Wider budget priorities
The Greens argued that public money should not support fossil-fuel development or tax cuts for high earners while households face cost pressures, and sought more spending on health care, housing and child care.
Supply (Parliamentary Departments)
Current status
This bill became law on Nov 3rd, 2022.
Policy area
Government & democracy
What does this bill do?
Parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. collectively receive authority to spend $155,107,000.
Why was it introduced?
The government said parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. needed funding for roughly the final seven months of 2022-23 so Parliament could keep operating. The $155,107,000 total was about seven-twelfths of estimated annual funding, while an earlier law had provided about five-twelfths. The bill excluded new measures from the October 2022 Budget, allowing the usual parliamentary checks to occur first.
Broader context
At the start of 2022–23, an earlier supply appropriationParliament's legal permission to spend public money. funded the Parliamentary DepartmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for only the first five months, so authority was needed for their ordinary operations through roughly the remaining seven months while new October Budget measures were handled separately. The government responded with $155.107 million for the four departments, Parliament passed the bill on 26 October 2022 and Royal Assent followed on 3 November, allowing spending authority to operate until the Act’s expiry at the start of 1 July 2025.
Key criticism
The debate contained little criticism of this bill's funding for Parliament itself. Stuart Robert (Liberal) supported the supply bills but argued the wider budget lacked a clear plan to lower living costs and could leave 150,000 more Australians unemployed. Nick McKim (Australian Greens) argued the wider budget kept $254 billion in stage 3 tax cuts — planned income-tax cuts — while offering too little immediate help with living costs. He proposed using the money instead for dental and mental health care through Medicare, Australia's public health insurance system, affordable housing and free child care.
Who supported it?
The government introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 25 Oct 2022
Passed House 25 Oct 2022
Passed Senate 26 Oct 2022
Became law 03 Nov 2022
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 03 Nov 2022
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
1 recorded amendment or procedural vote was found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
9 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. collectively receive authority to spend $155,107,000.
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Senators receive continued advisory and administrative support for their representative and law-making work.
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House of Representatives members receive continued advisory and administrative support for their representative and law-making work.
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Parliament and its members continue receiving services, advice and facilities from the Department of Parliamentary Services. The funding also supports Parliament House.
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Parliament receives independent, non-partisan analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office on budgets, government finances and policy costs.
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Commonwealth bodies must count internal payments covered by this law as real transactions, even when no money leaves the government.
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Parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. can use the money for authorised operating costs, managed programs, assets and liabilities. The law ends on 1 July 2025.
Show source excerpts
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6 Summary of appropriations The total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $155,107,000. Note: Sections 74 to 75 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 also provide for the adjustment of amounts appropriated by this Act.
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
Advisory and administrative support services to enable the Senate and Senators to fulfil their representative and legislative duties Total: Department of the Senate
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
Advisory and administrative services support the House of Representatives to fulfil its representative and legislative role Total: Department of the House of Representatives
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
Support the functions of Parliament and parliamentarians through the provision of professional services, advice and facilities and maintain Australian Parliament House Total: Operating Non‑operating Administered Assets and Liabilities Total: Non‑operating Total: Department of Parliamentary Services
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
Inform the Parliament by providing independent and non‑partisan analysis of the budget cycle, fiscal policy and the financial implications of Total: Parliamentary Budget Office
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
5 Notional transactions between entities that are part of the Commonwealth For the purposes of this Act, notional transactions between non‑corporate entities are to be treated as if they were real transactions. Note: This section applies, for example, to a “payment” between non‑corporate entities that are both part of the Commonwealth. One of the effects of this section is that the payment will be debited from an appropriation for the paying non‑corporate entity, even though no payment is actually made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This is consistent with section 76 of the Public Gover
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text -
7 Departmental items The amount specified in a departmental item for a Parliamentary Department may be applied for the departmental expenditure of the Parliamentary Department. 8 Administered items (1) The amount specified in an administered item for an outcome for a Parliamentary Department may be applied for expenditure for the purpose of contributing to achieving that outcome. (2) If the portfolio statements indicate that activities of a particular kind were intended to be treated as activities in respect of a particular outcome, then expenditure for the purpose of carrying out those ac
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) as-passed text
Context
Broader context for this bill
At the start of 2022–23, an earlier supply appropriationParliament's legal permission to spend public money. funded the Parliamentary DepartmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for only the first five months, so authority was needed for their ordinary operations through roughly the remaining seven months while new October Budget measures were handled separately. The government responded with $155.107 million for the four departments, Parliament passed the bill on 26 October 2022 and Royal Assent followed on 3 November, allowing spending authority to operate until the Act’s expiry at the start of 1 July 2025.
- Before 25 Oct 2022
Existing supply covered only part of 2022–23
The earlier supply Act funded the Parliamentary DepartmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for the first five months, leaving authority for roughly seven months of ongoing operations still to be provided.
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) explanatory memorandum ↗ - 25 Oct 2022
The government introduces the bill
The government introduced $155.107 million in additional appropriations for the four Parliamentary DepartmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members., excluding new measures announced in the October 2022 Budget.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 26 Oct 2022
Parliament passes the bill
Both Houses passed the bill, securing spending authority for the Parliamentary DepartmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for the remainder of 2022–23.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 03 Nov 2022
Royal Assent turns the bill into an Act
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, authorising withdrawals from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe central account holding Commonwealth revenue. for the specified Parliamentary Department purposes.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 01 July 2025
The appropriationParliament's legal permission to spend public money. authority expires
The Act’s authority ended at the start of 1 July 2025, closing the period in which its appropriations could support departmental spending.
Supply (Parliamentary Departments) explanatory memorandum ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 25 Oct 2022
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 25 Oct 2022
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
House second reading agreed 25 Oct 2022
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
House third reading agreed 25 Oct 2022
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 26 Oct 2022
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 26 Oct 2022
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 26 Oct 2022
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate third reading agreed 26 Oct 2022
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 26 Oct 2022
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 03 Nov 2022
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main case against this bill
The debate contained little criticism of this bill's funding for Parliament itself. Stuart Robert (Liberal) supported the supply bills but argued the wider budget lacked a clear plan to lower living costs and could leave 150,000 more Australians unemployed. Nick McKim (Australian Greens) argued the wider budget kept $254 billion in stage 3 tax cuts — planned income-tax cuts — while offering too little immediate help with living costs. He proposed using the money instead for dental and mental health care through Medicare, Australia's public health insurance system, affordable housing and free child care.
These criticisms concerned the wider October 2022 Budget debated alongside the bill. Robert said the opposition would support the supply bills, while the government said this bill contained no new October Budget decisions.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments at a glance
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated Repeal stage 3 tax cuts and fund cost-of-living relief
Defeated 12 to 28. Support came from Greens. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal, One Nation, and Nationals.
Defeated
Repeal stage 3 tax cuts and fund cost-of-living relief
The statement was defeated 12 votes to 28, allowing the supply bills' original second-reading question to proceed without the proposed criticism.
Party Aye / No
Labor 0 / 20
Greens 12 / 0
Liberal 0 / 6
One Nation 0 / 1
Nationals 0 / 1
Did not vote: Liberal Party
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Stephen Jones
Jones supports the bill because it provides about $155 million to keep parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. operating for the remainder of the financial year and must pass promptly to ensure funding continuity.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Max Chandler-Mather
Chandler-Mather moves a second-reading amendment condemning the stage 3 tax cuts and calling for the money to fund cost-of-living relief, including health care, affordable housing and free child care — an amendment the government said would negate the bill if carried, despite its 'whilst not declining' wording.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Unclear
Nick McKim
McKim does not clearly state whether he supports the parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations..
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Jenny McAllister
McAllister supports the bill, arguing that its approximately $155 million in appropriations must pass promptly to fund parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for the remainder of 2022-23 and ensure Parliament continues operating.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
3 speakers · 4 contributions · 3 support
Labor
3 speakers · 4 contributions · 3 support
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Stephen Jones ★ Jones supports the bill because it provides about $155 million to keep parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. operating for the remainder of the financial year and must pass promptly to ensure funding continuity.
“The bill must be passed in this sitting week to provide certainty of supply for the parliamentary departments for the remainder of the 2022-23 financial year, thereby ensuring the continuity of the parliament's operations. As with the other additional 2022-23 supply bills, I emphasise that this bill seeks only to provide funding for the ongoing business of government for the remainder of the financial year. Therefore, no new decisions taken in this October budget are included in this bill. This arrangement enables conventional parliamentary processes, which I have described in earlier debates, to occur prior to the enactment of the October 2022 budget appropriation bills by the parliament. The details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill, the explanatory memorandum and the updated 2022-23 portfolio budget statements tabled in relation to the October 2022 budget. I commend the bill to the chamber.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jenny McAllister ★ 2 contributions McAllister supports the bill, arguing that its approximately $155 million in appropriations must pass promptly to fund parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for the remainder of 2022-23 and ensure Parliament continues operating.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jenny McAllister on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
McAllister supports the bill, arguing that its approximately $155 million in appropriations must pass promptly to fund parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. for the remainder of 2022-23 and ensure Parliament continues operating.
“The Bill must be passed in this sitting week to provide certainty of supply for the Parliamentary Departments for the remainder of 2022-23, thereby ensuring the continuity of the Parliament's operations.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
McAllister urges the Senate to pass the supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations. to fund parliamentary and government operations for the remainder of 2022–23, while rejecting the Greens' proposed amendment.
“I note that the Greens have moved a second reading amendment. Labor will not support that amendment. Once again, I thank all senators for their contributions and commend these bills to the Senate.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗ -
Tony Burke Tony Burke supports passing the supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations., warning that the Greens amendment could block funding and put Commonwealth and parliamentary workers' wages at risk.
“I recommend people, when this comes to the vote, oppose the amendment. At that moment do not call for a division and risk that we don't get this done tomorrow, because, if we don't, the Senate doesn't sit again until 21 November. The impact is real—”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
Coalition
2 speakers · 3 contributions · 2 support
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Dean Smith Smith says the opposition will support the supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations. so parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. remain funded while the appropriationParliament's legal permission to spend public money. bills undergo scrutiny, despite broader criticism of the government's budget.
“I rise to speak briefly on Supply Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023, Supply Bill (No. 4) 2022-2023 and Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023. The opposition will support the passage of these bills. It is appropriate that the important functions of government continue and departments are resourced to effectively carry out their duties when the examination of the appropriation bills continues through the parliamentary process, and the expeditious passage of these bills means that there will be no delay. There is of course a lot that this budget does deserve examination over, and the coalition looks forward to the estimates process that will begin later this week.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Stuart Robert 2 contributions Robert says the coalition will support the parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations. and help pass it quickly in line with Westminster convention, stressing that completing the funding legislation is important despite the Greens' procedural action.
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Stuart Robert on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Robert says the coalition will support the parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations. and help pass it quickly in line with Westminster convention, stressing that completing the funding legislation is important despite the Greens' procedural action.
“On behalf of the coalition I committed to the government of the day that we would progress this expeditiously, in line with Westminster convention, in the time outlined by the government, and the opposition will hold to that, regardless of what the party of the Greens do or do not do.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
Robert says the opposition will support the supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations. in accordance with parliamentary convention so government functions continue and departments remain funded, while criticising Labor's broader budget and cost-of-living approach.
“I'll be very brief. Considering the lateness of the hour, I rise to speak on the cognate debate on Supply Bill (No. 3), Supply Bill (No. 4) and Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2022-2023. The opposition will support the passage of the bills, in accordance with convention. It's important that the appropriate functions of government continue and departments are resourced to effectively carry out their duties when the examination of the appropriation bills through parliamentary processes means there is the inevitable delay of their passage.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Greens
3 speakers · 1 support · 1 mixed · 1 unclear
Greens
3 speakers · 1 support · 1 mixed · 1 unclear
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Nick McKim ★ McKim does not clearly state whether he supports the parliamentary departmentsThe four bodies that support Parliament and its members. supply billA bill providing temporary funding for ongoing operations..
“There is no need for the Treasurer to wring his hands and pretend that he has got no levers to pull to address inflation in this country. There is no need for the Treasurer to stand back and watch as the Reserve Bank continues to pile interest rate rise on top of interest rate rise, condemning the less well off in this country to yet more pain. He needs to pull the lever, introduce a corporate super profits tax and rein in the rampant price gouging of the big corporations. I flag that I will be moving a second reading amendment, Madame Deputy President.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Dorinda Cox Dorinda Cox makes the Greens' support for the supply package conditional on stopping public money from funding drilling in the Beetaloo basin, arguing that new gas development would worsen the climate crisis while households are struggling.
“I rise to speak to the Supply Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023 and related bills. The Greens have circulated an amendment to this bill. The amendment ensures that no public money is spent on the drilling program in the Beetaloo basin. We are in a climate crisis, and that means that no new coal and gas should be funded. Continuing to give fossil fuel companies handouts when people are struggling to pay rent and to buy their groceries and other necessities is absolutely insulting, especially to the many people right across the country who've seen their homes and their communities devastated this year by unprecedented flooding events. This is actually insulting to them. These weather events will only get worse, and the government is directly contributing to this by funding the fossil fuel projects that they've outlined in this budget.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Max Chandler-Mather ★ Chandler-Mather moves a second-reading amendment condemning the stage 3 tax cuts and calling for the money to fund cost-of-living relief, including health care, affordable housing and free child care — an amendment the government said would negate the bill if carried, despite its 'whilst not declining' wording.
“"whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House:”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Unknown
1 speaker · 1 support
Unknown
1 speaker · 1 support
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Minister The Minister supports passing the bill, as shown by the successful second reading, but the supplied text gives no substantive reasons for that position.
“Bill read a second time.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 2) 2022-2023
- Act number
- Act No. 46, 2022
- Became law
- 03 Nov 2022
- Takes effect
- The whole of this Act 03 Nov 2022
- Registered
- 03 Nov 2022
- Administered by
- Department of Finance
- Final law metadata was collected from the APH progress table; commencement rows were parsed from the bill text.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- 25 Oct 2022
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 25 Oct 2022
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 25 Oct 2022
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 25 Oct 2022
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 26 Oct 2022
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 26 Oct 2022
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 26 Oct 2022
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 26 Oct 2022
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 26 Oct 2022
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 03 Nov 2022
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.