Cost-of-living priorities
The Greens argued that retaining stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget. meant less money for cost-of-living relief, health care, housing and free child care, leaving low-income Australians behind.
Supply
Current status
This bill became law on Nov 3rd, 2022.
Policy area
Budget, tax & economy
What does this bill do?
Government departments and agencies receive $48,929,762,000 to keep ordinary services running during the final seven months of 2022-23.
Why was it introduced?
The government said the Act was needed to keep programs and services running through the final seven months of 2022-23. It provides exactly $48,929,762,000, broadly equal to seven-twelfths of estimated yearly funding. The estimates were mainly based on the March 2022 Budget, with adjustments for agencies that had received more than five-twelfths earlier. The government said passage that week would prevent disruption while Parliament examined the separate October Budget funding bills.
Broader context
Supply ActA temporary law funding continuing government work. (No. 1) 2022–23 had funded ordinary government services for roughly the first five months of the financial year, but funding was still needed for the remaining seven months and had to reflect machinery-of-government changes made from 1 July 2022. The government therefore introduced a further $48.93 billion appropriationParliament's permission to spend public money., excluding new October Budget measures, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent on 3 November 2022, allowing existing programs and services to continue.
Key criticism
Stuart Robert (Liberal) supported the supply bills but argued the wider Budget lacked a clear plan to lower living costs and would leave 150,000 Australians unemployed. Max Chandler-Mather (Australian Greens) argued the wider Budget kept $254 billion in stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget., with a $9,000 yearly benefit for the wealthiest recipients, instead of providing stronger help with housing, health care and child care. Dorinda Cox (Australian Greens) opposed public funding connected with drilling in the Beetaloo Basin. She argued one drilling pad could use 11.2 billion litres of water and the gas field could release up to 117 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
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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Government departments and agencies receive $48,929,762,000 to keep ordinary services running during the final seven months of 2022-23.
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Government departments can use their allocated operating money for expenses such as staff, suppliers, assets, loans and debts.
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People receiving government grants, benefits and transfer payments can continue to be paid through funding tied to each agency's stated goals.
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Government-owned organisations can receive the amounts listed for them. Organisations protected by another law must receive their full listed amount.
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Government agencies can move allocated money into special accounts when an account supports the purpose approved by Parliament.
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Government programs receive about seven-twelfths of their estimated yearly funding, with smaller shares where extra funding was provided earlier.
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People using government services receive no new October 2022 Budget measures through this Act. It only funds existing government work.
Show source excerpts
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6 Summary of appropriations The total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $48,929,762,000. Note: Sections 74 to 75 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 provide for the adjustment of amounts appropriated by this Act.
Supply as-passed text -
7 Departmental items The amount specified in a departmental item for a non‑corporate entity may be applied for the departmental expenditure of the entity.
Supply as-passed text -
8 Administered items (1) The amount specified in an administered item for an outcome for a non‑corporate entity 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 activities is taken to be expenditure for the purpose of contributing to achieving the outcome.
Supply as-passed text -
9 Corporate entity items (1) The amount specified in a corporate entity item for a corporate entity may be paid to the entity to be applied for the purposes of the entity. (a) an Act provides that a corporate entity must be paid amounts that are appropriated by the Parliament for the purposes of the entity; and (b) Schedule 1 contains a corporate entity item for that entity; then the entity must be paid the full amount specified in the item.
Supply as-passed text -
10 Crediting amounts to special accounts If any of the purposes of a special account is a purpose that is covered by an item (whether or not the item expressly refers to the special account), then amounts may be debited against the appropriation for that item and credited to that special account.
Supply as-passed text -
Appropriations for the ordinary annual services of the Government must be contained in a separate Bill from other appropriations in accordance with sections 53 and 54 of the Australian Constitution. Consequently, the Bill proposes appropriations broadly equivalent to 7/12ths of the estimated 2022-23 annual appropriations for the ordinary annual services of the Government. The Bill proposes lesser appropriations for certain entities which received more than 5/12ths of their annual appropriations in the Supply Act (No. 1) 2022-2023, mainly for the purpose of managing disproportionately high expe
Supply explanatory memorandum -
The Supply Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023 provides annual appropriations for proposed expenditure on the ordinary annual services of the government for broadly the last seven months of the 2022-23 financial year. The annual appropriations for expenditure on the ordinary annual services of government for broadly the first five months of 2022-23 were provided by the Supply Act (No. 1) 2022-23. The Supply Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $49 billion. Importantly, this bill must be passed this sitting week to provide certainty of su
Second reading speech
Context
Broader context for this bill
Supply ActA temporary law funding continuing government work. (No. 1) 2022–23 had funded ordinary government services for roughly the first five months of the financial year, but funding was still needed for the remaining seven months and had to reflect machinery-of-government changes made from 1 July 2022. The government therefore introduced a further $48.93 billion appropriationParliament's permission to spend public money., excluding new October Budget measures, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent on 3 November 2022, allowing existing programs and services to continue.
- 01 July 2022
Government machinery changes create new funding responsibilities
New departments, including Employment and Workplace Relations and Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, were established and required appropriations under the revised administrative arrangements.
Supply explanatory memorandum ↗ - 25 Oct 2022
The government introduces the supply bill
The government introduced the bill to fund ordinary government services for roughly the remaining seven months of 2022–23 after earlier supply had covered the first five months.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 26 Oct 2022
Parliament passes the bill
Both Houses passed the bill, providing almost $49 billion in supply and continuity for existing programs and services while excluding new October Budget measures.
Parliamentary timeline ↗ - 03 Nov 2022
Royal Assent makes the supply bill law
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, authorising the withdrawal of the appropriated money from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main account holding Commonwealth money..
Parliamentary timeline ↗
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
Second reading debate 25 Oct 2022
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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.
Committee of the Whole 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
Stuart Robert (Liberal) supported the supply bills but argued the wider Budget lacked a clear plan to lower living costs and would leave 150,000 Australians unemployed. Max Chandler-Mather (Australian Greens) argued the wider Budget kept $254 billion in stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget., with a $9,000 yearly benefit for the wealthiest recipients, instead of providing stronger help with housing, health care and child care. Dorinda Cox (Australian Greens) opposed public funding connected with drilling in the Beetaloo Basin. She argued one drilling pad could use 11.2 billion litres of water and the gas field could release up to 117 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The Liberal opposition still supported the Act so government work could continue. Labor said this Act contained no new October 2022 Budget decisions, so several criticisms concerned the wider Budget rather than measures created by this Act.
Beetaloo gas funding
The Greens sought to prevent money appropriated by the bill from funding the Beetaloo Basin Drilling Program, warning that support for new gas projects would worsen climate change and neglect struggling communities.
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 more 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 more cost-of-living relief
The Senate rejected the criticism by 12 votes to 28, then agreed to the bills' second reading.
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 as necessary to maintain government programs and services for the remainder of 2022-23, stressing that it provides nearly $49 billion for existing business without funding new October budget decisions.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Max Chandler-Mather
Max Chandler-Mather says the Greens will allow the bill to pass its second reading but seek an amendment calling for the stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget. to be repealed and the money used for cost-of-living relief, health care, housing and free child care.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Unclear
Nick McKim
Nick McKim condemns the budget for favouring wealthy people and fossil fuel corporations while failing to deliver adequate cost-of-living relief, and moves an amendment calling for the stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget. to be repealed and funding redirected to health care, housing and free child care.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Jenny McAllister
McAllister supports the bill, arguing it must pass promptly to fund ordinary government services for the remainder of 2022–23 and ensure programs and services continue.
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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Jenny McAllister ★ 2 contributions McAllister supports the bill, arguing it must pass promptly to fund ordinary government services for the remainder of 2022–23 and ensure programs and services continue.
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 it must pass promptly to fund ordinary government services for the remainder of 2022–23 and ensure programs and services continue.
“The Bill must be passed in this sitting week to provide certainty of supply for the ongoing business of government for the remainder of 2022-23, thereby ensuring the continuity of program and service delivery.”
Read this contribution in Hansard ↗Second reading speech
McAllister urges the Senate to pass the supply bills to fund the ongoing business of government and maintain programs and services for the remainder of 2022-23, while rejecting the Greens' 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 ↗ -
Stephen Jones ★ Jones supports the bill as necessary to maintain government programs and services for the remainder of 2022-23, stressing that it provides nearly $49 billion for existing business without funding new October budget decisions.
“The Supply Bill (No. 3) 2022-2023 seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of just under $49 billion. Importantly, this bill must be passed this sitting week to provide certainty of supply for the ongoing business of government for the remainder of 2022-23, thereby ensuring the continuity of program and service delivery. The appropriations proposed in this bill provide an estimated seven-twelfths of the 2022-23 annual appropriations, which are broadly based on the March 2022 budget estimates and adjusted for a small number of programs and entities that received more than five-twelfths of their annual appropriations in the 2022-23 supply acts. This was to provide flexibility for the selected entities to manage uneven expenditure early in the financial year. The bill reflects the structure of government in line with the Administrative Arrangements Orders which commenced on 1 July this calendar year.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Tony Burke Burke supports passing the supply bill without delay, warning that the Greens amendment could derail its passage and put Commonwealth workers' wages and government payments 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 bill so government departments remain funded while parliament examines the appropriationParliament's permission to spend public money. bills, although he criticises the budget's higher spending and cost-of-living pressures.
“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 supply bill and help pass it quickly in line with Westminster convention, arguing that completing the funding measure is too important to delay with parliamentary stunts.
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 supply bill and help pass it quickly in line with Westminster convention, arguing that completing the funding measure is too important to delay with parliamentary stunts.
“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 bill in accordance with convention so government departments remain funded, while criticising Labor's budget for lacking a coherent plan to reduce the cost of living.
“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 · 2 unclear
Greens
3 speakers · 1 support · 2 unclear
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Nick McKim ★ Nick McKim condemns the budget for favouring wealthy people and fossil fuel corporations while failing to deliver adequate cost-of-living relief, and moves an amendment calling for the stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget. to be repealed and funding redirected to health care, housing and free child care.
“(b) calls on the Labor Government to repeal the stage 3 tax cuts and provide cost of living relief that will make people's lives better, including by putting dental and mental healthcare into Medicare, building more affordable housing, and making childcare free".”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Dorinda Cox Cox seeks to amend the bill to prevent public money being spent on drilling in the Beetaloo basin, arguing that government support for new gas projects worsens the climate crisis and disregards struggling and flood-affected communities.
“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 ★ Max Chandler-Mather says the Greens will allow the bill to pass its second reading but seek an amendment calling for the stage 3 tax cutsIncome-tax changes debated alongside the Budget. to be repealed and the money used for cost-of-living relief, health care, housing and free child care.
“"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 moved for the Supply Bill to be read a second time, indicating support for its passage, but the supplied text gives no substantive reasons.
“That this bill be now read a second time.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Supply Act (No. 3) 2022-2023
- Act number
- Act No. 44, 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 debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 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 · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole 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.