Chapter 1

Overview

1.1 On 14 February 2019 the Senate referred the following documents to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:

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
Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in relation to the Parliamentary Departments in respect of the year ending 30 June 2019 [Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments Bill (No. 2) 2018-2019)].[1]

1.2 On 14 February 2019, the Senate further resolved that these documents 'with the final budget outcome 2017-18...and the advances under the Appropriation Acts for 2017-18...be referred to committees for examination and report'.[2]

Portfolio coverage

1.3 In accordance with a resolution of the Senate on 31 August 2016, as amended on 12 February 2018, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:

Jobs and Small Business;[3] and
Education and Training.[4]

1.4 A full list of agencies is available at Appendix 1.

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2018-19

1.5 The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2018-19 for the Jobs and Small Business portfolio and Education and Training portfolio were tabled in the Senate on 14 February 2019.[5]

Jobs and Small Business portfolio

1.6 The 2018-19 PAES for the Jobs and Small Business portfolio provides information on the revised estimates for the portfolio and highlights the Australian Government's jobs and small business portfolio priorities including:

delivering policies and programs that foster safe, fair and productive workplaces of all sizes; and
assisting job seekers to find work and small businesses to grow.[6]

1.7 Further details on the priorities of the Jobs and Small Business portfolio can be found in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19 or the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee's Budget Estimates Report 2018-19.[7]

1.8 The Department of Jobs and Small Business has the following two outcomes:

Outcome One: foster a productive and competitive labour market through employment policies and programs that assist job seekers into work, meet employer needs and increase Australia's workforce participation; and
Outcome Two: facilitate jobs growth through policies that promote fair, productive and safe workplaces, and facilitate the growth of small business.[8]

Education and Training portfolio

1.9 The 2018-19 PAES for the Education and Training portfolio provides information on the revised estimates for the portfolio and highlights the Australian Government's education and training priorities including:

implementing measures to improve payment integrity to family day care services through targeted activities to address non-compliance and fraudulent behaviour in the sector;
increasing the In Home Care (IHC) program's family hourly rate cap from $25.48 to $32.00 and in the number of IHC places from 3000 to 3200;
implementing recommendations of the National School Resourcing Board's Review of the socio-economic status score methodology;
the provision of extra funding to increase higher education enrolment numbers in regional Australia;
the provision of funding to increase support for Australian apprenticeships;
funding for jobs in regional Tasmania and Caboolture; and
the establishment of the Howard Library within the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.[9]

1.10 The Department of Education and Training has the following two outcomes:

Outcome One: improved early learning, schooling, student educational outcomes and transitions to and from school through access to quality child care, support, parent engagement, quality teaching and learning environments; and
Outcome Two: promote growth in economic productivity and social wellbeing through access to quality higher education, international education, and international quality research, skills and training.[10]

Hearings

1.11 On 28 November 2018 the Senate resolved that Additional Estimates hearings for the committee would occur on 20 and 21 February 2019.[11] Accordingly the committee considered particulars of additional expenditure as follows:

Jobs and Small Business portfolio—20 February 2019; and
Education and Training portfolio—21 February 2019.

1.12 The committee heard evidence from the following Ministers:

Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, former Assistant Minister for Home Affairs (representing the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, the Hon. Kelly O'Dwyer MP);
Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash, Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education;
Senator the Hon. Matthew Canavan, Minister for Industry, Science and Technology (representing the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations);
Senator the Hon. Marise Payne, Minister for Foreign Affairs (representing the Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations);
Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment (representing the Minister for Education, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP);
Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation (representing the Minister for Education).

1.13 Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of the portfolio departments and agencies:

Ms Kerri Hartland, Secretary, Department of Jobs and Small Business; and
Dr Michele Bruniges, Secretary, Department of Education and Training.

1.14 The committee extends its appreciation to the Ministers and officers of the departments and agencies who assisted the committee in its conduct of the 2018-19 Additional Estimates hearings.

1.15 An index of proceedings is available at Appendix 2.

Questions on notice

1.16 In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the committee agreed that the date for the return of answers in response to questions placed on notice from the Additional Estimates 2018-19 hearings on 20 and 21 February would be 29 March 2019.

1.17 Answers to questions on notice are published as they become available on the committee's website: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/ee.

Hansard transcripts

1.18 Committee Hansard transcripts are accessible on the committee’s website: www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/ee/2018-19_Additional_estimates.

1.19 In this report, references to the most recent Committee Hansard are to the proof transcripts. Page numbers may vary between the transcripts of the Proof Hansard and the Official Hansard.

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