PREFACE


PREFACE

On 13 February 2014, the Senate referred to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) for examination the estimates of proposed additional expenditure for the financial year 2013–14. The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's Portfolio and the Immigration and Border Protection Portfolio. The portfolio additional estimates statements for 2013–14 were tabled on 13 February 2014.[1]

Reference of documents

The Senate referred to the committee, for examination and report, the following documents:

  • 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];
  • final budget outcome 2012–13;
  • issues from Advances provided under the annual Appropriation Acts for 2012–13; and
  • estimates of proposed additional expenditure for 2013–14 (Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements) relating to the Attorney-General's portfolio and the Immigration and Border Protection portfolio.

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the additional estimates on or before 18 March 2014.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 24 and 25 February 2014.

Over the course of the two days of hearings, totalling over 22 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Attorney-General's Department
  • Australia Council
  • Australian Crime Commission
  • Australian Customs and Border Protection Service
  • Australian Federal Police
  • Australian Financial Security Authority
  • Australian Government Solicitor
  • Australian Human Rights Commission
  • Australian Law Reform Commission
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre
  • Classification and Classification Review Board
  • Creative Partnerships Australia
  • Department of Immigration and Border Protection
  • Family Court of Australia
  • High Court of Australia
  • Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal
  • National Archives of Australia
  • Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
  • Officers from the Joint Agency Taskforce for Operation Sovereign Borders
  • Screen Australia

Copies of the Hansard transcripts are available from the committee's internet page.

An index of the Hansard for each portfolio appears at Appendix 2.

Ministers

On 24 February 2014, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon George Brandis, the Attorney-General and Minister for the Arts.

On 25 February 2014, the committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women and Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks the Ministers and officers for their assistance.

Questions on notice

Further written explanations, and answers to questions on notice, will be tabled as soon as possible after they are received. That information is also available on the committee's webpage.

The committee has resolved that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the additional estimates round is 23 April 2014.

Note on references

References to the committee Hansard are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and the official Hansard transcript.

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