Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2023
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill authorises $1.24 billion in supplementary government spending for the 2022-23 financial year. When government departments spend more than their original budget allocations, Parliament must formally approve that spending under Queensland's Constitution. This is separate from the main budget appropriation bill.
Who it affects
This is a routine government accountability measure that affects all Queenslanders as taxpayers. It does not create new programs or change existing services — it retrospectively approves spending that has already occurred.
Key changes
- Authorises $1,243,941,000 in unforeseen expenditure from the Consolidated Fund for 2022-23
- Queensland Health received the largest supplementary allocation at $697.5 million
- Queensland Treasury received $194.1 million and Transport and Main Roads received $172.8 million in additional funding
- Complements the main Appropriation Bill 2023 which sought a further $1.34 billion in supplementary appropriation for the same financial year
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee10 Oct 2023View Hansard
Referred to Economics and Governance Committee
The Economics and Governance Committee examined the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2023, which sought parliamentary authorisation for $1.244 billion in supplementary appropriation for unforeseen expenditure incurred by 10 government departments during 2022-23. The committee received written and oral briefings from Queensland Treasury and unanimously recommended the bill be passed. The committee noted that the revised process of splitting unforeseen expenditure across two pieces of legislation increased transparency and accountability.
Key findings (5)
- Queensland Health accounted for 56.1 per cent of the unforeseen expenditure ($697.5 million), primarily for new public sector wages policy, superannuation arrangements, and the LifeFlight Australia helicopter services agreement.
- The net impact of unforeseen expenditure, after accounting for $957.9 million in lapsed appropriations across 12 departments, was $1.626 billion -- representing 2.32 per cent of the original 2022-23 budget appropriation.
- The revised process of splitting unforeseen expenditure between the annual Appropriation Act 2023 and this supplementary bill was found to increase transparency by bringing forward earlier parliamentary scrutiny through the Estimates process.
- Much of the unforeseen expenditure had been budgeted at a whole-of-government level but was not appropriated until further details or conditions were finalised, such as enterprise bargaining outcomes.
- The committee found the bill consistent with fundamental legislative principles and compatible with human rights under the Human Rights Act 2019.
Recommendations (1)
- The committee recommends the Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2023 be passed.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading5 Mar 2024View Hansard
▸6 members spoke5 support1 mixed
As Treasurer, moved and defended the bill authorising $1.24 billion in unforeseen expenditure for 2022-23, emphasising it funded fair pay for Queensland Health workers and renewable energy investments through CleanCo.
“This government for one will not deny workers in Queensland Health their lawful and proper entitlements. We will make sure they are amongst the best paid health workers in the country.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard
Stated the opposition would support the bill but used the debate to criticise government financial management, cost blowouts, the health crisis, and the limited 90 minutes allowed for debate.
“This bill, which will be supported by the opposition, may be just a few pages but it is important. It is important to good government that the opposition scrutinise the allocation of the public's money expended by the government of the day.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard
As former chair of the Economics and Governance Committee that examined the bill, defended the unforeseen expenditure process and argued the LNP misunderstood the purpose of supplementary appropriations.
“We on this side of the House are proud of the fact that we give public servants a fair day's pay for their hard work. That is not something that we are ashamed of.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard
Criticised the government's financial management, calling the bill a 'Labor cost blowout bill' and pointing to infrastructure cost overruns, but did not explicitly oppose the bill's passage.
“Unfortunately again through bad budgeting and bad financial management, these have not been included in the budgets for that year.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard
Defended the $697 million Queensland Health appropriation as necessary to honour enterprise bargaining agreements and retain healthcare workers in a competitive market.
“I want Queensland healthcare workers to know that when they strike an enterprise bargaining agreement with the Queensland government we will be honouring it and we will be paying it.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard
As a former committee member, began speaking to the bill but was cut short after approximately one minute when the time limit expired.
“The objective of the bill is to seek formal authorisation for the specified amounts the Treasurer paid from the Consolidated Fund for unforeseen expenditure that occurred in the 2022-23 financial year.”— 2024-03-05View Hansard