Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2011B00155
Timestamp: 2019-07-19 01:26:13
Document Index: 514435918

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 2']

Details: C2011B00155
- C2011B00155
A Bill for an Act to establish the Parliamentary Budget Office, and for related purposes
Registered 24 Aug 2011
Introduced HR 22 Aug 2011
C2011B00155
Part 2—The Parliamentary Budget Officer
Part 3—Parliamentary Budget Office
Schedule 1—Information gathering powers and secrecy
(Mr Hockey)
Part 2—The Parliamentary Budget Officer 4
Division 1—Establishment and independence 4
6............ Independence of the Parliamentary Budget Officer............................. 4
Division 2—Functions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer 6
7............ Functions............................................................................................ 6
8............ Parliamentary Budget Officer to have regard to priorities of Parliament.. 6
9............ Information‑gathering powers and secrecy......................................... 7
10.......... General powers................................................................................... 7
11.......... Flexibility and range of working methods in performance of functions 7
Division 3—Operational plans 8
12.......... Operational plans................................................................................ 8
13.......... Variation of operational plans............................................................. 9
14.......... Compliance with plans........................................................................ 9
Division 4—Appointment and conditions 10
15.......... Appointment..................................................................................... 10
16.......... Selection............................................................................................ 10
17.......... Acting Parliamentary Budget Officer................................................ 11
18.......... Remuneration and allowances........................................................... 11
19.......... Leave of absence............................................................................... 12
20.......... Disclosure of interests....................................................................... 12
21.......... Outside employment......................................................................... 12
23.......... Resignation....................................................................................... 12
24.......... Termination of appointment.............................................................. 13
Part 3—Parliamentary Budget Office 14
25.......... Establishment.................................................................................... 14
26.......... Constitution of the PBO.................................................................... 14
27.......... Function of the PBO......................................................................... 14
28.......... Location of the PBO......................................................................... 14
29.......... Staff.................................................................................................. 14
30.......... Consultants....................................................................................... 15
31.......... Delegation by Parliamentary Budget Officer..................................... 15
Part 4—Miscellaneous 16
32.......... Appropriation.................................................................................... 16
33.......... Authorised committee may request draft estimates for PBO............. 17
34.......... Guaranteed availability of parliamentary appropriations.................... 17
35.......... Parliamentary Budget Officer may approve expenditure................... 17
36.......... Indemnity.......................................................................................... 17
37.......... Annual report.................................................................................... 18
38.......... Delegation......................................................................................... 18
39.......... Determinations.................................................................................. 18
Schedule 1—Information gathering powers and secrecy 19
1............ Relationship of information‑gathering powers with other laws......... 19
2............ Purpose for which information‑gathering powers may be used........ 19
3............ Power of Parliamentary Budget Officer to obtain information.......... 19
4............ Confidentiality of information........................................................... 20
5............ Sensitive information not to be included in reports........................... 21
This Act may be cited as the Parliamentary Budget Office Act 2011.
1. Sections 1, 2 and 3
2. The remainder of the Act
The day after an Act authorising the appropriation of funds for the establishment of the office of Parliamentary Budget Officer and the operation of the PBO receives the Royal Assent.
However, if such an Act does not commence within 24 months after this Act receives the Royal Assent, these provisions do not commence at all.
The object of this Act is to establish an independent statutory office of Parliamentary Budget Officer to provide objective and impartial advice and analysis on:
(a) the Commonwealth budget and budget cycle; and
(b) medium and long‑term budget projections; and
(c) the costs of policy proposals; and
(d) other matters as requested by Members and Senators.
authorised committee means:
(a) the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit; or
(b) another committee of either House, or of both Houses, that is authorised by resolution of that House, or of both Houses, for the purpose of the relevant provision.
Commissioner means the Parliamentary Service Commissioner appointed under the Parliamentary Services Act 1999.
deputy, in relation to a Presiding Officer, means the senior‑most Deputy Speaker or Deputy President, as the case may be, who is not of the same political party or coalition of parties as the Presiding Officer.
PBO means the Parliamentary Budget Office established under section 25.
Presiding Officer means:
(a) in relation to the Senate—the President of the Senate; and
(b) in relation to the House of Representatives—the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(a) a reference to the Presiding Officers means the Presiding Officers acting jointly; and
(b) a reference to a decision or determination of the Presiding Officers means a decision or determination in writing jointly signed by each of the Presiding Officers.
(3) If either House passes a resolution in relation to this Act or the powers and functions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Presiding Officer of that House:
(a) must not take any action under this Act which is contrary to that resolution; and
(b) must comply with any direction given in that resolution in relation to the exercise of the Presiding Officer’s functions under this Act.
Division 1—Establishment and independence
(1) The office of Parliamentary Budget Officer is established by this section.
(2) Whenever a vacancy occurs in the office of Parliamentary Budget Officer, an appointment must be made to the office as soon as practicable and no later than 6 months from the date the office became vacant.
6 Independence of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer is an independent officer of the Parliament.
(2) The functions, powers, rights, immunities and obligations of the Parliamentary Budget Officer are as specified in this Act and other laws of the Commonwealth. There are no implied functions, powers, rights, immunities or obligations arising from the Parliamentary Budget Officer being an independent officer of the Parliament.
(3) The powers of the Parliament to act in relation to the Parliamentary Budget Officer are as specified in or applying under this Act and other laws of the Commonwealth. For this purpose, Parliament includes:
There are no implied powers of the Parliament arising from the Parliamentary Budget Officer being an independent officer of the Parliament.
(4) Subject to this Act and to other laws of the Commonwealth, the Parliamentary Budget Officer has complete discretion in the performance or exercise of his or her functions and powers. In particular, the Parliamentary Budget Officer is not subject to direction from anyone in relation to:
(a) whether or not a particular function is to be undertaken; or
(b) the way in which a particular function is to be undertaken; or
Division 2—Functions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer has the following functions:
(a) helping Members and Senators better understand the Commonwealth budget cycle and budget issues by:
(i) analysing and reporting on documents and policy announcements related to the budget cycle; and
(ii) making medium and long‑term projections of budget parameters and the effects of budget proposals or other developments that the Officer considers significant; and
(iii) analysing and reporting on issues referred to the Officer by either House or by an authorised committee; and
(iv) analysing and reporting on related issues that the Officer considers will assist Members and Senators;
(b) providing advice on the costs of particular policy proposals at the request of individual Members or Senators;
(c) providing advice on particular financial or economic issues at the request of individual Members or Senators;
(d) engaging in or commissioning research related to these functions;
(e) functions conferred on the Officer under this or another Act;
(f) any functions incidental to these functions.
(2) A copy of a report or document produced under paragraph (1)(a) must be given to the Presiding Officer of each House and published on a website.
(3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must not publish anything in relation to a request to provide advice made by an individual Member or Senator without the consent of the Member or Senator.
8 Parliamentary Budget Officer to have regard to priorities of Parliament
In performing or exercising his or her functions and powers, the Parliamentary Budget Officer must have regard to:
(a) the priorities of the Parliament expressed in resolutions of either or both Houses; and
(b) any reports on matters connected to the functions of the Officer made by committees of either or both Houses.
9 Information‑gathering powers and secrecy
The Parliamentary Budget Officer and the staff of the PBO have the powers and obligations set out in Schedule 1.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has power to do everything necessary or convenient to be done for, or in connection with, the performance of the functions of the Officer.
11 Flexibility and range of working methods in performance of functions
In the performance and exercise of his or her functions and powers, the Parliamentary Budget Officer:
(b) may inform himself or herself on any matter in any way he or she thinks fit; and
(c) may consult with anyone he or she thinks fit; and
(e) may establish working groups and task forces; and
(f) may second staff from government departments and agencies and hire other staff.
Division 3—Operational plans
12 Operational plans
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must prepare operational plans in accordance with this section.
(2) An operational plan must:
(a) define the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s principal objectives in performing his or her functions; and
(b) give a broad outline of the strategies to be pursued by the Officer to achieve those objectives; and
(c) set out a schedule of:
(i) the matters on which the Officer expects to report during the period of the plan, which must include the annual budget statements, the mid‑year economic and fiscal outlook reports and the final budget outcome reports; and
(ii) other kinds of matters on which the Officer will report should events make it desirable.
(4) The first operational plan is to relate to the period ending on 30 June 2013, and must include details of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s intentions in respect of:
(a) establishing and staffing the PBO; and
(b) developing in the PBO the expertise to undertake its functions; and
(c) increasing its program of reports.
(5) Each subsequent operational plan is to relate to the 3‑year period commencing on 1 July in each subsequent year and must include details of how the Parliamentary Budget Officer intends to fulfil its schedule of reports and its other functions.
(6) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must give a copy of an operational plan to the Presiding Officer of each House:
(a) for the first operational plan—as soon as practicable after the establishment of the PBO; and
(b) for a subsequent operational plan—before the period to which it relates.
13 Variation of operational plans
(1) Either House, or both Houses, may, by resolution, request that the Parliamentary Budget Officer vary an operational plan.
(2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must consider any request under subsection (1) to vary an operational plan and may vary the plan accordingly.
(3) If the Parliamentary Budget Officer varies an operational plan, he or she must present a copy of the varied operational plan to each House of the Parliament as soon as practicable after the variation is made.
14 Compliance with plans
When performing his or her functions and exercising his or her powers, the Parliamentary Budget Officer must take into account the operational plan that is in force.
Division 4—Appointment and conditions
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer is to be appointed by the Presiding Officers by written instrument, following a selection process undertaken in accordance with section 16.
(2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer is to be appointed on a full‑time basis.
. (3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer holds office for the period specified in the instrument of appointment. The period must not exceed 5 years.
Note: The Parliamentary Budget Officer is eligible for reappointment: see subsection 33(4A) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
16 Selection
(1) The selection of a Parliamentary Budget Officer must follow the process set out in this section.
(2) The Presiding Officers must establish a panel comprising the holders of at least 3 of the following offices:
(b) the Auditor‑General;
(c) the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia;
(d) the Chair of the Productivity Commission.
(3) The panel must assess and recommend to the Presiding Officers a short‑list of at least 2 candidates for appointment to the position.
(4) The Presiding Officers may delegate administrative responsibility for the selection process to the Commissioner.
(5) The Presiding Officers, together with their deputies, must select an appointee from the short‑listed candidates. If this group is unable to select an appointee, the Presiding Officers must commence a new selection process.
17 Acting Parliamentary Budget Officer
(1) The Presiding Officers may appoint a person to act as the Parliamentary Budget Officer:
(a) during a vacancy in the office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or
(b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Officer is absent from duty or from Australia, or is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.
Note: Section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 has rules that apply to acting appointments.
(1) Subject to subsection (3), the Parliamentary Budget Officer is to be paid the remuneration and allowances that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. If no such determination is in operation, the Parliamentary Budget Officer is to be paid the remuneration and allowances that are determined by the Presiding Officers by written instrument.
(3) The remuneration and allowances of the Parliamentary Budget Officer must be broadly equivalent to the remuneration and allowances of the Auditor‑General.
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer has the recreation leave entitlements that are determined by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(2) The Presiding Officers may grant the Parliamentary Budget Officer leave of absence, other than recreation leave, on the terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise that they determine.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer must give written notice to the Presiding Officers of all interests, pecuniary or otherwise, that the Officer has or acquires and that conflict or could conflict with the proper performance of the Officer’s functions.
21 Outside employment
The Parliamentary Budget Officer must not engage in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office without the approval of the Presiding Officers.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) in relation to matters not covered by this Act that are determined by the Presiding Officers.
23 Resignation
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may resign his or her appointment by giving the Presiding Officers a written resignation.
(2) The resignation takes effect on the first day it is received by either of the Presiding Officers, or, if a later day is specified in the resignation, on that later day.
(1) The Presiding Officers may terminate the appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.
(2) The Presiding Officers may terminate the appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer if:
(b) the Officer is absent, except on leave of absence, for 14 consecutive days or for 28 days in any 12 months; or
(c) the Officer engages, except with the approval of the Presiding Officers, in paid employment outside the duties of his or her office (see section 21); or
(d) the Officer fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with section 20 (disclosure of interests).
(3) The appointment of the Parliamentary Budget Officer can be terminated for any reason by a resolution of both Houses.
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Office (the PBO) is established by this section.
26 Constitution of the PBO
The PBO consists of:
(a) the Parliamentary Budget Officer; and
(b) the staff of the PBO.
27 Function of the PBO
The PBO’s function is to assist the Parliamentary Budget Officer in the performance of the Officer’s functions.
28 Location of the PBO
The PBO must be located in Parliament House.
(1) The staff of the PBO are to be persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999.
(a) the Parliamentary Budget Officer and the staff of the PBO together constitute a Statutory Agency; and
(b) the Parliamentary Budget Officer is the Head of that Statutory Agency.
(3) Directions to staff of the PBO relating to the performance of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s functions may only be given by:
(a) the Parliamentary Budget Officer; or
(b) a member of the staff of the PBO authorised by the Officer to give such directions.
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may engage a person who has suitable qualifications and experience to assist in the performance of any of the functions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
(2) The terms and conditions of engagement are to be determined, in writing, by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
31 Delegation by Parliamentary Budget Officer
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, by written instrument, delegate any of the Parliamentary Budget Officer’s powers or functions to:
(a) an SES employee or acting SES employee in the PBO; or
(b) a person engaged under section 30 whose skills and responsibilities are equivalent to, or exceed, the skills and responsibilities expected of an SES employee.
Note: SES employee and acting SES employee are defined in section 17AA of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
(2) In exercising powers or functions under the delegation, the delegate must comply with any directions of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
(1) The PBO is to be funded from money appropriated by the Parliament for the purpose.
(2) Provisions for the appropriation of funds for the purposes of the PBO must be proposed in the annual and additional appropriation bills.
(3) The Finance Minister must consult with the Parliamentary Budget Officer to seek agreement on the estimates of proposed expenditure for the PBO for inclusion in those bills.
(4) The appropriation of funds for the PBO in a non‑election year must not be less than 3.5% of the departmental appropriation for the Department of the Treasury.
(5) Consideration must be given to increasing the appropriations in a year in which there is an election for the House or the Senate.
(6) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, at any time, present to each House of the Parliament, or to an authorised committee:
(a) a statement of his or her estimates of expenditure required for the PBO to undertake its functions; or
(b) a report on any consultations which have taken place with the Finance Minister in accordance with subsection (3); or
(c) a copy of any agreement made under subsection (3).
(7) If appropriation bills are introduced that propose estimates of expenditure for the PBO other than in accordance with an agreement made under subsection (3), the Finance Minister must present a statement to each House of the Parliament prior to consideration of the bills, setting out the reasons for the failure to reach agreement on the estimates.
(8) Subsection (3) does not apply in relation to the initial appropriation made by the Parliament to establish the office of Parliamentary Budget Officer.
33 Authorised committee may request draft estimates for PBO
(1) An authorised committee may request the Parliamentary Budget Officer to submit to the committee draft estimates for the PBO for a financial year before the annual Commonwealth budget for that financial year.
(2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must comply with the request in time to allow the committee to consider the draft estimates and make recommendations on them before the budget.
34 Guaranteed availability of parliamentary appropriations
The Finance Minister must issue drawing rights under section 27 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 that cover in full the amounts that the Parliament appropriates for the purposes of the PBO.
35 Parliamentary Budget Officer may approve expenditure
The Parliamentary Budget Officer has authority to approve a proposal to spend money under an appropriation for the PBO.
Note: The Parliamentary Budget Officer’s power under this section may be delegated under section 31.
(1) The Commonwealth must indemnify a person for any liability that the person incurs for an act or omission of the person in the course of performing a function of the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
The Parliamentary Budget Officer must, as soon as practicable after the end of each financial year, prepare and give to the Presiding Officer of each House a report of the operations of the PBO during that financial year.
(1) The Presiding Officers may, in writing, delegate any or all their functions and powers under this Act (other than their functions and powers under Division 4 of Part 2) jointly to the Secretaries of the Departments established under the Parliamentary Service Act 1999.
(2) In exercising functions or powers delegated under subsection (1), the delegates must comply with any directions of the Presiding Officers.
39 Determinations
The Presiding Officers may, by legislative instrument, determine matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be determined; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be determined for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
1 Relationship of information‑gathering powers with other laws
The operation of clause 3:
(b) is not limited by any other law (whether made before or after the commencement of this Act), except to the extent that the other law expressly excludes the operation of clause 3.
2 Purpose for which information‑gathering powers may be used
The powers under clause 3 may be used for the purpose of, or in connection with, a function given to the Parliamentary Business Officer by this Act.
3 Power of Parliamentary Budget Officer to obtain information
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may, by written notice, direct an employee of an agency to do all or any of the following:
(a) to provide the Officer with any information that the Officer requires;
(b) to attend and give evidence before the Officer or an authorised officer;
(c) to produce to the Officer any documents in the custody or under the control of the employee.
(2) The Parliamentary Budget Officer may direct that:
(a) the information or answers to questions be given either orally or in writing (as the Officer requires);
The oath or affirmation is an oath or affirmation that the information or evidence the person will give will be true, and may be administered by the Officer or by an authorised officer.
(3) An employee of an agency must comply with a direction under this clause.
(4) A determination under section 39 of this Act may prescribe scales of expenses to be allowed to persons who are required to attend under this clause.
(a) is an official within the meaning of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997; and
(b) is authorised by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, in writing, to exercise powers or perform functions under this clause.
4 Confidentiality of information
(1) If a person has obtained information in the course of performing a function of the Parliamentary Budget Officer given by this Act or any other Act, the person must not disclose the information except in the course of performing a function given to the Parliamentary Budget Officer by this Act or another Act.
(2) Subclause (1) does not prevent the Parliamentary Budget Officer from disclosing particular information to the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police if the Officer is of the opinion that the disclosure is in the public interest.
5 Sensitive information not to be included in reports
(1) The Parliamentary Budget Officer must not include particular information in a report or advice if:
(a) the Officer is of the opinion that disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest for any of the reasons set out in subclause (2); or
(b) the Attorney‑General has issued a certificate to the Officer stating that, in the opinion of the Attorney‑General, disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest for any of the reasons set out in subclause (2).
(2) The reasons are the following:
(3) The Parliamentary Budget Officer cannot be required, and is not permitted, to disclose to:
information that subclause (1) prohibits being included in a report or advice.