Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2017-2018, along with Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2017-2018, are the budget appropriation bills for this financial year. This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the consolidated revenue fund of over $15 billion. I now outline the significant items provided for in this bill.

First, the Department of Communications and the Arts will receive just over $9 billion. This will be used to provide NBN Co with a government loan on commercial terms to support the completion of the National Broadband Network.

Second, the Department of Defence will receive over $2 billion to enable the purchase of military equipment and the construction of support facilities as announced in the 2016 Defence white paper.

Third, the Department of Human Services will receive approximately $162 million, which includes just under $24 million in information and communications technology, capital investments to support veteran-centric reform measure.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedules to the bill and the portfolio budget statements tabled in the parliament.

Debate adjourned.