head of the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WEGA) tabled an opening statement.
2.10
Topics discussed for the WGEA included:
Recruitment process for agency head (pp. 76–77)
Review into extending WGEA jurisdiction to the public sector (pp. 77–78)
Implementation of the Respect@Work recommendations (p. 78)
National Australia Day Council
2.11
Topics discussed for the National Australia Day Council included:
Government review following appointment of the 2021 Australian of the Year (pp. 79–81, 82)
Betting activity prior to the announcement of the 2021 Australian of the Year awards (p. 81)
Digital Transformation Agency
2.12
Mr Randall Brugeaud, Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Transformation Agency tabled an opening statement.
2.13
Topics discussed for the Digital Transformation Agency included:
COVIDSafe app (pp. 83–85)
Reduced funding for the agency(p. 85)
Agencies move back to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (pp. 85–86)
Executive coaching (p. 86)
Digital identity system (pp. 87–88)
Procurement of cloud services (pp. 90–91)
Australian Public Service Commission
2.14
Mr Peter Woolcott AO, Australian Public Service Commissioner, tabled an opening statement and updated organisational chart.
2.15
Topics discussed for the Australian Public Service Commission included:
Departmental appropriation (pp. 92–93)
Configuration of the work force (pp. 94–95)
Outsourcing of the pay classification review (pp. 96–97)
Australian Public Service (APS) academy (pp. 97–98)
Implementation of ‘pay on demand’ system (pp. 98–99)
APS Census 2020 (pp. 99–100)
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
2.16
Mr Paul Singer, Official Secretary to the Governor-General made an opening statement which highlighted the ongoing priorities for the Governor-General, which included the rollout of the National Emergency Medal, investiture ceremonies at Government House, and the need to increase nominations for individuals from parts of the community that have historically been under represented in the Order of Australia. Mr Singer also addressed the committee’s ongoing interest in the Kirribilli Point restabilisation project.
2.17
Topics discussed for the Office of the Official Secretary to the
Governor-General included:
National Emergency Medal (p. 101)
COVID-19 Honours roll (pp. 101–102)
Council for the Order of Australia (p. 102)
Appointment of Mr Stone to the council for the Order of Australia
(pp. 102–103)
High Court matter in relation to the palace letters (p. 103)
Use of Rolls-Royce for ceremonial occasions (pp. 103–104)
Cancellation of Order of Australia awards (pp. 104–105)
Administration of the Commonwealth and the appointment of a regent
(pp. 106–107)
Office of National Intelligence
2.18
Mr Andrew Shearer, Director General of the Office of National Intelligence (ONI), made an opening statement addressing strategic trends against Australia’s interests, feedback received during introductory meetings with ONI’s stakeholders, and the ONI’s capabilities against threats and adversaries. Mr Shearer acknowledged the update to the ONI’s business model and thanked his predecessor Mr Nick Warner.
2.19
Topics discussed for the ONI included:
The independence of ONI’s assessments (p. 108)
Contestability of intelligence assessment (pp. 108–109)
2017 Independent Intelligence Review (p. 109)
COVID-19 vaccinations for staff (p. 109)
Australian National Audit Office
2.20
Topics discussed for the Australian National Audit Office included:
Auditor-General Report No. 2 of 2020–21: Procurement of Strategic Water Entitlements (p.110)
Auditor-General Report No. 9 of 2020–21: Purchase of the ‘Leppington Triangle’ Land for the Future Development of Western Sydney Airport
(pp. 111–112, 113–115)
In progress performance report: : Award of Funding under the Safer Communities Fund (pp. 112–113)
Auditor-General Report No. 27 of 2019–20: Procurement of Garrison Support and Welfare Services (pp. 115–117)
Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio—Tuesday 25 May 2021
2.21
Mr Phil Gaetjens, Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) appeared briefly before the committee, to respond to questions relating to his administrative review verifying the Prime Minister’s Office’s knowledge of the alleged assault in the Ministerial Wing in March 2019.
2.22
At the conclusion of Mr Gaetjens’ evidence, Ms Stephanie Foster PSM, Deputy Secretary, Governance Group and Head of APS Reform appeared before the committee for questioning related to the Department.
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
2.23
Topics discussed for the Department of the PM&C included:
Prime Minister’s Office’s knowledge of the alleged assault in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House in March 2019 (pp. 3–9, 15–20)
Communication between Mr Gaetjens and the AFP Commissioner
(pp. 9–14, 28–34)
Legal services provided to staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 (MoPS ACT) (pp. 20–23)
Prime Minister’s meeting with the victim of the alleged assault in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House in March 2019:
Apology to alleged victim(p. 23, 27–28)
People present at the meeting (p. 27, 39–40)
Length of time it took for the Prime Minister to meet with the alleged victim (p. 39)
Review of the Parliamentary Workplace: Responding to Serious Incidents (Foster Review)
The public release of the review (pp. 23–24, 36–37)
Proposed code of conduct (p. 26)
Education and training (pp. 26–27)
Timeframe of the review (pp. 34–35)
Former and current staff contribution to the review (p. 38)
Independent complaints body (pp. 23–25)
The appointment and termination of government staff (pp. 41–43, 48–49)
Report Conducted by Dr John Kunkel, Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff:
Public release of the report (pp. 43–44)
Findings of the report (pp. 44–47, 66–68)
Evidence given to the report (pp. 45–47)
Contents of the report (pp. 57–61)
Administration of the Commonwealth and the appointment of a regent
(pp. 50—51)
Case before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) regarding the status of National Cabinet (pp. 51–52, 89–92)
Re-appointment of Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC to Cabinet
(pp. 52–53)
Matters relating to the Hon Christian Porter MP:
Change in role within the government (p. 53, 56)
Advice from the Solicitor-General to the Prime Minister (pp. 54–55)
ABC defamation case (pp. 56–57, 61–62, 68–69)
Legal services (pp. 62–63)
Royal Australian Air Force No. 34 Squadron (pp. 63–66)
Allocation of staff to independent members and senators (p. 69)
State occasions and official visits (pp. 69–70)
Official residences (pp. 70–73)
COVID-19 vaccine rollout (pp. 73–76, 83)
AusTender contracts (pp. 76–78, 84–86)
National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board (pp. 78–81)
Policy Implementation Committee and Service Delivery Coordination Committee (pp. 86–87)
Freedom of Information (FOI) request 2021/4 relating to the colour of the Prime Minister’s virtual meeting backdrop (pp. 94–96)
Queensland Government quarantine proposals (pp. 98–99)
Bespoke facility in Toowoomba (pp. 100–103)
Victorian Government quarantine proposal (pp. 103–107)
Northern Territory Bladin proposal (pp. 109–110)
Death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
(pp. 108–109)
International travel and caps on international arrivals (pp. 110–111, 119–120)
Australians stranded overseas (pp. 111–116)
Anzac Day message from the Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs
(pp. 116– 119)
QAnon briefings and responses from the Prime Minister’s Office
(pp. 120–123, 126)
Naval shipbuilding advisory panel (pp. 126–128)
National Australia Day Council review (pp. 128–132)
Finance portfolio—Wednesday 26 May 2021
ASC Pty Ltd
2.24
Topics discussed for ASC Pty Ltd included:
Life of Type Extensions (LOTE) program (pp. 4–8, 10–15)
Workforce capacity (p. 8)
Small and medium sized businesses in South Australia producing work in the LOTE program (pp. 15–16)
Infrastructure and capital investment for the Attack Class submarine program (pp. 16–17)
Timeline for the LOTE program (pp. 17–18)
Submarine contracts (pp. 18–20)
Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd
2.25
Mr Andrew Seaton, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd made an opening statement addressing naval infrastructure at Osborne and workforce numbers.
2.26
Topics discussed for Australian Naval Infrastructure Pty Ltd included:
Osborne North future submarine program (pp. 20–22)
Naval Group’s infrastructure time line (pp. 24–25)
Infrastructure work at Osborne North (pp. 25–26)
Combat system facility (pp. 26–27)
Future Fund Management Agency
2.27
Dr Raphael Arndt, Chief Executive Officer of the Future Fund Management Agency (FFMA) made an opening statement addressing fund performance, the impact of COVID-19, risk management and long-term business strategy.
2.28
Topics discussed for the FFMA included:
Budget increase (pp. 28–29)
Increase of staff (pp. 29–32)
Asset class exposure (p. 33)
Cost of running FFMA (p. 33)
Investment in Adani group companies (pp. 33–38)
Future Fund Act 2005 and board of directors of the Future Fund (pp. 38–39)
Future Fund board appointments (pp. 39–40)
Emergency Response Fund (pp. 41–42)
Management fees for the Emergency Response Fund (pp. 42–43)
Department of Finance
2.29
Ms Rosemary Huxtable PSM, Secretary of the Department of Finance, appeared before the committee for the consideration of outcomes 1, 2 and 3 for the Department.
2.30
Topics discussed for the Department of Finance included:
Fiscal strategy (pp. 44–48)
Effect of COVID-19 on the economy (pp. 50–51)
Australia’s debt to gross domestic product ratio (p. 52)
Funding allocated to the implementation of the Jenkins Review (pp. 53–54)
Department of Finance providing support to APH staff to participate in the Jenkins Review (pp. 54–56)
Time frame for WGEA to cover the public sector (pp. 56–57)
Use of Parliament House for fundraising (p. 58)
Employee superannuation liabilities (pp. 58–59)
Bundling of projects and Australian companies tendering for projects
(pp. 59–63)
Commonwealth procurement rules and policies (pp. 63–64)
Monitoring of expenditure (pp. 65–67)
Funding of the aged-care package (pp. 67–72)
Workplace support program and the Fair Entitlements Guarantee
(pp. 72–73)
Migration planning (pp. 76–78)
Moderna vaccine agreement (pp. 79–81)
Kurri Kurri gas plant (p. 80)
Government Business Enterprises (pp. 81–82)
GovERP and shared services (pp. 82– 83, 103–105)
Increase to the staffing cap (pp. 84–88)
AusTender and procurement panels (pp. 96–100)
Boston Consulting Group report on Australia Post (pp. 101–102)
Services Australia hubs and the Service Delivery Office ( pp. 104–108)
Finance portfolio—Thursday 27 May 2021
Department of Finance
2.31
Topics discussed for the Department of Finance included:
Ministerial and parliamentary services (pp. 3–5)
Leadership program for APS5 and APS6 (pp. 5–6)
Graduate cohort (pp. 6–7)
Independent peer review on property services (pp. 7–8)
Financial literacy and analysis (pp. 9–10)
Ernst and Young scoping study on intermodal terminals for inland rail (pp. 10–12)
Leppington Triangle land acquisition (pp. 8–10)
Building Better Regions Fund (pp. 13–16)
Community Development Grants (pp. 13–16)
Safer Communities Funds (pp. 13–16)
National Broadband Network staff bonuses (pp. 16–19)
Deregulation agenda (pp. 19–21)
Amendments to grant programs and funding allocations (pp. 21–24)
Government advertising (pp. 24–26)
COVID-19 economic response:
Funding for Western Australia and GST distribution (pp. 26–29)
Infrastructure projects in Western Australia (pp. 26–29)
Mental health (pp. 32–34)
Diversity and inclusion strategies in the Department (pp. 34–35)
Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (pp. 35–36)
Termination of employment (Senator Reynolds’ former staffer):
Basis for termination and whether it was for serious misconduct or a security breach (pp. 36–37)
Date of termination (pp.37–43)
Access to infrastructure following termination (p. 38)
Date of salary termination (p. 38)
Revoking of security clearance (pp. 38–39)
Government Staffing Committee (pp. 43–44, 48–49)
Statement of ministerial standards for staff (pp. 45–46)
Meeting between the Special Minister for State, Senator Reynolds’ chief of staff and a senior advisor from the Prime Minister’s Office
(pp. 49–50, 56–57)
Advice sought from the Department of Finance about the termination process (pp. 49–50)
Sanctions under the statement of ministerial standards for staff (pp. 48–49)
Accessing the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House office after hours:
Time frame in which the Department of Finance was notified (pp. 50–52)
Individuals within the Department of Finance who were advised (pp. 50–52)
Cleaning of an office in the Ministerial Wing of Parliament House in March 2019:
Time frame in which cleaning was requested (p. 52)
Who the cleaning was requested by (p. 52)
Additional counselling service for staff employed under the MoPs Act:
Face to face support (p. 54)
Confidentiality of services (pp. 54–56)
Addressing bullying and harassment (pp. 61–62)
Additional allocation of staff for independent members and senators
(pp. 58–59)
Timing of the finalisation and release of the Foster Review (pp. 59–60)
Additional funding for the review of parliamentary workplaces (pp. 60–61)
Human resource support officer role for MoPS Act employees (pp. 61–62)
Underpayment of wages (pp. 62–67)
DPS ICT outages (pp. 67–69)
The funding of legal assistance for ministerial staff (pp. 69–73)
Sparke Helmore investigation into certain actions of Coalition staff
(pp. 73–74)
Compliance with the Parliamentary Business Resources framework
(pp. 74–75)
Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority
2.32
Topics discussed for the Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority included:
Parliamentary Expenses Management System (PEMS) redevelopment:
Additional funding (pp. 76–78)
Finalisation of the project (p. 77)
HR and payroll administration under PEMS (p. 77)
Fraud charges against former Department of Finance employees (p. 78)
Outstanding debts of former parliamentarians (p. 80)
Assurance review of the National Party meeting at Nagambie in 2019
(pp. 80–81)
Special purpose aircraft (pp. 81–82)
Australian Electoral Commission
2.33
Topics discussed for the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) included:
Donations from Mr Clive Palmer to Mr Craig Kelly MP (pp. 82–83)
AEC investigation into an alleged breach of authorisation rules (pp. 83–84)
COVID-19 outbreak preventing people from attending polling locations on election day (pp. 84–85)
Pre-polling and overseas postal votes (pp. 85–87)
COVID-19 vaccinations for AEC (p. 86)
Election software development (pp. 87–88)
Polling place security in relation to electronic devices (pp. 88–89)
Cross-portfolio on Indigenous Matters—Friday 28 May 2021
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation
2.34
Mr Joe Morrison, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) made an opening statement providing an update on active projects valued at $51.2 million, as well as the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) and the financial health of the ILSC.
2.35
Topics discussed for the ILSC included:
NCIE board appointments (pp. 4–5)
Possible divestment of Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia (pp. 5–6)
Indigenous Business Australia
2.36
Indigenous Business Australia was asked about the Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (p. 6)
Northern Land Council
2.37
Topics discussed for the Northern Land Council included:
The eligibility of traditional owners to speak for country (p. 7)
Threats and acts of violence in meetings (pp. 7–8)
Process of consultation in the Northern Territory for fracking projects
(pp. 8–9)
Possible expansion of Empire gas (pp. 10–11)
Indigenous Economic Stimulus Package (p. 12)
Ms Marion Scrymgours’ preselection to the Labor Party (pp. 12–13)
Desecration of a sacred site within the Kakadu National Park (pp. 13–14)
Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
2.38
Mr Selwyn Button, Registrar for the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) made an opening statement advising the committee that ORIC have resumed face-to-face training and have a 12 month diploma course that commenced in April with 16 participants. Mr Button also noted the meaningful relationships ORIC has with corporations and the significant attention that has recently been on native title.
2.39
Topics discussed for ORIC included:
Aboriginal corporations under an appointed administrator or manager and the rold of ORIC in this process (pp. 15–16)
The holding of general and community meetings in accordance with the rule book (p. 16)
Complaints to ORIC (pp. 17–18)
National Indigenous Australians Agency
2.40
Chief Executive Officer of the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Mr Ray Griggs made an opening statement noting the progress in the co-design for the Indigenous voice to Parliament, as well as the development of an outcomes-focused approach under the investment framework. Mr Griggs also addressed the negotiations on the Aboriginal flag and made note of National Reconciliation Week.
2.41
Topics discussed for the NIAA included:
Increased funding for Remote Australia Strategies (pp. 19–20)
Deaths in custody (pp. 20–21),
Formation of a stakeholder group between the NIAA and the Australian Institute of Criminology (pp. 21–22)
Closing the Gap (pp. 22–23, 42–43)
Enterprise Management Group funding under the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (pp. 23–24)
Allocation of funding to Jobfind Centres (pp. 24–35)
Crown Cassino funding through the Employment Parity Initiative
(pp. 25–26)
Abolishment of the Community Development Program (pp. 27–34)
Remote Jobs program (pp. 34–35)
Aboriginal Flag use negotiation (pp. 35–36)
Co-design consultation process and finalisation of report (pp. 36–39)
Coalition of Peaks (p. 40)
Departmental application of Aboriginality tests (pp. 40–42)
Department of Health
2.42
Officials from the Department of Health joined officials from the NIAA to discuss Indigenous health issues. Topics discussed included:
Vaccine hesitancy among First Nations people and the rollout schedule (pp. 43–45)
Development and delivery of vaccine messaging (p. 45)
Vaccine wastage in remote communities (pp. 45–46)
Vaccinations in First Nations aged-care facilities (pp. 47–48)
Funding for the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to administer vaccines (pp. 48–49)
Deaths in custody (pp. 49–51)
Medical and health services available on Mornington Island (pp. 51–54)
Chair