1.1
On 6 October 2020, 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 30 June 2021; and
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2021.
1.2
The committee is required to examine the 2020–21 budget estimates contained in these documents in relation to the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. Following examination, a reporting date of Tuesday, 17 November 2020 was set for the committee to report on its consideration of the 2020-21 Budget estimates. On 10 November 2020 the Senate granted an extension of time to report to Tuesday, 8 December 2020.
Hearings
1.3
The committee examined witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 19 and 20 October 2020, and witnesses from the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on 21 and 22 October 2020. In addition, the committee conducted a cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters estimates hearing on 23 October 2020 in accordance with a Senate agreement of 14 May 2020.
1.4
The committee conducted a further spill over hearing with witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on Tuesday, 10 November 2020.
1.5
The committee heard evidence from the following senators:
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services, representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management;
Senator Jonathon the Hon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management; and
Senator the Hon Zed Seselja, Assistant Minister for Finance, Charities and Electoral Matters, representing the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management.
1.6
Evidence was also provided by:
Mr Simon Atkinson, Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications;
Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment;
Ms Jody Swirepik, Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder; and
officers representing the departments and agencies covered by the estimates before the committee.
1.7
The committee thanks the Ministers, departmental secretaries and officers for their assistance and cooperation during the hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcript
1.8
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set Thursday,
3 December 2020, 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 set Thursday, 17 December 2020, as the date for the return of written answers or additional information, in response to questions placed on notice during the spill over hearing.
1.9
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 webpage. Links to the Hansard transcripts of these public hearings, and to answers and additional information are also available on the committee webpage at: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/rrat.
Record of proceedings
1.10
This 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 – Additional Budget estimates 2019–20
1.11
The committee undertook Additional Budget estimates hearings on 2 and 3 March 2020 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. On 6 March 2020, the committee examined cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters. The committee set 17 April 2020 as the deadline for return of answers to questions on notice. The committee later extended the deadline to 8 May 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
1.12
The committee also undertook a spill over additional budget estimates hearing on 9 June 2020 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio. The committee set 30 July 2020 as the deadline for return of answers to questions on notice.
1.13
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio took 232 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio took 168 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.14
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio submitted 26 responses to questions by the deadline. There remains one response outstanding stemming from the spill over hearing on 9 June 2020.
1.15
The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio submitted all responses by the deadline.
Note on references
1.16
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard; page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcripts.