Mathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Finance) Share 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. 1) 2017-2018

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2017 -2018, together with Appropriation Bill(No.2)2017-2018 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.1) 2017-2018, form the principal Bills underpinning the Government's Budget.

Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2017 -2018 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $89 billion.

I now outline the significant items provided for in this Bill.

First, the Department of Defence will receive just over $32 billion to keep our nation safe and pursue our national interests. This includes over $900 million for major Defence operations including Operations OKRA, ACCORDION, HIGHROAD, RESOLUTE and MANITOU.

Second, the Health portfolio will receive just over $11 billion, which includes around $3 billion for the Home Support and Care Program to provide support for older people to remain living at home and connected to their communities for longer; about $1 billion to ensure Australia has the workforce necessary to meet the needs of a sustainable health system under the Health Workforce Program; and just under $1 billion to continue the delivery of health services under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program, including the Indigenous Australians Health Program.

Third, the Department of Social Services will receive over $5 billion. This includes approximately $840 million for the provision of demand-driven Disability Employment Services, about $225 million for other disability and carer services and around $51 million for community organisations to develop and maintain a cohesive Australian community with improved independence and self-sufficiency.

Fourth, the Department of Human Services will receive just under $5 billion which includes around $68 million to continue Income Management in all current locations.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill and the Portfolio Budget Statements tabled in the Parliament.

APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2017-2018

Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2017 -2018, along with Appropriation Bill(No.1)2017-2018 and Appropriation(Parliamentary Departments)Bill(No.1)2017-2018, are the Budget Appropriation Bills for this financial year.

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of over $15 billion.

I now outline the significant items provided for in this Bill.

First, the Department of Communication and the Arts will receive just over $9 billion. This will be used to provide NBN Co. with a Government loan on commercial terms to support the completion of the National Broadband Network.

Second, the Department of Defence will receive over $2 billion to enable the purchase of military equipment and the construction of support facilities, as announced in the 2016 Defence White Paper.

Third, the Department of Human Services will receive approximately $162 million, which includes just under $24 million in Information and Communications Technology capital investments to support the Veteran Centric Reform measure.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedules to the Bill and the Portfolio Budget Statements tabled in the Parliament.

APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2017-2018

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2017 -2018 provides appropriations for 2017-18 for the operations of:

This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $326 million.

The Department of Parliamentary Services will receive just under $124 million to maintain the integrity and amenity of Parliament House.

Details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the Schedule to the Bill and the Portfolio Budget Statements tabled in the Parliament.