Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Overview

1.1        On 7 February 2013[1] the Senate referred the following documents to the committee for examination and report in relation to the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio:

  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2012–13];
  • Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2013 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2012–13];
  • Final budget outcome 2011–12 Report by the Treasurer (Mr Swan) and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation (Senator Wong), October 2012; and
  • Issues from the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts—Report for 2011-12.

1.2        Standing legislation committees are required to report to the Senate on 19 March 2013.

Portfolio coverage

1.3        The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio. Appendix 1 lists the department and agencies under this portfolio.

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements (PAES) 2012–13

1.4        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 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.

1.5        The PAES 2012–13 notes that there have been no changes to the overall outcomes of the portfolio. The PAES does not list any new measures since the May 2012 Budget.

Hearings

1.6        The committee conducted two days of hearings, examining Employment and Workplace Relations outcomes and agencies on 13 February 2013 and Education outcomes and agencies on 14 February 2013. In total the committee met for 20 hours and 29 minutes, excluding breaks.

1.7        The following outcomes and agencies appeared before the committee:

  • Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
  • Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership
  • Comcare
  • Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate
  • Fair Work Commission
  • Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Safe Work Australia

Public interest immunity claims

1.8        On 13 May 2009, the Senate passed an order relating to public interest immunity claims.[2] 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 on each day of the additional estimates hearing.

Questions on notice

1.9        The committee has drawn the attention of the department and its agencies to the agreed deadline of Friday 12 April 2013 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice from this round, in accordance with Standing Order 26.

1.10      For this round, written questions on notice were received from Senators Abetz, Back, Cash, Hanson-Young, McKenzie, Nash, Sinodinos and Xenophon.

Note on Hansard page referencing

1.11      Hansard references throughout this report relate to proof Hansard page numbers. Please note page numbering may differ between the proof and final Hansard.

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