Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) 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 BILL (NO. 3) 2023-2024

Today, the Government introduces the 2023-24 Additional Estimates Appropriation Bills. These Bills are:

These Bills underpin the Government's expenditure decisions made since the 2023-24 Budget that relate to the 2023-24 financial year, including decisions made in the 2023-24 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

The 2023-24 MYEFO continued the Government's responsible economic and fiscal management, which has helped deliver the first budget surplus in 15 years and helped ease inflationary pressures at their peak. The fiscal position has further improved in the MYEFO with lower deficits and gross debt now forecast across the forward estimates compared to the 2023-24 Budget.

Appropriation Bill 3 seeks approval for appropriations of $8.7 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This would ensure there is sufficient funding available to cover estimate variations for existing programs, for example, changes in costs for demand driven programs. The Bill would also provide funding for the 2023-24 financial year costs of measures announced since the 2023-24 Budget.

The Bill provides funding to support the following significant items.

The Department of Defence will receive close to $2 billion. This primarily reflects a reclassification of $1.6 billion from capital to operating funding reflecting updated expenditure requirements, $213 million for operations undertaken in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and $174 million for changes in foreign exchange rates.

The Social Services portfolio will receive over $1.4 billion, with the majority of funding for the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide reasonable and necessary supports for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.

The Department of Health and Aged Care will receive approximately $1.1 billion, including $537 million to support older Australians in receiving appropriate care, and $99 million for the community pharmacy sector's transition to Maximum Dispensing Quantity changes and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations will receive approximately $807 million, including over $650 million to support employers which have engaged apprentices and trainees.

The Department of Home Affairs will receive close to $696 million to safeguard national security interests and improve cyber security and security of critical infrastructure assets.

Services Australia will receive close to $344 million, including $232 million for additional frontline and service delivery staff to help reduce claim backlogs and support more timely access to government services.

The Department of Industry, Science and Resources will receive approximately $338 million, including for the decommissioning of the Northern Endeavour floating oil production and offtake facility and the implementation of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.

The Australian Signals Directorate will receive over $257 million to deliver on the Government's foreign signals intelligence and cyber security objectives.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will receive over $230 million, including $207 million for costs incurred on the National Interest Account managed by Export Finance Australia.

The Department of the Treasury will receive approximately $213 million, including around $175 million for Housing Australia.

Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.

I commend this Bill to the chamber.

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APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 4) 2023-2024

Appropriation Bill 4 seeks to appropriate $2.3 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This funding will support the following significant items.

The Department of the Treasury will receive $825 million for Housing Australia to support social housing providers as part of the $1 billion invested in the National Housing Infrastructure Fund.

The Department of Finance will receive around $441 million to finance the purchase of Commonwealth fleet vehicles.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts will receive over $266 million including funding to continue to support delivery of the Western Sydney International Airport project.

The Department of Defence will receive over $189 million primarily to reflect updated estimates for foreign exchange exposure.

The Department of Health and Aged Care will receive just over $160 million including to support aged care services and to replenish COVID-19 supplies within the National Medical Stockpile.

The Australian Signals Directorate will receive over $127 million to support the delivery of the Government's foreign signals intelligence and cyber security objectives and for updated estimates for foreign exchange exposure.

Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.

I commend this Bill to the chamber.

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APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 2) 2023-2024

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill 2 provides additional appropriations for the operations of Parliamentary Departments, specifically the Department of Parliamentary Services and the Department of the House of Representatives, for the remainder of 2023-24.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $10.3 million.

The Department of Parliamentary Services will receive $10 million to fund ICT upgrades and capital works in West Block.

The Department of the House of Representatives will receive $273,000 to strengthen engagement with the Parliaments of Pacific Island Nations.

Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill, the Explanatory Memorandum, and the Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements tabled in the Parliament today.

I commend this Bill to the chamber.

Ordered that further consideration of the second reading of these bills be adjourned to the first sitting day of the next period of sittings, in accordance with standing order 111.