This bill became law on Apr 8th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
Provides an extra $10.273 million for parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government. through the 2023-24 additional estimatesThe mid-year funding round used to add money for needs that were not fully covered in the Budget. process.
New spending needs since the 2023-24 Budget left parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government. needing extra money, including for ITComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. upgrades, West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. works and stronger Pacific parliamentary links. The bill provides another $10.273 million and restores full emergency spending limits, while preventing the same cost being funded twice.
The 2023-24 Budget set the parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government.’ base funding, but decisions taken after May 2023 and needs that emerged during the year left extra costs to cover, especially for Parliament House technology upgrades, West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. building works and stronger links with Pacific parliaments. The bill responded through the additional estimatesThe mid-year funding round used to add money for needs that were not fully covered in the Budget. process by providing another $10.273 million, restoring full emergency spending limits for the rest of 2023-24 while preventing double funding, and itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. became law in April 2024.
The main criticism was that approving more spending, even in this relatively small appropriations bill, fed a broader pattern of government spending that could worsen inflation and keep interest rates higher for households. That argument was raised by the opposition while itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. still supported the bill, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill itself.
Stephen Jones MP introduced this bill. ItComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. 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
Provides an extra $10.273 million for parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government. through the 2023-24 additional estimatesThe mid-year funding round used to add money for needs that were not fully covered in the Budget. process.
Gives the Department of Parliamentary ServicesThe parliamentary department that handles services such as building work, technology and support for Parliament House. $10 million for information technology upgrades and building works in West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. at Parliament House.
Gives the Department of the House of RepresentativesThe parliamentary department that supports the work of the House of Representatives. $273,000 to strengthen links with Pacific island national parliamentsThe legislatures of Pacific island countries, which this bill says will get more engagement support..
Restores the full emergency spending limits for parliamentary department leaders for the rest of 2023-24, even if some of that reserve was already used earlier.
Stops the same expense being funded twice by cutting this Act's amount if emergency reserve money was already used for that exact cost.
The total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $10,273,000.Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 2) 2023-2024 final Act text
The Department of Parliamentary Services will receive $10 million to fund important ICT upgrades and capital works in the West Block.Second reading speech
The Department of the House of Representatives will receive $273,000 to strengthen engagement with the parliaments of the Pacific island nations. Again, that's critical work.Second reading speech
Subclause 11(1) of the Bill provides that irrespective of the amounts allocated from the APO before the commencement of the Bill once enacted, the amounts available under section 11 of the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 2023-2024 will be restored to their original limits after the commencement of the Bill once enacted. This ensures that there will be sufficient scope to provide amounts from the APO for the remainder of the financial year.Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2023-2024 explanatory memorandum
Subclause 11(2) prevents appropriations for the same expenditure from both the APO 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 responsible Presiding Officer allocates an amount from the APO 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 (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 2) 2023-2024 explanatory memorandum
Context
The 2023-24 Budget set the parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government.’ base funding, but decisions taken after May 2023 and needs that emerged during the year left extra costs to cover, especially for Parliament House technology upgrades, West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. building works and stronger links with Pacific parliaments. The bill responded through the additional estimatesThe mid-year funding round used to add money for needs that were not fully covered in the Budget. process by providing another $10.273 million, restoring full emergency spending limits for the rest of 2023-24 while preventing double funding, and itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. became law in April 2024.
2023-24 Budget sets the original funding base
The later additional appropriationParliament's legal approval for government money to be spent for a stated purpose. bills were framed as funding for decisions taken since the 2023-24 Budget announced in May 2023.
Hansard ↗Government seeks extra money for parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government.
The second reading speech said the bill would provide about $10.3 million more for 2023-24, including $10 million for ICTComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. upgrades and West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. works and $273,000 for Pacific parliamentary engagement.
Hansard ↗House passes the bill
The House completed its consideration and sent the measure on after agreeing to the third reading.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, clearing the way for the extra 2023-24 appropriations to take effect.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent makes the extra appropriations law
Royal Assent turned the bill into an Act, formally authorising the added funding and restored emergency limits for the remainder of 2023-24.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Legislative route
The bill 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 bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. accepted the bill in principle and allowed itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill 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 bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. accepted the bill in principle and allowed itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that approving more spending, even in this relatively small appropriations bill, fed a broader pattern of government spending that could worsen inflation and keep interest rates higher for households. That argument was raised by the opposition while itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. still supported the bill, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill itself.
Criticism was limited and focused on broader fiscal management, not the bill's specific parliamentary funding measures.
Extra spending could add to inflation
The strongest recorded reservation was that additional government spending contributes to inflationary pressure and may keep interest rates higher, hurting households already facing cost-of-living pressure. This was a broader fiscal criticism rather than a detailed objection to the bill's parliamentary ITComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill., building, or engagement funding.
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 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 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 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 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 bill, saying itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. provides important additional funding for parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government., including ICTComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. upgrades, West BlockAn office and support building at Parliament House that this bill funds for upgrades and works. capital works, and engagement with Pacific island parliaments.
Read in Hansard ↗Taylor says the opposition will support the bill so government services continue, but argues Labor has no plan to deal with the cost-of-living crisis and has mismanaged the economy.
Read in Hansard ↗Brown supports the bill, saying itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. provides additional funding for the parliamentary departmentsThe separate departments that serve Parliament itself rather than the ordinary day-to-day work of government. for the rest of 2023-24.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
2 speakers · 2 support
“I commend this Bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $10.3 million.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“I'll say from the outset that the opposition will support this legislation of the government. We will ensure that the services of government continue to operate by facilitating the passage of these bills through parliament. However, these additional appropriation bills and the proceeding appropriation bills that were handed down with the 2023-24 budget and, more recently, MYEFO demonstrate yet again that the government has no effective plan to deal with the cost-of-living crisis that is bearing down on Australian households right across this great country and has eventuated in the 18 months that this government has been in office.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
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.
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.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. accepted the bill in principle and allowed itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. to continue.
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
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.
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.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. accepted the bill in principle and allowed itComputer systems and digital infrastructure, including the upgrades funded by this bill. to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
