Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Overview

1.1        On 8 May 2018, the Senate referred the following documents to the Economics Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report in relation to the Treasury portfolio and the Industry, Innovation and Science part of the Jobs and Innovation portfolio:[1]

  • Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on
    30 June 2019 [Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2018–2019];
  • Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on
    30 June 2019 [Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2018–2019]; and
  • Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2018 [Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2018–2019].[2]

1.2        The committee is required to report to the Senate on its consideration of
2018–19 Budget Estimates on 26 June 2018.[3]

Portfolio allocation

1.3        The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the Industry, Innovation and Science and Treasury portfolios.[4]

Portfolio Budget Statements 2018–19

1.4        The Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) 2018–19 for the Industry, Innovation and Science Portfolio and the Treasury Portfolio were tabled in the Senate on
8 May 2018.[5]

1.5        As a result of the amendments to the Administrative Arrangements Orders on 19 July 2016 and 1 September 2016, the new PBS for the Industry, Innovation and Science portfolio reflects the removal of responsibility for the sub-program 2.5 Energy from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (the Department) to the Department of the Environment and Energy.[6] The Department's sub-program 2.5 is now 'Northern Australia Development'.

Hearings

1.6        The committee held hearings on 29, 30, 31 May and 5 June 2018 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.

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

  • Department of the Treasury—Secretary, Macroeconomic Group and Corporate Group;
  • Department of the Treasury—Fiscal Group; 
  • Department of the Treasury—Markets Group;
  • Department of the Treasury––Structural Reform Group;
  • Royal Australian Mint
  • Department of the Treasury—Revenue Group;  
  • Australian Taxation Office;
  • Australian Prudential Regulation Authority;
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with the Australian Energy Regulator;
  • Australian Office of Financial Management;
  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission;
  • Productivity Commission;
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics; 
  • Commonwealth Grants Commission; and
  • Inspector-General of Taxation.

1.8        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; and
  • Anti-Dumping Commission;
  • Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation;
  • Office of Innovation and Science Australia;
  • Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation;
  • Office of the Chief Scientist;
  • National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority;
  • Geoscience Australia;
  • Australian Institute of Marine Science; and
  • IP Australia.

1.9        Documents tabled during the hearings are listed in Appendix 1.

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
Friday, 27 July 2018 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice.

1.12      As the committee is required to report to the Senate before responses to questions are due, this report has been prepared without reference to any of these responses.

1.13      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

1.14      On 13 May 2009, the Senate passed an order relating to public interest immunity claims.[7] 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

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

1.16      Copies of the Hansard transcripts and documents tabled at the hearings are available on the committee's website.[8]

Note on Hansard page referencing

1.17      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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