Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Overview

1.1        On 14 February 2019, the Senate referred the following documents to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report in relation to the Industry, Innovation and Science, and Treasury portfolios:

  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2019 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2018–2019];
  • Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2019 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2018–2019]; and
  • Final budget outcome 2017–18—Report by the Treasurer (the Hon. Josh Frydenberg MP) and the Minister for Finance (Senator the Hon. Mathias Cormann).[1]

1.2        The committee is required to report to the Senate on its consideration of
2018–19 Additional Estimates on 2 April 2019.[2]

Portfolio allocation

1.3        Following the Administrative Arrangements Order of 28 August 2018,[3] the Jobs and Innovation portfolio was split into two parts, which saw the 'Industry, Innovation and Science' and the 'Jobs and Small Business' elements become two distinct stand-alone portfolios.

1.4        The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio and the Treasury portfolio, as allocated by the Senate on 17 September 2018.[4]

1.5        Despite the name change of the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio, no agencies or bodies within the portfolio were re-allocated to other portfolios.

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2018–19

1.6        The Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) inform senators of the proposed allocation of funding to government outcomes by agencies within the portfolio. However, unlike the PBS, the PAES summarise only the changes in funding by outcome since the 2018–19 Budget. The PAES provides information on new measures and their impact on the financial and/or non-financial planned performance of programs supporting those outcomes.

Hearings

1.7        The committee held hearings on 20 and 21 February 2019 to hear from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the Department of the Treasury in relation to all outcomes as well as from relevant portfolio agencies.

1.8        The following outcomes and agencies appeared before the committee for the Treasury portfolio:

  • Department of the Treasury—Secretary, Macroeconomic and Corporate Groups;
  • Department of the Treasury—Markets Group (with the Foreign Investment Review Board);
  • Department of the Treasury—Revenue Group;  
  • Australian Taxation Office;
  • Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission;
  • Department of the Treasury—Fiscal Group;  
  • Inspector–General of Taxation;
  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission;
  • Productivity Commission;  
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with the Australian Energy Regulator; and
  • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority.

1.9        The following outcomes and agencies appeared before the committee for the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio:

  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science—Programme 3:
    Cross-portfolio;
  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science—Programme 1: Supporting Science and Commercialisation;
  • Department of Industry, Innovation and Science—Programme 2: Growing Business Investment and Improving Business Capability;
  • Anti-Dumping Commission;
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation;
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation;
  • National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator;
  • Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility; and
  • National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.

1.10      The committee thanks the Ministers and officers who attended the hearings for their assistance.

Questions on notice

1.11      In accordance with Standing Order 26, the committee has drawn the attention of the departments and their agencies to the agreed deadline of
Tuesday, 26 March 2019 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice.

1.12      Responses to questions on notice and additional information provided to the committee are tabled in the Senate and uploaded to the committee's website.

Public interest immunity claims

1.13      On 13 May 2009, the Senate passed an order relating to public interest immunity claims.[5] The order sets out the processes to be followed if a witness declines to answer a question. The full text of this order has previously been provided to departments and agencies and was incorporated in the Chair's opening statement at the commencement of each hearing.

Record of proceedings

1.14      This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented to the committee over the two days of hearings. However, it does include a brief explanation of the main issues that were raised during the examination of each portfolio.

1.15      Copies of the Hansard transcripts and documents tabled at the hearings are available on the committee's website.

Note on Hansard page referencing

1.16      Hansard references throughout this report relate to the Proof Estimates Hansard. Please note page numbering may differ between the proof and final Hansard.


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