Chapter 1Introduction
Introduction
1.1On 9 May 2023, the Senate referred the following items to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee (the committee) for examination and report:
Particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30June2024;
Particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30June2024; and
Particulars of proposed expenditure in relation to the parliamentary departments in respect of the year ending on 30June2024.
1.2A reporting date of 27 June 2023 was set for the committee's report to the Senate on its consideration of the 2023-24 budget estimates. On 21 June 2023, the committee requested an extension of time to report to 17 July 2023.
Portfolio coverage
1.3In accordance with a resolution of the Senate on 27 July 2022, the committee is responsible for the examination of the expenditure and outcomes of the following portfolios:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (Communications and the Arts functions only).
1.4A list of the agencies, independent statutory bodies and officeholders for which the committee has oversight is available at Appendix 1.
Hearings
1.5On 30 November 2022, the Senate resolved that the committee's budget estimates hearings would be held from 22 to 25 May 2023, with a cross portfolio estimates hearing on Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters on 26May2023.
1.6On 22 and 23 May 2023, the committee examined the outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio.
1.7On 24 and 25 May 2023, the committee examined the Communications and the Arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio.
1.8On 26 May 2023, the committee held hearings on cross portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters, and also concluded its examination of the water and environment outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio, calling officials from the North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority and the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC).
1.9The committee heard evidence from the following ministers:
Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy and the Minister for the Environment and Water; and
Senator the Hon Carol Brown, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, representing the Minister for Communications and the Minister for the Arts.
1.10Evidence was also provided by the following departmental secretaries who were accompanied by officers of the portfolio departments and agencies:
Mr David Fredericks, Secretary, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water; and
Mr Jim Betts, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.
1.11The following agencies were not required to appear:
Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio
Office of the Supervising Scientist
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts portfolio
Australian Film, Television and Radio School
Australian National Maritime Museum
Bundanon Trust
Classification Review Board
Creative Partnerships Australia Ltd
Museum of Australian Democracy
National Portrait Gallery of Australia
Questions on notice and Hansard transcripts
1.12In accordance with standing order 26(9)(a), the committee set 7 July 2023 as the date for the return of written answers or additional information. On 21 June 2023, the committee granted the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water an extension till 21 July 2023 for return of answers to 28 questions which were posed to all agencies within the portfolio.
1.13Written answers and information provided to the committee in response to questions on notice arising from the hearings are tabled in the Senate and posted on the committee's website. Links to the transcripts of these public hearings and to answers, tabled documents and additional information are available from the committee’s website.
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2022-23: timeliness of answers to questions on notice
1.14The committee's 2022-23 supplementary budget estimates hearings examined outcomes and agencies of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water portfolio on 13 February 2023, the communications and the arts outcomes and agencies of the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Arts portfolio on 14 February 2023, and cross portfolio Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters on 17 February 2023. An additional hearing held on 9 March 2023 examined the environment outcome of the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio and called the TSSC.
1.15Answers to questions on notice were set for the following dates:
Hearings held on 13 and 17 February 2023 for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio: 31 March 2023;
Hearing held on 14 February 2023 for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Arts portfolio: 31 March 2023; and
Hearings held on 9 March 2023 for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio: 20 April 2023.
1.16The committee received answers to 158 of the 210 questions taken on notice for the 13 and 17 February 2023 hearings for the Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 31 March 2023. The remaining answers were received by 22 May 2023.
1.17The committee received answers to 71 of the 115 questions taken on notice for the 14 February 2023 hearing for the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and Arts portfolio by the due date of 31 March 2023. The remaining answers were received by 1 June 2023.
1.18The committee received answers to 96 of the 102 questions taken on notice for the 9 March 2023 hearing for the Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water portfolio by the due date of 20 April 2023. The remaining answers were received by 26 April 2023.
Record of proceedings
1.19This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented during the hearings. However, it does provide a brief list of some of the key issues that were canvassed by the committee for each portfolio.
Note on references and additional information
1.20References to the Hansard transcript are to the proof Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and official Hansard transcript.