Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to 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 (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (No. 1) 2008-2009

The purpose of the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 is to provide funding for the operations of the three Parliamentary Departments.

The total appropriation sought through this Bill is almost $171 million. Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill.

As I outlined in my introduction to Appropriation Bill (No. 2) we have prepared an Explanatory Memorandum for this Bill to explain the clauses in the Bill and, in particular, changes made compared to previous Appropriation Bills.

I commend the Bill to the Senate.

APPROPRIATION BILL (No. 1) 2008-2009

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009, together with Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009, is one of the principal pieces of legislation underpinning the Government’s first Budget.

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 seeks authority for meeting the expenses of the ordinary annual services of Government.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund totalling approximately $60.9 billion.

Details of the proposed appropriations are set out in Schedule 1 to the Bill, the main features of which were outlined in the Treasurer’s Budget speech on 13 May 2008.

We have taken the opportunity in this Budget to prepare an Explanatory Memorandum for each of the Budget appropriation Bills. The Memoranda explain the clauses in the Bills in detail and, in particular, the changes made for 2008-09 compared to previous appropriation Bills. This is the first occasion on which a Government has prepared Explanatory Memoranda to explain the appropriation Bills. It also supports the Government’s policy to increase the disclosure of information on government financial management.

The drafting of the legislation text contained in the Budget appropriation Bills has been simplified to streamline certain provisions and remove redundant references. The changes are canvassed in the Explanatory Memoranda.

I commend the Bill to the Senate.

APPROPRIATION BILL (No. 2) 2008-2009

It is with pleasure that I introduce Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009, which, together with Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009, is one of the principal pieces of legislation underpinning the Government’s first Budget.

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009 proposes appropriation for agencies to meet:

• expenses in relation to grants to the States under section 96 of the Constitution and for payments to the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and local government authorities;
• requirements for departmental equity injections, loans and previous years’ outputs; and
• requirements to create or acquire administered assets and to discharge administered liabilities.

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2008-2009 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund totalling almost $12.7 billion.

We have taken the opportunity in this Budget to prepare an Explanatory Memorandum for each of the Budget appropriation Bills. For past appropriation Bills, the Budget Papers and Portfolio Budget Statements have explained the appropriations broadly. However, the clauses in each bill and the changes to the provisions have not been explained in detail. The Memoranda explain the clauses in the Bills in detail and, in particular, the changes made for 2008-09 compared to previous appropriation Bills. This is the first occasion on which a Government has prepared Explanatory Memoranda to explain the appropriation Bills. It also supports the Government’s policy to increase the disclosure of information on government financial management.

The drafting of the legislation text contained in the Budget appropriation Bills has been simplified to streamline certain provisions and remove redundant references. The changes are canvassed in the Explanatory Memoranda.

Budget Paper No. 4 provides information on appropriations that are expected to be required in the budget year. As part of the Government’s Operation Sunlight program to increase the transparency of the Budget, Budget Paper No. 4 also contains two new tables. The first outlines estimates of expenses for each special appropriation Act by agency and the second is a register of all active special accounts operated by each agency.

Details of the proposed appropriations are set out in Schedule 2 to the Bill, the main features of which were outlined in the Budget Speech delivered by my colleague, the Treasurer, on 13 May 2008.

I commend the Bill to the Senate.

Debate (on motion by Senator Sherry) adjourned.