David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2017-2018, along with Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2017-2018, which was introduced a moment ago, are the additional estimates appropriation bills for this financial year.

This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $133 million.

I now outline the significant items provided for in this bill.

First, this bill would provide the Department of Education and Training with just over $27 million. This includes approximately $24 million for payments to the states and territories to implement national reforms in the non-government school sector and to help schools transition to the new schools-funding arrangements. This forms part of the additional funding for the Quality Schools reform package.

Second, the Department of Human Services would receive just under $16 million in 2017-18 including capital funding of around $11 million to implement three projects being brought forward to tranche 2 of the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation program. This program will progressively replace Centrelink's ageing technology platform.

Third, the Office of National Assessments would receive approximately $12 million in capital funding as part of the establishment of the Office of National Intelligence.

This bill also proposes the repeal of 15 old annual appropriation acts from 2012-13 and 2013-14. This is simply a housekeeping measure, as the appropriations in these acts either have been exhausted or are no longer required.

Schedule 3 of the bill provides a list of the annual appropriation acts proposed for repeal.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedules 1 and 2 to the bill and the portfolio additional estimate statements tabled in the parliament.

I commend this bill.

Debate adjourned.

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