Senate debates

Monday, 7 November 2016

Bills

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2016-2017, Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2016-2017; Second Reading

5:10 pm

Photo of Concetta Fierravanti-WellsConcetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) 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 (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2016-2017

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2016 -2017 provides appropriations for the remainder of 2016-17 for the operations of:

          This Bill is substantively the same as the Bill of the same name that was introduced into the previous Parliament in May this year.

          Together with Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No.1) 2016-2017, this Bill provides appropriations for the expenditure of the Parliamentary Departments for the full year of 2016-17.

          The provisions in the Bill seek authority for appropriations broadly equivalent to 7/12ths of the estimated 2016-17 annual appropriation, plus Budget measures.

          This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $147 million.

          The Department of Parliamentary Services would receive just over $25 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 previously tabled in the Parliament.

          APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 1) 2016-2017

          Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2016 -2017, Appropriation Bill (No.2) 2016-2017 and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.1) 2016-2017, form the principal Bills underpinning the Government's Budget. Together with the Supply Acts passed by the Parliament earlier this year, these Bills provide appropriations for the full year of 2016-17.

          These Bills are substantively the same as the Bills of the same names that were introduced into the previous Parliament in May this year. Minor changes have been made to reflect only new administrative arrangements and machinery of government changes.

          Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2016 -2017 seeks authority for meeting the expenses of the ordinary annual services of the Government for 2016-17.

          The Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just over $49 billion.

          The provisions in the Bill seek authority for appropriations broadly equivalent to 7/12ths of the estimated 2016-17 annual appropriations, plus Budget measures. Together with Supply Act (No.1) 2016-2017, this Bill provides appropriations for the ordinary annual services of Government for the full year of 2016-17.

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

          First, just under $18 billion is proposed for the Department of Defence to keep our nation safe and pursue our national interests. This includes just over $615 million in 2016-17 for military operations Okra, Accordion, Highroad, Resolute and Manitou.

          Second, the Department of Education and Training would receive just under $1.3 billion. This includes funding to support the skills and training system; enhance Australia's science and research capacity; support families with flexible, accessible and affordable child care; and, support the sustainable development of Australia's international education and research engagement.

          Third, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development would receive just under $781 million in funding for 2016-17. This includes funding to support the Infrastructure Investment Program; support for Transport programs, which includes the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme and the Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme; grants to promote stable, secure and viable local and regional economies; and, support for the Indian Ocean Territories and Norfolk Island.

          Fourth, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation would receive just over $610 million in 2016-17 and the Special Broadcasting Service Corporation would receive just over $168 million in 2016-17 to continue to provide television, radio and online services.

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

          APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2016-2017

          Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2016 -2017, along with Appropriation Bill (No.1) 2016-2017 which was introduced earlier, and Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No.1) 2016-2017, form the principal Bills underpinning the Government's Budget. Together with the Supply Acts passed by the Parliament earlier this year, these Bills provide appropriations for the full year of 2016-17.

          These Bills are substantively the same as the Bills of the same names that were introduced into the previous Parliament in May this year. Minor changes have been made to reflect only new administrative arrangements and machinery of government changes.

          Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2016 -2017 seeks authority for appropriations that are not for the ordinary annual services of Government for 2016-17, such as for capital works and services and payments to states, territories and local governments.

          This Bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $9 billion.

          The provisions in the Bill seek authority for appropriations broadly equivalent to 7/12ths of the estimated 2016-17 annual appropriations, plus Budget measures. Together with Supply Act (No.2) 2016-2017, this Bill provides appropriations that are not for the ordinary annual services of Government for the full year of 2016-17.

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

          First, the Department of Communications and the Arts would receive just under $4.9 billion in 2016-17. This is required to provide equity funding to NBN Co to continue to roll out the National Broadband Network.

          Second, the Department of Defence would receive just under $1.4 billion, which includes an additional $700 million in 2016-17, to support the defence strategy and capability plans detailed in the 2016 Defence White Paper.

          Third, the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development would receive just under $544 million for in 2016-17. This would be used to support Roads to Recovery to help local governments and councils maintain Australia's roads; Drought Communities Programs; preparatory works on Western Sydney Airport; and, an equity injection for the Moorebank Intermodal Company.

          Fourth, just over $310 million is proposed for the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. This includes $50 million in concessional loan funding in 2016-17 to establish the National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility. Loans would be provided to the states and territories to support major water infrastructure projects.

          The Bill also provides the Debit Limit for the Nation-building Funds, the Building Australia Fund and the Education Investment Fund; the general purpose financial assistance payments; and, the national partnership payments. The Debit Limits relate to the estimated expenditure after November 2016.

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

          Ordered that the resumption of the debate be made an order of the day for a later hour.