This bill became law on Jun 26th, 2024.
Budget, tax & economy
Approves $326.716 million from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments. for the parliamentary departments in 2024-25, so Parliament can keep funding its own operations.
Parliamentary departments needed fresh 2024-25 funding from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments. to keep operating and supporting Parliament. This bill provides the specified annual appropriations for those departments through a separate parliamentary appropriations law.
Australia funds its parliamentary departments through annual appropriations in a separate bill, and for 2024-25 those departments needed fresh funding to keep Parliament House running, support parliamentarians and cover work such as ICTInformation and communication technology, meaning computer systems, networks and related digital equipment. modernisation, broadcasting upgrades and building works. The bill appropriated $326.7 million from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments.. Parliament passed it in June 2024, Royal AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used. followed on 26 June, and the Act commenced on 1 July 2024, when the 2024-25 appropriations became available.
The main criticism was not about keeping Parliament running but about the wider budget settings attached to the appropriation package, with opponents arguing the government was spending too much, worsening inflation and funding the wrong priorities. Those objections came from Coalition and Greens senators on different grounds, while government and some opposition speakers still supported this specific parliamentary departments bill.
Stephen Jones MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 26 June 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
2 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
43 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Approves $326.716 million from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments. for the parliamentary departments in 2024-25, so Parliament can keep funding its own operations.
Funds the Department of Parliamentary ServicesThe parliamentary department that runs services for Parliament House, including building work, ICT and support services. to run Parliament House, support parliamentarians, and pay for ICTInformation and communication technology, meaning computer systems, networks and related digital equipment. and building upgrades, with more than $257 million highlighted for that work.
Lets each parliamentary department use its general operating funds across its functions, and those funds stay available until they are spent or the law expires.
Allows extra urgent spending during the year if a parliamentary department was underfunded or faced an unforeseen need, including up to $1 million for the Department of Parliamentary ServicesThe parliamentary department that runs services for Parliament House, including building work, ICT and support services. and $300,000 each for the other parliamentary departments.
The total of the items specified in Schedule 1 is $326,716,000.Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 introduced bill text
The Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 provides appropriations for decisions taken by government in the 2024-25 budget for the operations of parliamentary departments. This bill seeks approval for appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $326.7 million. Funding provided through this bill will support the following significant items for parliamentary departments. The Department of Parliamentary Services will receive over $257 million to support the work of the Australian parliament through services to parliamentarians and as custodians of Parliament House. This includes additional funding to modernise ICT systems, including broadcasting, and to undertake building upgrades at Parliament House. The bill also includes an advance to the responsible presiding officer of $1.9 million.Second reading speech
The cash to meet departmental expenses may be required at times other than when the expenses are incurred. Departmental items are available until they are spent, or until the Act through which they were appropriated is repealed. Annual Appropriation Acts have a lifespan of up to three years after which they automatically repeal.Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 explanatory memorandum
Subclauses 11(3) to (6) provide that the total amounts that can be determined under the APO provisions in the Bill, once enacted, are:Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 explanatory memorandum
Context
Australia funds its parliamentary departments through annual appropriations in a separate bill, and for 2024-25 those departments needed fresh funding to keep Parliament House running, support parliamentarians and cover work such as ICTInformation and communication technology, meaning computer systems, networks and related digital equipment. modernisation, broadcasting upgrades and building works. The bill appropriated $326.7 million from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments.. Parliament passed it in June 2024, Royal AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used. followed on 26 June, and the Act commenced on 1 July 2024, when the 2024-25 appropriations became available.
2024-25 Budget sets funding for parliamentary departments
The budget decisions for 2024-25 included $326.7 million for parliamentary departments, with more than $257 million for the Department of Parliamentary ServicesThe parliamentary department that runs services for Parliament House, including building work, ICT and support services. including ICTInformation and communication technology, meaning computer systems, networks and related digital equipment. and building upgrades.
Hansard ↗Government introduces the parliamentary departments appropriation bill
The bill was introduced to provide the annual 2024-25 appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue FundThe main federal money pool the bill draws from to pay for parliamentary departments. needed for the parliamentary departments to keep operating.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing approval for the new annual funding and the limited advance amounts for urgent unforeseen needs.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used. comes before 1 July commencement
Royal AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used. turned the bill into an Act on 26 June 2024, but the Act commenced on 1 July 2024, when the parliamentary departments could draw on the 2024-25 appropriations.
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.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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
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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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
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 AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was not about keeping Parliament running but about the wider budget settings attached to the appropriation package, with opponents arguing the government was spending too much, worsening inflation and funding the wrong priorities. Those objections came from Coalition and Greens senators on different grounds, while government and some opposition speakers still supported this specific parliamentary departments bill.
Criticism was real but mostly directed at the broader budget, not the bill's core purpose of funding parliamentary operations.
Part of a higher-spending budget that could worsen inflation
Coalition senators argued the bill formed part of a broader budget that spent too much, added to inflationary pressure and made cost-of-living pressures harder for households, mortgage holders and first-home buyers.
Public money directed to the wrong priorities
Greens senator Nick McKim argued the budget behind the bill backed corporate interests and climate-harming projects instead of urgent public needs, and specifically objected to public money supporting new coal and gas activity.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not 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.
Recorded amendment and procedural votes grouped by chamber. Expand a vote to see the party breakdown.
Senate
Defeated 12 to 29. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents.
The amendment was defeated, so the bill's second-reading motion passed without the Greens' climate and fossil-fuel funding criticism being added to the Senate's view.
Defeated 13 to 27. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The amendment was defeated, so the second-reading motion passed without the Senate adopting the call for extra legal assistance funding.
These are amendment votes, not the final passage vote on the bill itself. The bill passed both chambers on the voices.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Stephen Jones supports the bill and says it provides the funding needed for parliamentary departments, including ICTInformation and communication technology, meaning computer systems, networks and related digital equipment. modernisation and building upgrades at Parliament House.
Read in Hansard ↗McKim opposes the bill and says it is part of a Labor budget that deepens climate harm, inequality and corporate handouts instead of meeting urgent public needs.
Read in Hansard ↗Duniam speaks from the opposition side after the coalition said it would support the appropriation bills, but criticises the budget as a failure for Tasmania and for environmental priorities.
Read in Hansard ↗Scarr speaks from the opposition side after the coalition said it would support the appropriation bills, but argues the budget’s spending choices add to inflation and make the Reserve Bank’s task harder.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
3 speakers · 3 support
“I'm very proud to support the Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 and the associated bills—our bills to deliver on our absolute commitment that was through this budget. The two barriers that we had were, firstly, to deliver cost-of-living relief in the short term and to assist people who are under pressure. Secondly, as well, it was to deliver on a Future Made in Australia. How does future economic growth come about?”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Parliamentary Departments Appropriation Bill 1 provides appropriations for decisions taken by Government in the 2024-25 Budget for the operations of Parliamentary Departments.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Full details of the proposed expenditure are set out in the schedule to the bill, the explanatory memorandum and the portfolio budget statements. I commend this bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
6 speakers · 5 support · 1 unclear
“So I say this budget is a failure when it comes to the environment portfolio, and certainly it's a failure when it comes to the people of Tasmania, where we have been dudded and we now know how this government really feels about Tasmanian men, women and children, including salmon workers, right across the state. (Time expired)”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It doesn't give you much confidence, does it? It doesn't give you much confidence that the Labor government has what it takes to deal with the inflation problem. They've got their foot on the accelerator in terms of government spending—an extra $315 billion of government spending since this government came to power. At the same time, the Reserve Bank of Australia is doing its best to bring down inflation. But at their last meeting, the meeting immediately following the bringing down of the budget, they didn't consider a cut to interest rates but only an increase to interest rates. These are not the words of a politician but the words of the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia. That, from my perspective, provides objective evidence to every single Australian that the Labor government has the wrong fiscal policy for these current times.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“TAYLOR () (): I rise to speak on the appropriation bills of 2024-25. These bills, Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2024-2025 and the Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2024-25, provide for the funds from consolidated revenue for the 2024-25 financial year. Collectively, these bills provide for expenditure worth $187.5 billion to support the operation of government for that year. We, of course, will be supporting these bills; however, the budget handed down with these appropriation bills has failed Australians.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Overall, you measure the effectiveness of a fiscal strategy by where you're going in the medium term. In the medium term, although we're looking at a surplus this year, we're looking at deficits next year of $28 billion and then $42 billion and $26 billion and then $24 billion.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Let me begin by first congratulating my colleague Senator Duniam for his fine words. He highlighted how the Labor members of this place and the other place from Tasmania have done little to stand up for their own state. I'm going to tell a similar story of my home state of Western Australia, where the most egregious part of this budget is, from my perspective as a Western Australian who comes from a farming background, the ban of the live export trade from Western Australia.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The opposition will be supporting these bills; however, the budget handed down with these appropriation bills fails Australians. Australians needed a budget that got back to basics, and this was a budget that didn't.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 2 contributions · 1 oppose
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Nick McKim on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
McKim opposes the bill and says it is part of a Labor budget that deepens climate harm, inequality and corporate handouts instead of meeting urgent public needs. He argues public money is being used to subsidise fossil fuel projects and other priorities that help big corporations rather than ordinary people.
“The government has also allocated, and it's in this budget, $1.5 billion of public money to develop the Middle Arm site, which will turn Darwin Harbour into a giant gas export facility and a giant petrochemical hub. Again, the petroleum, coal and gas corporations make off with crisis superprofits, and the petrochemical corporations make off with crisis superprofits, underwritten by billions in public subsidies delivered by the Australian Labor Party to corporate donors in the fossil fuel cartel. That's what's going on here. This is necro-capitalism. And this budget, in the face of the great challenges of our times, is an abject failure.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
McKim opposes the bill as drafted and moves to amend the motion so it rejects spending that supports new coal and gas projects. He says public money should be removed from the budget for coal and gas reserve mapping and the Middle Arm Gas and Petrochemical HubA proposed industrial project in the Northern Territory that critics said should not receive public funding..
“At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate is of the view that:”Read this contribution 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 it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it 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 debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · 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.
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 AssentThe final step that turns the bill into an Act so the approved funding can be used., turning the bill into an Act.
