Stephen Jones (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Today, the government introduces the 2024-25 additional estimates appropriation bills. These bills are:

These bills underpin the government's expenditure decisions made since the 2024-25 budget that relate to the 2024-25 financial year, including decisions made in the 2024-25 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $7 billion. This would ensure there is sufficient appropriation to cover estimate variations related to existing programs, for instance, changes in costs for demand driven programs. The bill would also provide funding for the 2024-25 financial year costs of measures announced since the 2024-25 budget.

The bill provides funding to support the following significant items.

I'm very pleased to say the Department of Education will receive over $2.9 billion with the majority of funding to support a wage increase for early childhood education and care sector workers through a worker retention payment, something the government is very proud of. The government and, I note, the minister, who is with me at the table now, has done a lot of work in respect of that particular initiative. The wage increase is 10 per cent on top of the current national award rate in the first year from December 2024 and rises to 15 per cent in the second year from December 2025. As the program is demand driven, the appropriation for 2025-26 and 2026-27 is being provided upfront to ensure funding is available to make payments to participants as needed.

The Department of Health and Aged Care will receive close to $1 billion to implement various programs to further strengthen Medicare, support Australia's health and aged-care workforce, continue to ensure access to medicines, and strengthen Australia's mental health and suicide prevention system. I'm sure these are programs that all members of this House would support. Funding will also support Australia's ongoing preventive health programs and vaping reforms, and support sports in Australian communities. Funding includes $489 million to support older Australians, by providing assistance to private providers, states, and territories for aged-care assessments under the single assessment system, and extending the aged-care outbreak management supplement. The department will also receive over $200 million to support continuous access to medicines.

The Department of Social Services will receive over $594 million, with the majority of funding for the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide reasonable and necessary supports for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.

The Department of Home Affairs will receive approximately $362 million to implement various programs to ensure Australia's security, prosperity and unity by safeguarding national security interests and maintaining Australia's cohesive multicultural society. The funding will also enable the Department to continue to maintain the integrity of the migration system, sustain visa processing capability, provide settlement services to refugees and migrants, and protect the Australian border.

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources will receive over $263 million, primarily for activities relating to the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour floating oil production and offtake facility.

Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill, the explanatory memorandum, and the portfolio additional estimates statements.

On this basis, I commend this bill to the chamber.

Debate adjourned.