Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (part 1 of 3)
30 November 2025
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Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee Australian Parliament
10:17 - 12:58
Speaker 127
Good morning, everybody. I declare openness hearing of the senate finance and public administration legislation committee into the twenty twenty five, twenty six supplementary budget estimates. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to their elders past, present, and emerging. The committee has set Thursday, 12/11/2025 as the date for which senators are to submit questions on notice, and Thursday, January 29, is the date for return of answers to those questions. The committee's proceedings today will begin with the parliamentary departments followed by the prime minister and cabinet portfolio as listed on today's program.
Understanding order 26, the committee must take all evidence in public session, and this includes answers to questions on notice. I do remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee when such action may be treated by the senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. The senate has endorsed the following test of relevance of questions or estimates hearings.
Any questions going to the operational financial positions of the department and agencies which are seeking funds and estimates are relevant questions for the purpose of estimates hearings. I remind officers that the senate has resolved that there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committee unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The senate has resolved also that an officer of the department of the Commonwealth shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and shall be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the superior officer or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about how and when policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the senate order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised, and I incorporate the public interest immunity statement into the Hansard.
I remind senators of their obligation under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. As is my usual practice, I've provided copies of the code. And should anyone require any further information, please just ask, but we will be upholding those, principles of dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. An officer called to answer a question for the first time should state their full name and the capacity in which they appear. And with that, I will ask, well, first, I'll welcome the president, senate of the honorable Sue Lyons, the clerk, mister Richard Pye, and other officers from the department of the senate.
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