Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Minister for Regional Services) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That these bills be now read a second time.

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

Leave granted.

The speeches read as follows—

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 3) 2018-19

SECOND READING SPEECH

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

Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2018-2019

Appropriation Bill (No.4) 2018-2019

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.2) 2018-2019

These Bills underpin the Government's expenditure decisions.

Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2018 -2019 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $2.5 billion. These bills also ensure there is sufficient appropriation to cover estimates variations related to existing programs, for instance changes in costs for demand-driven programs.

I now outline the more significant amounts provided for in this Bill.

First, this Bill would provide the Department of Health with more than $626 million, including support for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and assistance for farmers and farm communities in drought.

Second, this Bill would provide the Department of Home Affairs with almost $600 million, including funding for national security, provision of refugee and humanitarian assistance, and investment in critical national capabilities to enhance Australia's natural disaster preparedness.

Third, this Bill will provide $100.5 million to the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities, including assistance for farmers and farm communities in drought.

Fourth, this Bill will provide $89.8 million to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, including assistance for farmers and farm communities in drought.

Further, this Bill would provide the Attorney-General's Department with $60 million, including support for the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The Royal Commission will primarily look at the quality and safety of care provided in Residential and Home Aged Care to senior Australians and young Australians with disabilities living in Residential Aged Care settings.

The Bill would also provide, the Australian Sports Commission with just over $60 million, which includes $30 million to expand the Community Sport Infrastructure Program to provide a greater number of grants for the community sporting facilities, $2 million to fund the development of a detailed business case on options for the future of the Australian Institute of Sport site and $25 million to support athletes preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

The Bill will also provide, the National Gallery of Australia with over $14 million to continue to safeguard and exhibit its collection of artworks.

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 to the chamber.

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 4) 2018-19

SECOND READING SPEECH

Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2018 -2019, along with Appropriation Bill (No.3) 2018-2019, which was introduced earlier, and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.2) 2018-2019, are the Additional Estimates Appropriation Bills for this financial year.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of approximately $752.9 million. These bills also ensure there is sufficient appropriation to cover estimates variations related to existing programs.

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

First, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will receive $82 million mainly for critical enhancements to the security infrastructure of Australia's overseas diplomatic network.

Second, this Bill would provide the Department of Human Services with just over $40.6 million to bring forward investment in capital infrastructure from Tranche Four of the Welfare Payment Infrastructure Transformation program, which is progressively replacing Centrelink's ageing technology platform.

Third, the Department of Home Affairs will receive approximately $28 million mainly for the design and initial procurement of next generation visa processing systems.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule 1 to the Bill and the Portfolio Additional Estimate Statements tabled in the Parliament.

I commend this Bill.

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 2) 2018-2019

The purpose of Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill(No. 2) 2018-2019 is to provide additional funding for the operations of the Parliamentary Departments.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $4.3 million. Of this amount,

$3.25 million is available for the implementation of electronic voting for divisions in the House of Representatives, should the parliament decide to support that initiative. If this progresses, this will increase the efficiency, transparency and accuracy of the voting process. Another $1 million will be received to maintain the electronic-security infrastructure of the Australian Parliament House.

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

Debate adjourned.