Chapter 1


Chapter 1

Additional Estimates 2013–14

1.1        On 13 February 2014 the Senate referred the following to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:

  • Advances provided under the annual Appropriation Acts—Report for 2012–13;
  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2014 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2013–2014];
  • Particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2014 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2013–2014];
  • Particulars of proposed additional expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2014 [Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2013–14]; and
  • Final Budget Outcome 2012–13.

Portfolio coverage

1.2        The committee has responsibility for examining the expenditure and outcomes of the following:

  • Parliament;[1]
  • Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio;
  • Finance Portfolio; and
  • Cross Portfolio Indigenous Matters.

Variations to portfolios

1.3        The committee notes that since the last estimates hearings in November 2013, the following changes to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio have occurred. On 17 December 2013 the Government announced funding for the Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services would cease, with the role and function of the Coordinator-General concluding on 31 January 2014.[2] Also, following amendments to the Administrative Arrangements Order on 12 December 2013, the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies moved to the Education Portfolio.[3]

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements

1.4        The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements for 2013-14 for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio, the Finance Portfolio and the Department of Parliamentary Services were tabled in the Senate on 13 February 2014.

Hearings

1.5        The committee held public hearings on 24, 25 and 28 February 2014. The parliamentary departments and the Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio (excluding Indigenous matters) were examined on 24 February, the Finance Portfolio was examined on 25 February, and the Cross Portfolio Indigenous Matters hearing was held on 28 February 2014.

1.6        The committee took evidence from the President of the Senate, Senator the Hon John Hogg, and the following Ministers accompanied by officers of relevant departments and agencies:

  • Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, the Minister for Employment and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, representing the Prime Minister;
  • Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women;
  • Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann, Minister for Finance;
  • Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson, Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Special Minister of State; and
  • Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion, Minister for Indigenous Affairs.

1.7        The committee expresses its appreciation for the assistance of the President, Ministers and the officers who appeared.

1.8        Over the course of the hearings, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

Parliamentary departments
  • Department of the Senate
  • Parliamentary Budget Office
  • Department of Parliamentary Services
Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio
  • Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (including the Office for Women and excluding Outcome 2 – Indigenous)
  • Australian National Audit Office
  • Australian Public Service Commission
  • Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security
Finance Portfolio
  • Medibank Private Limited
  • Department of Finance
  • ComSuper
  • Future Fund Management Agency
  • Australian Electoral Commission
  • ASC Pty Ltd
Cross Portfolio Indigenous Matters
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Outcome 2 – Indigenous)
  • Department of Health (in relation to Indigenous Health issues)
  • Indigenous Land Corporation
  • Indigenous Business Australia

1.9        The Office of National Assessments was released prior to its appearance time, while the COAG Reform Council Secretariat, the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation attended but did not receive any questions.

Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts

1.10      The committee has set 11 April 2014 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice arising from the Additional Estimates 2013–14 hearings. This information, together with the Hansard transcripts of proceedings of hearings, are published on the committee's website.

Note on references

1.11      References to the estimates Hansard are to the proof Hansard; page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcript.

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