This bill became law on Apr 8th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
This law provides $2.265 billion in extra federal funding for government spending approved after the 2023-24 Budget, mainly for programs outside ordinary annual services.
Government decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget left some new spending without funding in the existing appropriation acts, especially for programs outside ordinary annual services. This billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. provides extra money, lets the government pass some of it to states, territories and councils, and tops up the urgent spending reserve while avoiding double funding.
After the May 2023 federal budget set the year’s main funding, the government kept making decisions through 2023-24, leaving some new spending, especially outside ordinary annual services, without room in the existing appropriation acts. The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. responded by providing an extra $2.3 billion, allowing some payments to flow to states, territories and local government, and restoring the Finance MinisterThis minister can control when some appropriated money is paid out and can use the urgent spending reserve.’s urgent spending reserve, before Parliament passed it in March 2024 and it became law in April.
The main criticism was that this extra appropriation added to government spending pressure, which critics said could worsen inflation while doing little to ease the cost-of-living squeeze. That argument was raised by the Coalition even as it still supported the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. so government services could keep operating, and no party represented in the debate opposed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget..
Stephen Jones MP introduced this billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 08 Apr 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
61 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
This law provides $2.265 billion in extra federal funding for government spending approved after the 2023-24 Budget, mainly for programs outside ordinary annual services.
This law lets the Australian Government send some of that money to states, territories, and local councils to help deliver funded outcomes in areas covered by the ActThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments..
This law lets the responsible minister set the timing, amount, and conditions of payments to the ACTThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments., Northern TerritoryThe bill allows payments to be made to the NT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments., and local governments.
This law restores the Finance MinisterThis minister can control when some appropriated money is paid out and can use the urgent spending reserve.'s urgent spending reserve to the full $600 million for the rest of the financial year, even if some of it was already used.
This law prevents the same spending being funded twice by cutting this ActThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments.'s amount if urgent reserve funding was already given for that exact expense.
The total of the items specified in Schedule 2 is $2,265,360,000.Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 as-passed bill text
(1) The amount specified in a State, ACT, NT and local government item for an outcome for a non‑corporate entity may be applied for the purpose of making payments to or for the States, the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and local government authorities for the purpose of contributing to achieving that outcome.Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 as-passed bill text
Although financial assistance is provided to the ACT, NT and local governments without reference to section 96 of the Constitution, those payments are administered in the same way. Therefore, the Ministers named in Schedule 1 may set the amounts and timing and impose terms and conditions on those payments. Subclause 14(5) also notes that clause 14 will not limit the powers of the Commonwealth under section 96 of the Constitution to provide financial assistance to a State which is not appropriated by a State, ACT, NT and local government item.Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 explanatory memorandum
Subclause 12(1) of the Bill provides that irrespective of the amounts allocated from the AFM before the commencement of the Bill once enacted, the amount available under section 12 of the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2023-2024 will be restored to the original amount of $600 million after the commencement of the Bill once enacted. This ensures that there will be sufficient scope to provide amounts from the AFM for the remainder of the financial year. From the date this Bill commences as an Act, the total amount that can be determined under the AFM will again be $600 million.Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 explanatory memorandum
Subclause 12(2) prevents appropriations for the same expenditure from both the AFM and the Bill. It provides that if the Bill appropriates an amount for particular expenditure but prior to the commencement of this Bill as an Act, the Finance Minister allocates an amount from the AFM for the same expenditure (the advanced amount), then the appropriation in this Bill, once enacted, will be reduced by the amount of the advanced amount. The appropriated amount cannot be reduced below nil.Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 explanatory memorandum
Context
After the May 2023 federal budget set the year’s main funding, the government kept making decisions through 2023-24, leaving some new spending, especially outside ordinary annual services, without room in the existing appropriation acts. The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. responded by providing an extra $2.3 billion, allowing some payments to flow to states, territories and local government, and restoring the Finance MinisterThis minister can control when some appropriated money is paid out and can use the urgent spending reserve.’s urgent spending reserve, before Parliament passed it in March 2024 and it became law in April.
Federal budget sets the main 2023-24 funding base
The 2023-24 budget provided the starting appropriations, but later decisions announced after it would need extra legislation to fund them.
Hansard ↗Government introduces extra funding billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. for post-budget decisions
The Finance MinisterThis minister can control when some appropriated money is paid out and can use the urgent spending reserve.'s second reading speech said the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. would appropriate about $2.3 billion for decisions taken since the 2023-24 budget, including housing, fleet vehicles and Western Sydney International Airport.
Hansard ↗Parliament debates the 2023-24 additional appropriation package
Opposition debate in the House described BillThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. No. 4 as part of the additional appropriation bills used to fund government services and decisions made after the budget for the rest of 2023-24.
Hansard ↗House passes the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.
Third reading in the House completed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s passage through the chamber and sent it to the Senate.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.
Both houses passed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in the same form, clearing the final parliamentary step needed for the extra appropriations to become law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent makes the extra appropriations law
Royal Assent turned the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. into an ActThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments., allowing the additional 2023-24 funding and related payment arrangements to take legal effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The scrutiny committee recorded that it considered the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in Scrutiny Digest 4 of 2024.
Considered
APH bill page notesThe chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. into an ActThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments..
Key criticism
The main criticism was that this extra appropriation added to government spending pressure, which critics said could worsen inflation while doing little to ease the cost-of-living squeeze. That argument was raised by the Coalition even as it still supported the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. so government services could keep operating, and no party represented in the debate opposed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget..
Criticism was narrow and focused on broader spending and inflation risk, not the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s mechanics.
More spending could fuel inflation
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. was criticised as adding to Labor's overall spending, with the warning that extra outlays could worsen inflation and leave households facing higher living costs without solving the cost-of-living problem.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
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.
Senate agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
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.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Stephen Jones supports the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. and says it will appropriate $2.3 billion for housing, infrastructure, defence, health, cybersecurity and other government spending.
Read in Hansard ↗Taylor says the opposition will support the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. so government services keep operating, but he argues it adds to Labor's spending, worsens inflation, and fails to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Read in Hansard ↗Brown supports the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. and commends it to the chamber, saying it will appropriate $2.3 billion for housing, fleet vehicles, airport delivery, defence, aged care, and cyber security spending.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“Appropriation Bill 4 seeks to appropriate $2.3 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This funding will support the following significant items.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2023-2024 seeks to appropriate $2.3 billion from the Consolidated Revenue Fund. This funding will support the following significant items.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“Whilst of course the opposition will be supporting this bill, we will continue to hold this government to account for its failure to manage the budget, manage the economy and curb the cost-of-living crisis that this government has overseen.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget.'s purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at second reading, meaning it accepted the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the billThis is the law that adds extra government funding for spending decisions made after the 2023-24 Budget. into an ActThe bill allows payments to be made to the ACT and for the responsible minister to set terms for those payments..
Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Considered
The scrutiny committee recorded that it considered the bill in Scrutiny Digest 4 of 2024.
Considered by scrutiny committee (28 Feb 2024): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 4 of 2024
APH bill page notes
