1.1
On 29 March 2022, 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 2023; and
particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2023.
1.2
The committee is required to examine the 2022–23 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 Monday, 16 May 2022 was set for the committee to report on its consideration of the 2022–23 budget estimates.
Hearings
1.3
The committee examined witnesses from the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio on 31 March and
4 April 2022, and witnesses from the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio on 31 March and 5 April 2022. In addition, the committee conducted a cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters estimates hearing on
8 April 2022 in accordance with a Senate agreement of 1 December 2021.
1.4
The committee heard evidence from the following senators:
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience and Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education;
Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries and Assistant Minister for Industry Development; and
Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and Minister for Women's Safety.
1.5
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.
1.6
The committee thanks the Ministers, departmental secretaries and officers for their assistance and cooperation during the hearings.
Questions on notice and Hansard transcript
1.7
In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set
Friday, 20 May 2022, as the date for the return of written answers or additional information, in response to questions placed on notice during the initial hearings.
1.8
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: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/rrat.
Record of proceedings
1.9
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 2021–22
1.10
The committee undertook Additional Budget estimates hearings on
14 and 15 February 2022 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio and the Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio. On 18 February 2022, the committee examined cross-portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters. The committee set
Friday, 25 March 2022 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice prior to Friday, 25 February 2022. For questions provided after
Friday, 25 February 2022, the committee set Friday, 22 April 2022 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information.
1.11
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio took 161 questions on notice. The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio took 113 questions on notice.
Timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.12
The Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio submitted 111 responses to questions by the respective deadlines. A further 32 answers were received after the deadlines. There remain 18 responses outstanding.
1.13
The Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio submitted
112 responses by the respective deadlines. The remaining response has since been provided.
Note on references
1.14
References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard; page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcripts.