Introduction
Standing order 19 (2) and (3) requires that the Committee determine the amounts to be included in the parliamentary appropriation bills for the Department of the Senate.
Proposed Appropriations for 2017-18
The Committee notes that the Senate Department’s 2017-18 appropriations have been calculated in accordance with current Commonwealth funding policy. Under this policy, the forward estimates include a Government decision to provide ongoing departmental supplementation of $3.7m per annum, which responds to a proposal, endorsed by the Committee, to realign the Department’s resources to a level required to support continuing elevated levels of committee and legislative activity.
The proposed appropriation for 2017-18 has been calculated as follows:
Part 1 - Departmental Annual Appropriation
The prior year’s budget for departmental expenses
(as disclosed in the 2016-17 PBS) |
$23.758m |
| |
|
Agreed budget measures:
Drepartment of the Senate – additional funding
Reversal of $3.0m supplementation for 2016-17
Whole of government saving - supperannuation administration fees
Capital funding rephased
Other adjustments (economic parameters |
+3.700m
-3.000m
-0.001m
-0.150m
-0.006m |
| Total departmental appropriation for 2017-18 |
$24.301m |
Part 2 – Accumulated Prior Year Appropriations, Operating Results and Capital Expenditure
| Balance of prior year appropriations (estimate as at Budget May 2017) |
$9.948m |
Part 3 - Special Appropriations (senators' remuneration and entitlements)
Made up of the following components (for this and next year):
| 2016-17: |
| Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 |
$0.200m |
| Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 |
$2.351m |
| Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 |
$20.058m |
| Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 |
$1.865m |
| Total Special Appropriations for 2016-17 |
$24.474m |
| |
|
| 2017-18: |
| Parliamentary Entitlements Act 1990 |
$0.200m |
| Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 |
$2.588m |
| Remuneration Tribunal Act 1973 |
$20.359m |
| Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1901 |
$1.857m |
| Total Special Appropriations for 2016-17 |
$25.004m |
The total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the appropriation bill for 2017-18 will be $24.301m (compared to $23.758m in 2016-17).
Special appropriations of $25.004m will also be drawn down during the year (compared to an estimate of $24.474m in 2016-17).
Conclusions
The Committee welcomes the Department's ongoing supplementation of $3.7m in 2017-18 which will assist in realigning the Department's resourcing requirements given continuing elevated levels of legislative and, particularly, committee activity.
Determination
The Committee determines that the total appropriation to be approved by the Parliament in the Appropriations (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2017-18 is $24.301m and reports to the Senate accordingly.
Senator the Hon Stephen Parry
Chairman
May 2017