Name: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee (part 1 of 3)
Uploaded: 2026-06-04T22:50:00+00:00

22:45 - 25:07

Speaker 3

Welcome, everybody. Sorry for the late start. We just had to deal with some, administrative matters with the committee, so thank you all for waiting. I declare open this hearing of community affairs legislation committee into budget estimates twenty twenty six twenty seven and begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land and pay my respects to elders past, present, and emerging and also extend that respect to anyone in the room or joining us online today. The committee has fixed Friday, July 24, as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice, and we'll ask senators to provide any written questions on notice to the secretariat by Friday, June 12.

Committee presenting today will begin with the Department of Health, Disability, and Aging in outcome four, which is disability and carers. My name is senator Karen Grogan, and I'll be chairing today's estimates, substituting for senator Dorinda Cox. 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 questions, inquest... Responses 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 for questions at 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 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 should be given reasonable opportunities for questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the senate's 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 hands up. I remind senators their obligations under behavior code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect.

The rest of the transcript is for Pro customers

Unlock the full transcript, chat, and every analysis feature with Polyfact Pro.

Start a free trial