PREFACE


PREFACE

On 9 May 2012, the Senate referred to the committee for examination the estimates of proposed expenditure for the financial year 2012-13. The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's Portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio. The portfolio budget statements for 2012-13 were tabled on 9 May 2012.

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 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2012-2013];
  • Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2012-2013];
  • Particulars of proposed supplementary expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2012 [Appropriation Bill (No. 5) 2011-12]; and
  • Particulars of certain proposed supplementary expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2012 [Appropriation Bill (No. 6) 2011-12].

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the budget estimates on or before 26 June 2012.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 21, 22, 23 and 24 May 2012.

Over the course of the four days of hearings, totalling over 40 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

Immigration and Citizenship Portfolio

  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal

Attorney-General's Portfolio

  • 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
  • CrimTrac Agency
  • Family Court of Australia
  • Federal Court of Australia
  • Federal Magistrates Court of Australia
  • Insolvency and Trustee Service Australia
  • National Native Title Tribunal
  • Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions

Copies of the transcripts of Hansard are available from the committee's internet page at: www.aph.gov.au/senate_legalcon.

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

Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries

On 21 and 22 May 2012, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Kate Lundy, the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and Senator the Hon Don Farrell, Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

On 23 and 24 May 2012, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister Assisting on Queensland Floods Recovery, and Senator the Hon Jacinta Collins, Parliamentary Secretary for School Education and Workplace Relations, representing the Attorney-General and the Minister for Home Affairs.

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

Questions on notice

The committee determined that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the budget estimates round is 6 July 2012.

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 above address.

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