Preface


Preface

On 13 May 2008, the Senate referred to the committee the examination of estimates of proposed expenditure for the financial year 2008-09. The committee is responsible for the examination of the Attorney-General's portfolio and the Immigration and Citizenship portfolio. The portfolio budget statements were tabled on 13 May 2008.

Reference of documents

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

  • Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2009 (relating to Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-09);
  • Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2009 (relating to Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-09); and
  • Particulars of proposed supplementary expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2008.

The committee was required to report on its consideration of the Additional Estimates on or before 24 June 2008.

Estimates hearings

The committee met in public session on 26, 27, 28, 29 May 2008.

Over the course of the four days' hearings, totalling over 38 hours, the committee took evidence from the following departments and agencies:

  • Attorney-General's Department (AGD);
  • Australian Crime Commission;
  • Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI);
  • Australian Customs Service (ACS);
  • Administrative Appeals Tribunal;
  • Australian Government Solicitor (AGS);
  • Australian Federal Police (AFP);
  • Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO);
  • Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC);
  • Classification Board;
  • Classification Review Board
  • CrimTrac;
  • Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC);
  • Family Court of Australia;
  • Federal Court;
  • Federal Magistrates Court;
  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC);
  • Insolvency and Trustee Service of Australia;
  • National Native Title Tribunal;
  • Migration Review Tribunal (MRT)
  • Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions; and
  • Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT).

Copies of Hansard are available on the internet at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/index.htm.

An index of the Hansard for each portfolio appears at Appendix 6 and Appendix 7.

Ministers

The committee heard evidence from Senator the Hon Joseph Ludwig, Minister for Human Services representing the Attorney-General and Minister for Home Affairs, and from Senator the Hon Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

Officers from both departments and associated agencies also appeared. The committee thanks 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 internet page at the following address: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/estimates/index.

The committee has resolved that the due date for submitting responses to questions on notice from the Budget Estimates round is 10 July 200 8.

Report

In this report, the committee draws the attention of the Senate to issues raised in the two days of hearings. These included:

Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity

  • caseload;
  • current and projected funding; and
  • staffing.

Australian Crime Commission

  • current and projected financial position and the impact of the increased efficiency dividend;
  • staffing levels; and
  • Indigenous violence and child abuse taskforce.

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation

  • appropriations and staffing; and
  • visa related security assessments.

Attorney-General's Department

  • conclusion of the National Community Crime Prevention Program;
  • Clarke Inquiry into the case of Dr Mohamad Haneef; and
  • new appointment processes for federal judges and magistrates.

Procedural Issues

  • provision of legal advice;
  • claim of public interest immunity;
  • allegation that the committee was mislead; and
  • standing order 25(13).

Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal

  • current workload; and
  • complaints.

Department of Immigration and Citizenship

  • current and projected financial position and the impact of the increased efficiency dividend;
  • staffing levels;
  • visa subclass 457; and
  • citizenship test.

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