Zed Seselja (ACT, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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. 1) 2021-2022

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

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021 2022.

These Bills underpin the Government's expenditure decisions.

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $122 billion. These bills ensure there is sufficient appropriation to cover the funding needs of existing programs and for new measures announced in the Budget. This Bill is necessary to support the Government's COVID-19 recovery strategy, to get Australians back to work and to support essential services.

This Bill also proposes an Advance to the Finance Minister provision of a maximum of $2 billion, as part of a total $5 billion AFM envelope across Bills 1 and 2. This is half the level available under last year's equivalent legislation. The transparency arrangements for AFMs will be consistent with last year, including consultation with the Opposition on any extraordinarily large AFMs for $1 billion or more.

The new total AFM ceiling of $5 billion takes into consideration the evolving nature of the COVID 19 pandemic, allocations that have been made to date, the uncertainty around what may be required as part of the Government's future response to the pandemic and its economic consequences and the potential need for the Government to act quickly.

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

Firstly, the Bill proposes an appropriation to the Department of Defence of $30.8 billion. The appropriation will be used to raise, train, and sustain the Australian Defence Force for the conduct of Australian military operations overseas, and the delivery of capabilities across the Land, Maritime, Air, Space, and Information and Cyber domains in defence of Australia and its national interests. The appropriation will also provide funding for support to the Australian community and civilian authorities as directed by Government including assisting with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Secondly, the Bill will provide an appropriation of $18.8 billion to the Department of Social Services, primarily for the National Disability Insurance Scheme which supports the improved independence and participation by Australians with a permanent and significant disability. The appropriation will also be used to continue the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children and to provide support to women experiencing family and domestic abuse.

Thirdly, the Bill will provide the Department of Health with an appropriation of nearly $16.2 billion to be used to support the best health outcomes for the Australian Community. The appropriation will support the extension of existing programs, the Government's response to COVID-19 and adopting the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission. This includes more than $800 million for the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and more than $4.0 billion towards the funding boost for the Aged Care Sector.

The Bill proposes appropriations of $7.7 billion for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment primarily to support vocational education and training, the higher education and research sectors and employment services programs. This includes more than $1.5 billion to expand the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements program to boost training and skills of workers across Australia as part of the National Economic Recovery Plan.

This Bill will provide an appropriation to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of $5.9 billion to support Australia's foreign, trade and investment, development and international security priorities. The appropriation also supports Australia's Official Development Assistance activities including $162.6 million in COVID-19 vaccines and delivery of support for our partners in the Indo-Pacific, funds for country and regional specific programs across Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and funds for global programs such as humanitarian, refugee and COVID-19 support. The appropriations will also support consular services for Australians who are overseas.

This Bill will provide the Department of Home Affairs with $5.2 billion for border enforcement, immigration management, settlement and migrant services and national security functions. The appropriation will also strengthen Australia's crisis coordination and the protection of nationally significant critical infrastructure.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill and the 2021-22 Portfolio Budget Statements.

Passage of the Bills through the House of Representatives and through the Senate by 30 June is required to ensure continuity of the Government's programs and the Commonwealth's ability to meet its obligations for the 2021-22 financial year.

I commend this Bill.

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2021-2022

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022, along with Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021-2022, are the Budget Appropriation Bills for the coming financial year.

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2021-2022 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of

$20 billion. This Bill provides a full year of appropriations for purposes that are non-ordinary annual services of Government for 2021-22, including capital works and services; payments for the States, Territories and local government authorities; and funding for new administered outcomes not previously endorsed by the Parliament.

This Bill also includes a revised Advance to the Finance Minister provision for a maximum of $3 billion. This is down from the total $6 billion that could be issued under 2020-21 AFM provision in the equivalent even-numbered Appropriation Bill and takes into consideration the evolving nature of the COVID 19 pandemic, allocations that have been made to date and the uncertainty around what may be required over 2021-22.

This Bill includes appropriations for the National Recovery and Resilience Agency, recognising that this involves a new administered outcome and consistent with the Senate-Executive compact, this should be in an even-numbered bill.

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

The Bill proposes an appropriation to the Department of Defence of $12.7 billion. The appropriation will be used to continue delivering on the Government's commitments in improving Defence capability as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper, as well as the 2020 Force Structure Plan and 2020 Strategic Update.

The Bill also proposes an appropriation to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications of over $3.5 billion in 2021-22 to support rail, road and aviation infrastructure throughout Australia and to support local governments deliver key community infrastructure. This Bill will provide nearly $400 million to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.

The Bill proposes an appropriation of $600 million to the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. This includes $500 million partly for the Plantation Development Concessional Loans to be delivered by the Regional Investment Corporation.

Passage of the Bills through the House of Representatives and through the Senate by 30 June is required to ensure continuity of the Government's programs and the Commonwealth's ability to meet its obligations for the 2021-22 financial year.

I commend this Bill.

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2021-2022

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2021 2022 provides appropriations for 2021-22 for the operations of:

The Bill proposes total appropriations of $287.5 million. The most significant item in this Bill is for the Department of Parliamentary Services, which will receive $226.2 million for the maintenance of the Australian Parliament House, and to support the functions of Parliament and parliamentarians through the provision of professional services, advice and facilities. This Bill continues the very significant funding uplift provided in last year's Budget on an ongoing basis. It also includes funding consistent with present levels of Senate committee activity, through to the end of the current Parliament.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill and the 2021-22 Portfolio Budget Statements.

I commend the Bill.