Name: Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (part 1 of 2)
Uploaded: 2026-05-27T22:50:00+00:00

12:06 - 14:40

Speaker 1

Good morning, everybody. I declare open this hearing of the senate finance and public administration legislation committee looking into the twenty twenty six, twenty seven 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. And I extend that respect to all aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here or tuning in today. The committee has set Friday, 06/05/2026, as the date by which then it decides to submit written questions on notice, and Friday, July 17, is the date for the return of answers to questions taken on notice.

The committee's proceedings today will begin with the finance portfolio agencies 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 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, and 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 estimates hearing. Any question going to the operational financial positions of the departments 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 there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has the discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committees unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The senate has resolved that an officer of a department of the commonwealth should 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 policy or factual questions about when and how 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 immunity statement into the hand side. I remind senators that obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect, and I will, uphold that throughout the day. An officer called to to answer a question for the first time should state their full name and the capacity in which they are appearing. And I remind committee members and witnesses who are appearing via video conference who are not speaking to mute their microphones, and we are expecting a few people online today. So, I would like to welcome mister David Hazelhurst, the chief executive officer and other officers of Services Australia.

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