Alex Hawke (Mitchell, Liberal Party, Special Minister of State) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2019-20 along with Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2019-20 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.1) 2019-20 are the budget appropriation bills for this year.

This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $7.4 billion. This represents seven-twelfths of the estimated 2019-20 annual appropriations and new measures since the additional estimates process.

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) provides appropriations for 2019-20 for the operations of the Department of the Senate, the Department of the House of Representatives, the Department of Parliamentary Services and the Parliamentary Budget Office.

This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of approximately $162 million. This represents seven-twelfths of the estimated 2019-20 annual appropriation and new measures since the 2018 additional estimates process.

The most significant item in this bill is for the Department of Parliamentary Services, which will receive almost $127 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 amount also includes funding to replace the original Australian Parliament House auxiliary power system, to ensure the continued supply of power for critical systems, and to upgrade the mobile phone antenna for the benefit of building occupants and visitors.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill and the portfolio budget statements tabled in the parliament. I commend this bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.