Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

(1) That estimates hearings by legislation committees for 2019 be scheduled as follows:

2018-19 additional estimates:

Monday, 18 February and Tuesday, 19 February (Group A)

Wednesday, 20 February and Thursday, 21 February (Group B).

2019-20 Budget estimates:

Tuesday, 28 May to Thursday, 30 May, and, if required, Friday, 31 May (Group A)

Monday, 3 June to Thursday, 6 June, and, if required, Friday, 7 June (Group B)

Monday, 21 October and Tuesday, 22 October (supplementary hearings—Group A)

Wednesday, 23 October and Thursday, 24 October (supplementary hearings—Group B).

(2) That pursuant to the order of the Senate of 26 August 2008, cross portfolio estimates hearings on Indigenous matters be scheduled for Friday, 22 February, Friday, 31 May and Friday, 25 October, but not restricted to these days.

(3) That cross portfolio estimates hearings on Murray-Darling Basin Plan matters be scheduled for Friday, 22 February, Friday, 31 May and Friday, 25 October, but not restricted to these days.

(4) That the committees consider the proposed expenditure in accordance with the allocation of departments and agencies to committees agreed to by the Senate.

(5) That committees meet in the following groups:

Group A:

Environment and Communications

Finance and Public Administration

Legal and Constitutional Affairs

Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport

Group B:

Community Affairs

Economics

Education and Employment

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.

(6) That the committees report to the Senate on the following dates:

(a) Tuesday, 16 April 2019 in respect of the 2018-19 additional estimates; and

(b) Tuesday, 25 June 2019 in respect of the 2019-20 Budget estimates.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move the revised amendment to government business notice of motion No. 2 that has been circulated in the chamber:

(1) In paragraph (1), omit:

" 2019-20 Budget Estimates:

Tuesday, 28 May to Thursday, 30 May, and, if required, Friday, 31 May (Group A)

Monday, 3 June to Thursday, 6 June, and, if required, Friday 7 June (Group B)"

substitute:

"2019-20 Budget Estimates:

Thursday, 4 April and Monday, 8 April to Thursday, Tuesday 9 April, and, if required, Friday 12 April (Group A)

Friday, 5 April and Wednesday 10 April to Thursday, 11 April, and, if required, Friday 12 April (Group B)".

(2) In paragraphs (2) and (3) omit: "Friday, 31 May", substitute: "Friday, 12 April".

(3) In paragraph (6) (a), omit: "Tuesday, 16 April 2019", substitute: "Tuesday, 2 April 2019".

(4) In paragraph (6) (b), omit: "Tuesday, 25 June 2019", substitute: "Tuesday, 14 May 2019".

This amendment seeks to add two days for estimates consideration of the budget on Thursday, 4 April and Friday, 5 April 2019. This mirrors the process that was in place immediately prior to the 2016 election. It also seeks to reschedule the week proposed for budget estimates hearings from Tuesday, 28 May to Thursday 30 May and Monday, 3 June to Thursday, 6 June 2019 to Monday, 8 April to Thursday, 11 April 2019. This would create three days for each estimates group.

The government cannot dodge the accountability of the estimates process by scheduling estimates hearings eight weeks after the budget or by calling an election. This amendment seeks to shift the budget estimates hearings to where they belong—right after the budget—and to preserve as much of them as possible before any election is called. Again, I would like to assure the leaders of non-government parties and Independent senators that the opposition will work with them to facilitate time for those senators to make their budget reply speeches in budget week, as would ordinarily be the case. I commend the amendment to the Senate.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will take it, Senator Collins, that, firstly, you sought leave to move the amendment, and, secondly, you sought leave to make a statement and it was granted—given that it has been the subject of discussions! So is leave granted for that amendment to be moved?

Leave granted.

The question is that Senator Collins's amendment be agreed to.

Question agreed to.

The question now is that the motion, as amended, be agreed to.

Question agreed to.