PREFACE


PREFACE

On 12 May 2009, the Senate referred to the committee the examination of estimates of proposed expenditure for the financial year 2009-10.  The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio. The portfolio budget statements were tabled on 12 May 2009.  A correction to the Attorney-General's Portfolio Budget Statements 2009-2010 was tabled on 14 May 2009.  An erratum to the Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio Budget Statements 2009-2010 was tabled at the committee's hearing on 27 May 2009.

Reference of documents

The Senate referred to the committee, for examination and report, the following documents:

  • Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2010; and
  • Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2010.

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the Budget Estimates on or before 23 June 2009.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 25, 26, 27 and 28 May 2009.

Over the course of the four days' hearings, totalling over 39 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Attorney-General's Department;
  • Australian Human Rights Commission;
  • Australian Law Reform Commission;
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre;
  • Classification Board and Classification Review Board;
  • Family Court of Australia;
  • Federal Court of Australia;
  • Federal Magistrates Court of Australia;
  • National Native Title Tribunal;
  • Australian Federal Police;
  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity;
  • Australian Crime Commission;
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service;
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation;
  • CrimTrac Agency;
  • Australian Institute of Criminology and Criminology Research Council;
  • High Court of Australia;
  • Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia;
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
  • Migration Review Tribunal;
  • Refugee Review Tribunal;
  • Migration Agents' Registration Authority; and
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

Copies of Hansard are available on the internet at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/index.htm.

An index of the Hansard for each portfolio appears at Appendix 2 and Appendix 3.

Ministers

The committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, then Minister for Human Services, representing the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs, Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, and Senator the Hon Nick Sherry, then Minister for Superannuation, representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks Ministers and officers for their assistance.

Questions on notice

Further written explanations, and answers to questions on notice, will be tabled as soon as possible after they are received. That information is also available on the committee's internet page at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/index.

The committee has resolved that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the Budget Estimates round is 13 July 2009.

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