PREFACE


PREFACE

On 10 May 2011, the Senate referred to the committee for examination the estimates of proposed expenditure for the financial year 2011-12. The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's Portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio. The portfolio budget statements 2011-12 were tabled on 10 May 2011.

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 2012 [Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2011-2012]; and
  • Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2012 [Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2011-2012].

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the budget estimates on or before 21 June 2011.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 23, 24, 25 and 26 May 2011.

Over the course of the four days' hearings, totalling over 43 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Attorney-General's Department
  • Australian Crime Commission
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Australian Government Solicitor
  • Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Australian Law Reform Commission
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre
  • Classification Board and Classification Review Board
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Family Court of Australia
  • Federal Court of Australia
  • Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
  • Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia
  • Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Copies of the Hansards 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 and parliamentary secretary

On 23 and 24 May 2011, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, and Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

On 25 and 26 May 2011, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Floods Recovery, representing the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks the ministers, parliamentary secretary 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 8 July 2011.

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