Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Trade) Share this | Hansard source

I thank all senators who have made contributions to the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2020-2021 and related bills. The appropriation bills, as is customary, seek authority from the parliament for the expenditure of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the last five months of the 2020-2021 financial year and build on the appropriations already provided in the 2020-21 supply acts.

Rather than providing extensive remarks in summing up this debate, I point senators to the budget speech and other contributions that highlight the focused priorities the government brings to bear in relation to these bills. The total of the appropriation sought through these appropriation bills is just over $51.8 billion, providing essential support for the continuity of government business through to the end of this financial year, including funding to give effect to our many budget measures focused very much on the continued suppression of the coronavirus and our work through the associated economic crisis to ensure the preservation and growth of investment, trade, jobs, living standards and essential services for Australians.

I note that there is a second reading amendment, moved by the opposition, which seeks to make various, probably relatively predictable, political points. I would argue that those points are grossly internally inconsistent as they variously attack the government over the scale of spending but then go on to call for much greater spending in a whole range of other areas. Unfortunately, the timing of consideration of the second reading vote and this amendment is such that the question will be put during the hour when the Senate does not divide. Therefore, in the interests of the timely management of the Senate and of concluding debate tonight without interruption and passing the appropriation bills at the earliest opportunity to ensure the continuity of supply and maintain the essential operations of the government, I can inform the Senate that the government will not call a division on the second reading amendment, but of course I again stress that we resolutely oppose the amendment and do not accept the assertions in the motion. Once again, I thank senators for their contributions and commend these bills to the chamber.