Chapter 1Introduction
1.1On 14 May 2024, the Senate referred the following documents to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30June2025; and
particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2025.
1.2The committee was required to report to the Senate on 2 July 2024 on its consideration of the 2024–25 budget estimates.
Portfolio coverage
1.3In accordance with the resolution of the Senate on 27 July 2022, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts portfolio, excluding Communications and the Arts; and
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Hearings
1.4The committee examined witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio (excluding Communications and the Arts) on 28 and 29 May 2024, and witnesses from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio on 30 and 31 May 2024.
1.5On 30 May 2024, pursuant to procedural order of continuing effect 9B, the Chair was notified by members of the committee in writing of the requirement for an additional hearing. As a result of that notification, the committee held an additional hearing on 25 June 2024.
1.6The committee heard evidence from the following ministers:
Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport;
Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm, Assistant Minister for Regional Development; and
Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Minister for Emergency Management.
1.7Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers from the portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts; and
Mr Adam Fennessy PSM, Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
1.8The following portfolio agencies were not required to appear:
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio (excluding Communications and the Arts)
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
National Capital Authority
National Intermodal Corporation Limited
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Cotton Research and Development Corporation
Grains Research and Development Corporation
Regional Investment Corporation
Wine Australia
1.9The committee thanks the ministers, departmental secretaries and officers for their assistance and cooperation during the hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard Transcript
1.10In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee agreed Thursday 1August2024 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the initial hearings. The committee agreed Friday 8 August 2024 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the additional hearing.
1.11Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice arising from the hearings have and will be tabled in the Senate and published on the committee’s website. Links to the Hansard transcripts of these public hearings, and to answers, tabled documents and additional information are available on the committee’s webpage.
Record of proceedings
1.12This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a summary of some of the key issues that were covered by the committee for each portfolio.
Answers to questions on notice—Budget estimates 2023–24
1.13The committee held Budget estimates hearings on 22–25 May 2023 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio. The committee set Friday, 16 June 2023 as the return date for written questions on notice or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the hearings.
1.14The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio took 405 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio took 239 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.15The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio submitted 16 responses by the due date. The remaining outstanding response were received during July, August, September, and October with the final responses received on 20 October 2023.
1.16The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio submitted all 239 responses to the committee on time.
Answers to questions on notice—Supplementary budget estimates 2023–24
1.17The committee undertook Supplementary budget estimates hearings on 23 and 24 October 2023 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio. The committee set Thursday, 2 November 2023 as the return date for written questions on notice or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the hearings.
1.18The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio took 463 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio took 200 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.19The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio submitted 93 responses by the due date. The remaining outstanding response were received during December, January, and February with the final responses received on 12 February 2024.
1.20The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio submitted 169 responses by the due date. The remaining outstanding response were received during December and January with the final responses received on 9 January 2024.
Answers to questions on notice—Additional estimates 2023–24
1.21The committee held Additional estimates hearings on 12–13 February 2024 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio, and the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio. The committee held an additional hearing on 25 March 2024 to hear further evidence from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. The committee set Thursday, 22 February 2023 as the return date for written questions on notice or additional information in response to questions placed on notice during the hearings.
1.22The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio took 294 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio took 247 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.23The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (excluding Communications and the Arts) portfolio submitted 110 responses by the due date. The remaining outstanding response were received during April and May with the final responses received on 27 May 2024.
1.24The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio submitted 171 responses by the due date. The remaining outstanding response were received throughout April with the final responses received on 30 April 2024.
Note on references
1.25References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcript.