1.1
On 11 May 2021, 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 2022; and
particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022.
1.2
The committee is required to examine the 2021–22 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, 13 July 2021 was set for the committee to report on its consideration of the 2021-22 budget estimates. On Tuesday, 3 August 2021 the Senate granted an extension of time to report to Tuesday, 10 August 2021.
Hearings
1.3
The committee examined witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 24 and 25 May 2021, and witnesses from the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on 26 and 27 May 2021. In addition, the committee conducted a cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters estimates hearing on 28 May 2021 in accordance with a Senate agreement of 2 December 2020.
1.4
The committee conducted a further spill over hearing with witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Australian National Audit Office on 19 July 2021.
1.5
The committee heard evidence from the following senators:
Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Minister for Government Services;
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport;
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and Minister for Women's Safety;
Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Industry Development; and
Senator the Hon Jane Hume, Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and the Digital Economy and Minister for Women's Economic Security.
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; and
officers representing the departments and agencies 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
Friday, 16 July 2021, 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, 29 July 2021, 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 2020–21
1.11
The committee undertook Additional Budget estimates hearings on
22 and 23 March 2021 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. On 26 March 2021, the committee examined cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters. The committee set
Friday, 7 May 2021 as the deadline for return of answers to questions on notice. A deadline extension until Friday, 14 May 2021 was set for 40 questions to each department.
1.12
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio took 234 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio took 169 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.13
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio submitted 94 responses to questions by the respective deadlines. There remain nine responses outstanding.
1.14
The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio submitted
155 responses by the respective deadlines. All responses have since been provided.
Note on references
1.15
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard; page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcripts.