Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee (part 1 of 2)
27 May 2026
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee Australian Parliament
12:27 - 14:32
Speaker 24
Good morning, everyone. Welcome back to day four. I declare open this hearing of the senate legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee for budget estimates twenty twenty six twenty seven. I'd like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the lands on which we meet today, and I pay my respects to their ancestors and elders past and present. I extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultural and spiritual connections to Australia's lands and waters.
On behalf of the committee, I welcome any traditional owners that are here today. The senate has referred to the committee the particulars of proposed expenditure for twenty twenty six twenty seven for the portfolios of home affairs and attorney general and other related documents. These are budget estimates proceedings and the outcomes to be heard during today's proceedings estimates for the home affairs portfolio. The committee has set Friday, 06/05/2026, as a date by which written questions on notice should be provided to the secretariat. The committee has also decided that answers to questions on notice should be returned to the secretariat by 5PM on Friday, 07/17/2026.
Understanding order 26, the committee must take all evidence in public session. 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 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 to a committee.
Officers and senators are familiar with the rules of the senate governing estimates hearings. If you need assistance, the secretary has copies of the rules. The senate has endorsed the following test of relevance of questions at estimates hearings. Any questions going to the operations or financial positions of the departments and agencies which are seeking funds in the 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 a discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committees unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise.
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