Appropriation (Parliament) Bill (No. 2) 2021
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill formally authorises $1,795,000 in supplementary funding for the Queensland Parliament to cover unforeseen expenditure during the 2020-21 financial year. Under Queensland's Constitution, all government spending from the Consolidated Fund must be approved by Parliament, so this bill provides that approval for spending that has already occurred.
Who it affects
This is a routine parliamentary accountability measure that does not directly affect citizens. It ensures proper authorisation of public spending on parliamentary operations.
Key changes
- Authorises $1,795,000 in supplementary funding for the Legislative Assembly and parliamentary service for 2020-21
- Covers unforeseen departmental services expenditure beyond the original $101.8 million budget
- Fulfils the constitutional requirement that all Consolidated Fund payments be formally authorised by Parliament
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee15 Sept 2021 – 23 Feb 2022View Hansard
Referred to Economics and Governance Committee
▸Second Reading22 Feb 2022 – 23 Feb 2022View Hansard
▸13 members spoke8 support5 mixed
Did not oppose the bills but heavily criticised the government's COVID restrictions on small businesses, lack of economic support, and red tape burden, arguing the government's spending priorities were wrong.
“This government time after time has imposed measures that cost businesses, cost livelihoods, cost families and without any transparency around the reasons or outcomes of these measures.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
As Deputy Leader of the Opposition, stated the LNP will not be opposing the supplementary appropriation bills but critically scrutinised the nearly $448 million in unforeseen expenditure across six departments.
“The opposition will not be opposing the bills.”— 2022-02-22View Hansard
Supported the bills, praised the government's economic management including cycling infrastructure investment in his electorate and defended Keynesian economic intervention during COVID.
“The past two years have been a resounding reinforcement of Keynesian economics and the need for government intervention in the economy.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Supported the supplementary appropriation bills, defending the government's expenditure decisions during the pandemic.
Did not oppose the bills but criticised the government's economic management, rising debt, lack of support for small business during Omicron, inadequate mental health funding, and the human cost of border policies.
“Never mind the fact that Queensland's debt had already increased under Labor from $72 billion to $102 billion pre-COVID.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Did not oppose the bills but scrutinised the government's fiscal management and supplementary expenditure.
Supported the bills as reflecting robust economic management, highlighting Queensland's strong economic recovery and the government's COVID response leading to faster growth than the national average.
“The unforeseen expenditure which was incurred by six departments for the 2020-21 financial year represents only 0.74 per cent of the budgeted appropriation.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Supported the supplementary appropriation bills.
Did not oppose the bills but criticised the Treasurer's understanding of financial concepts, Queensland's ranking of fifth of eight jurisdictions for economic performance, and the government's borrowing for operational expenses rather than infrastructure.
“We are actually borrowing money because of a lack of ministerial performance in relation to keeping watch of their particular departments.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Supported the bills, argued Labor is the better economic manager, highlighted strong economic data including jobs growth, retail sales, and dwelling approvals, and defended the government's health response as the foundation for economic recovery.
“In 2022 there is a new truism in politics, and that is the economy will always be stronger under Labor and the best economic managers are Labor.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Did not oppose the bills but used the debate to criticise inadequate transport infrastructure funding in his electorate, particularly for the second M1, exit upgrades, Pimpama railway station, and the northern Gold Coast hospital.
“The business case has been in place since 2018. Here we are four years later and there is not one dollar allocated for any expenditure at exit 38, and that is a desperately needed upgrade.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Strongly supported the bills, highlighting economic growth of 6.1 per cent, record infrastructure investment of $27.5 billion in road and rail, and jobs growth of 376,800 since Labor was elected.
“Economic growth is at 6.1 per cent—a six in front of it—compared to the national economy growth of 3.9 per cent.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard
Did not oppose the bills but criticised spending priorities, calling for heavy rail on the Sunshine Coast, opposing loss of on-street car parking from road upgrades, and raising concerns about youth justice and border policy expenditure.
“We have spent $10 million for our police men and women to go around and check people have their masks on. That is what was spent—$10 million.”— 2022-02-23View Hansard