Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That these bills be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speeches incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows—

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 3) 2016-2017

SECOND READING SPEECH

Today, the Government introduces the Additional Estimates Appropriations Bills. These Bills are:

Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2016-2017

Appropriation Bill (No.4) 2016-2017.

These Bills underpin the Government's expenditure decisions.

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2016 -2017 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $2 billion.

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

First, this Bill would provide the Department of Defence just over $810 million. This includes approximately $36 million for Operation Highroad and largely reflects the net effect of the reallocation between operating and capital costs, partially offset by the impact of foreign exchange movements.

Second, just under $200 million is proposed for the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in 2016-17.

This includes approximately $64 million to enhance Australia's border protection measures and support for the resettlement of refugees processed at the Regional Processing Centres on Nauru and Manus Island, and around $100 million to support the accommodation and processing of Illegal Maritime Arrivals at Regional Processing Centres.

Third, the Department of Human Services would receive just under $156 million. This includes approximately $77 million to progress Tranche Two of the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation program.

Fourth, the Department of Health would receive just over $143 million. This includes approximately $30 million to commence modernising the information and communication technology systems supporting the health, aged care and related veterans' payments services; around $28 million to strengthen mental health care in Australia; and $10 million to support the establishment of a national research network that will focus on improving childhood cancer survival rates.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament.

I commend this Bill.

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 4) 2016-2017

SECOND READING SPEECH

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2016 -2017, along with Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2016-2017, which was introduced earlier, are the Additional Estimates Appropriation Bills for this financial year.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $284 million.

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

First, this Bill would provide the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development just under $119 million in 2016-17 including $81 million in equity funding to the Australian Rail Track Corporation to deliver network upgrades.

Second, the Department of Human Services would receive just over $79 million. This includes around $41 million in capital funding to improve some of the IT systems that support its client management.

Third, the Environment and Energy portfolio would receive just under $11 million, which includes supplementation for foreign exchange movements to the Bureau of Meteorology and the Department of the Environment and Energy.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedules to the Bill and the Portfolio Additional Estimate Statements tabled in the Parliament.

I commend this Bill.