Michael Sukkar (Deakin, Liberal Party, Assistant Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

The Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023 proposes appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of approximately $13.3 billion. This broadly represents seven-twelfths of the estimated 2022-23 annual appropriations plus new measures announced in the 2022-23 budget. The 2022-23 supply bills provide for the initial five months of annual appropriations for 2022-23. Together with Supply Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023, this bill represents appropriations for purposes including capital works and services; payments to or for states, territories and local governments; equity injections; and funding for new administered outcomes not previously endorsed by parliament.

I will now outline some of the significant items in the bill. The Department of Defence will receive an appropriation of approximately $7.7 billion. The appropriation will be used to continue delivering on the government's commitments to improve defence capability as set out in the 2016 Defence white paper as well as the 2020 Force structure plan and the 2020 Defence strategic update. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications will also receive close to $3.9 billion to support rail, road and aviation infrastructure throughout Australia and to support local governments to deliver key community infrastructure. The bill provides $495 million as an equity investment to Airservices Australia to continue to provide critical air navigation, air traffic control, aviation and fire and rescue services at major Australian airports.

The bill also contains an Advance to the Finance Minister provision of $3 billion for COVID-19 related measures and $600 million for other general urgent and unforeseen expenditure. However, if this bill were passed, along with Supply Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023, the total allowable AFM cannot exceed the $3.6 billion under Supply Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedules to the bill and the explanatory memorandum. The portfolio budget statements tabled in the parliament show additional detail of programs that are funded, representing the combined impact of the budget annual appropriations and the supply bills for the full 12 months of 2022-23. I therefore commend the bill to the chamber.

Debate adjourned.