Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee (part 1 of 3)
2 June 2026
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Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Australian Parliament
12:57 - 15:26
Speaker 4
Good morning, everybody. I declare openness hearing of the community affairs legislation committee into the budget estimates twenty twenty six twenty seven. I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land in which we meet today and pay my respects to elders past, present, and emerging, and also extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the room or joining us online today. The committee has fixed Friday, July 24, as the date for the return of questions, of answers to questions taken on notice. And the, submission for questions is Friday, June 12.
The committee presenting today will begin with the Department of Health, Disability, and Aging in outcome two individual health benefits. The committee will be conducting today's hearing in person and via video conference. 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 at estimates hearing. 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 a discretion to withhold details or explanations from the parliament or its committees unless the parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The senate has resolved also 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 officer to superior officers or to a minister.
This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanation of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the senate order specifying the process by which claim of public interest immunity should be raised, and I incorporate the public interest immunity statement into the Hansard. I remind senators of their obligations under the behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with 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 are appearing. I remind committee members and witnesses who are appearing via video conference and who are not speaking to keep their, keep themselves on mute.
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