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Wednesday, 9 May 2012
Page: 4365

Ms MARINO (Forrest—Opposition Whip) (18:00): On behalf of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration, I present the committee's report entitled ReportNo. 3: Budget Estimates 2012-2013 for the Department of the House of Representatives.

In accordance with standing order 39(f) the report was made a parliamentary paper.

Ms MARINO: by leave—I am pleased to present to the House the third report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and Administration entitled Budget estimates 2012-2013 for the Department of the House of Representatives.

The report addresses the requirement under standing order 222A for the committee to provide to the Speaker for presentation to the House the amounts for inclusion in the appropriation bills for the Department of the House of Representatives.

The total appropriation to be approved by the parliament for the Department of the House of Representatives in the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2012-13 is $22.691 million compared to $23.253 million in 2011-12.

The committee is pleased to see that additional funding has been provided to support the new statutory role for the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit in overseeing the Parliamentary Budget Office; however, funding for a number of other support services has not been provided.

The committee notes with concern that the impact of the increased efficiency dividend will see that in the longer term the department's budgetary position will become more difficult. The committee will be assessing the position following further advice. I commend the report to the House.