Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $40.8 billion.

The appropriations proposed in this bill are based on five-twelfths of the estimated 2019-20 annual appropriations. The 2019-20 estimates are broadly the 2018-19 base, adjusted for economic and program specific parameters, and the effect of decisions announced as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook or included in the 2018-19 additional estimates appropriation bills.

Although supply bills can sometimes include front loading for agencies that have uneven spending needs over the year, this is not the case in 2019. The five-twelfths apportionment has therefore been applied strictly to all agencies.

The supply bills also take into account terminating programs.

The remainder of the estimated 2019-20 annual appropriations are contained in the budget appropriations bills, which will be introduced separately. To support parliamentary scrutiny, the effect of both the supply bills and budget appropriation bills is incorporated in the 2019-20 portfolio budget statements, as was the case for the 2016-17 supply bills.

The bill must be passed in this session to ensure funding is available to all entities from 1 July 2019, thereby ensuring the continuity of program and service delivery.

I wish to emphasise that this bill seeks provision only to fund government expenditure on an interim basis until budget appropriation bills have passed. Consistent with convention, the supply bills do not include funding for budget measures.

This arrangement allows for Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2019-2020, or a similar bill, to be passed by the next parliament, if necessary.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill and the portfolio budget statements tabled in relation to the budget appropriation bills. I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.

Leave granted for second reading debate to resume at a later hour this day.

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