Peter Hendy (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Supply Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, together with Supply Bill (No. 2) 2016-2017 and Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, seeks appropriations to facilitate the continuation of normal government business.

Supply Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017 provides for appropriations for proposed expenditure on the ordinary annual services of the government for the first part of 2016-2017, broadly until about the end of November.

The bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $35 billion.

The bill must be passed in this session to ensure funding is available to all entities from 1 July 2016, thereby ensuring the continuity of program and service delivery.

The provisions in the bill are generally based on five-twelfths of the estimated 2016-2017 annual appropriation with special provision, where necessary, for entities with a disproportionately high level of expenditure early in the financial year. This includes the Australian Electoral Commission.

I wish to emphasise that this bill seeks provision only for appropriate money to fund government expenditure on an interim basis until appropriation bills have passed. It does not include budget measures.

This arrangement allows for Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, or a similar bill, to be passed in 2016-2017 by the next parliament if necessary.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill and the portfolio budget statements tabled in the parliament with the budget appropriation bills.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.

Leave granted for second reading debate to resume at a later hour this day.