Anthony Byrne (Holt, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

In rising to speak briefly on the portfolio budget statements under the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio area, I will take this opportunity to make a few points, particularly with respect to the new expenditures that are contained within the portfolio budget document. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet will play a key role in coordinating relevant portfolios, state and territory governments and other stakeholders to progress priorities through the Council of Australian Governments.

The department portfolio budget statements 2008-09 include five new expense measures totalling $67.3 million over five years, including $3.9 million in 2007-08 and two capital measures totalling $1.1 million in 2008-09. The new measures contained within this budget for the Council of Australian Governments are additional resources to support the COAG reform agenda. The government will be providing a total $25.2 million over five years, including $0.3 million in 2007-08 of additional funding to support the COAG reform agenda. Of this, $9.8 million will be provided to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to provide expanded coordination and secretariat support for COAG meetings, working groups and projects and to meet the requirements of the expanded COAG agenda.

The government provided $2.6 million in 2007-08 to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for the Australia 2020 Summit on 19 and 20 April 2008. With respect to the social inclusion agenda, the government will be providing $14.6 million over five years, including $1 million in 2007-08, to establish a social inclusion unit in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The unit will have a role in policy advice and coordination of the government’s social inclusion agenda, operating in conjunction with the new Australian Social Inclusion Board. This measure delivers on the Australian government’s election commitment. There is also the cabinet committee secretariat support funding, which is additional funding. The government will be providing $3.3 million over four years in additional funding for the cabinet committee secretariat within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. To facilitate the development and implementation of the government’s policy agenda, six new cabinet committees have been established and an enhanced role has been given for the Expenditure Review Committee. The additional funding will establish the appropriate level of secretariat and coordination services within the department to support the ongoing operation of the new and enhanced cabinet committee structure.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet enhanced strategic capability is another portfolio area. The government will provide $38.1 million over four years to allow the department to take on an expanded role in supporting the government in delivering key priorities. These priorities include the government’s commitment to deliver its reform agenda through the Council of Australian Governments and progress initiatives identified at the Australia 2020 Summit. This measure includes $1 million for IT equipment.

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