Agency Outline

The Governor, the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly together constitute the Parliament of Tasmania. The Legislative Council is the Upper House of Parliament and functions as a House of Review. The role of the Members of the Legislative Council is:

·       to authorise the raising of revenue and the expenditure of State monies;

·       to examine the merits of legislation; and

·       to provide a parliamentary check on the Government of the day.

The Legislative Council has expanded from being a purely legislative body to a House that involves itself with the examination and analysis of actions, decisions and workings of the Executive Government.

The Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Council provides apolitical support services and information to the elected Members of the Legislative Council in the interests of the people of Tasmania.

This chapter provides financial information about the Outputs to be delivered by the Legislative Council in 2017‑18 and over the Forward Estimates period (2018‑19 to 2020‑21). Further information about the Legislative Council is provided at www.parliament.tas.gov.au.

Key Deliverables

The key deliverables for the Legislative Council include:

·       supporting the Legislative Council in its constitutional role;

·       providing apolitical support with particular attention to administrative support, research, policy and procedural support and advice to the President of the Legislative Council and other elected Members;

·       accurately and effectively preparing and presenting legislation, once passed through both Houses, to Her Excellency the Governor for Royal Assent;

·       promoting public awareness of the purpose, functions and work of the Legislative Council; and

·       an upgrade to the Council Chamber in 2017‑18 to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues.

 

Output Information

Outputs of the Legislative Council are provided under the following Output Groups:

·       Output Group 1 ‑ Legislative Council Support Services; and

·       Output Group 2 ‑ Payments Administered by the Legislative Council.

Table 14.1 provides an Output Group Expense Summary for the Legislative Council.

Table 14.1:     Output Group Expense Summary

	2016-17)   Budget)	2017-18)   Budget)	2018-19) Forward) Estimate)	2019-20) Forward) Estimate)	2020-21) Forward) Estimate)
	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)
Output Group 1 - Legislative Council Support Services
1.1  Legislative Council Support Services	3 488)	3 491)	3 551)	3 592)	3 666)
1.2  Committee Support Services	12)	12)	12)	12)	12)
	3 500)	3 503)	3 563)	3 604)	3 678)
Output Group 2 - Payments Administered by the Legislative Council
2.1  Payments Administered by the Legislative Council1	3 130)	3 404)	3 460)	3 494)	3 562)
	3 130)	3 404)	3 460)	3 494)	3 562)
TOTAL	6 630)	6 907)	7 023)	7 098)	7 240)

Note:

1.   The increase in Payments Administered by the Legislative Council in 2017-18 primarily reflects the provision of additional funding to support the increase in Members' Salaries as determined by the Industrial Commission in accordance with the Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012.

 

 

Output Group 1:   Legislative Council Support Services

1.1 Legislative Council Support Services

This Output provides:

·       procedural, administrative and research support and advice to the President and Members;

·       support for the overall operations of the Legislative Council;

·       assistance to Members to carry out their constitutional duties and responsibilities as elected representatives of the people of Tasmania; and

·       equipment and research support allowances to Members.

1.2 Committee Support Services

This Output provides support and advice to Legislative Council Standing and Select Committees, Joint Parliamentary Standing and Select Committees, and Joint Statutory Committees.

Output Group 2:   Payments Administered by the Legislative Council

2.1 Payments Administered by the Legislative Council

This Output Group provides for the Parliamentary salaries and allowances of Members of the Legislative Council as prescribed in legislation.

Detailed Budget Statements

Table 14.2:     Statement of Comprehensive Income

	2016-17)   Budget)	2017-18)   Budget)	2018-19) Forward) Estimate)	2019-20) Forward) Estimate)	2020-21) Forward) Estimate)
	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)
Revenue and other income from transactions
Appropriation revenue - recurrent1	6 547)	6 892)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)
Appropriation revenue - works & services2	....)	700)	....)	....)	....)
Total revenue and other income from transactions	6 547)	7 592)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)
Expenses from transactions
Employee benefits3	5 936)	6 116)	6 222)	6 287)	6 419)
Depreciation and amortisation	3)	3)	3)	3)	3)
Supplies and consumables	691)	788)	798)	808)	818)
Total expenses from transactions	6 630)	6 907)	7 023)	7 098)	7 240)
Net result from transactions (net operating balance)	(83)	685)	(15)	(15)	(15)
Net result	(83)	685)	(15)	(15)	(15)
Comprehensive result	(83)	685)	(15)	(15)	(15)

Notes:

1.   The increase in Appropriation revenue - recurrent primarily reflects the provision of additional funding to support the increase in Members' Salaries as determined by the Industrial Commission in accordance with the Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012.

2.   The increase in Appropriation revenue - works & services in 2017‑18 reflects the provision of one-off funding to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.

3.   The increase in Employee benefits reflects a budget neutral reallocation of $80 000 between Reserved by Law and general Consolidated Fund funding.

 

Table 14.3:     Revenue from Appropriation by Output

	2016-17)   Budget)	2017-18)   Budget)	2018-19) Forward) Estimate)	2019-20) Forward) Estimate)	2020-21) Forward) Estimate)
	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)
Legislative Council
Output Group 1 - Legislative Council Support Services
1.1  Legislative Council Support Services	3 405)	3 476)	3 536)	3 577)	3 651)
1.2  Committee Support Services	12)	12)	12)	12)	12)
	3 417)	3 488)	3 548)	3 589)	3 663)
Output Group 2 - Payments Administered by the Legislative Council
2.1  Payments Administered by the Legislative Council1	307)	387)	387)	387)	387)
	307)	387)	387)	387)	387)
Capital Investment Program2	....)	700)	....)	....)	....)
Legislative Council
Total Recurrent Services	3 724)	3 875)	3 935)	3 976)	4 050)
Total Works and Services	....)	700)	....)	....)	....)
	3 724)	4 575)	3 935)	3 976)	4 050)
Reserved by Law
Members' Committee Fees and Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012)	40)	36)	36)	36)	36)
Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012)3	2 683)	2 828)	2 884)	2 918)	2 986)
Travelling Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012)3	100)	153)	153)	153)	153)
	2 823)	3 017)	3 073)	3 107)	3 175)
Total Revenue from Appropriation	6 547)	7 592)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)
Controlled Revenue from Appropriation	6 547)	7 592)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)
	6 547)	7 592)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)

Notes:

1.   The increase in Payments Administered by the Legislative Council reflects the impact of a budget neutral reallocation of $80 000 between Reserved by Law and general Consolidated Fund funding.

2.   The increase in the Capital Investment Program in 2017-18 reflects the provision of one-off funding to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.

3.   The increases in Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012) and Travel Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012) in 2017-18 reflect the provision of additional funding to support the increase in Members' Salaries as determined by the Industrial Commission in accordance with the Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012

 

Table 14.4:     Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June

	2017)   Budget)	2018)   Budget)	2019) Forward) Estimate)	2020) Forward) Estimate)	2021) Forward) Estimate)
	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)
Assets
Financial assets
Receivables1	5)	17)	17)	17)	17)
	5)	17)	17)	17)	17)
Non-financial assets
Property, plant and equipment2	65)	801)	798)	795)	792)
Heritage and cultural assets3	1 652)	1 619)	1 619)	1 619)	1 619)
	1 717)	2 420)	2 417)	2 414)	2 411)
Total assets	1 722)	2 437)	2 434)	2 431)	2 428)
Liabilities
Payables1	48)	63)	63)	63)	63)
Employee benefits	747)	730)	742)	754)	766)
Total liabilities	795)	793)	805)	817)	829)
Net assets (liabilities)	927)	1 644)	1 629)	1 614)	1 599)
Equity
Reserves3	797)	764)	764)	764)	764)
Accumulated funds2	130)	880)	865)	850)	835)
Total equity	927)	1 644)	1 629)	1 614)	1 599)

Notes:

1.   The increases in Receivables and Payables in 2018 reflect revised estimates based on 30 June 2016 actuals.

2.   The increases in Property, plant and equipment and Accumulated funds in 2018 reflect the provision of one-off funding to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.

3.   The decreases in Heritage and cultural assets and Reserves in 2018 reflect the revaluation of artworks and artefacts as at 30 June 2016.

 

Table 14.5:     Statement of Cash Flows

	2016-17)   Budget)	2017-18)   Budget)	2018-19) Forward) Estimate)	2019-20) Forward) Estimate)	2020-21) Forward) Estimate)
	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)	$'000)
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash inflows
Appropriation receipts - recurrent1	6 547)	6 892)	7 008)	7 083)	7 225)
Appropriation receipts - capital2	....)	700)	....)	....)	....)
GST receipts	70)	70)	70)	70)	70)
Total cash inflows	6 617)	7 662)	7 078)	7 153)	7 295)
Cash outflows
Employee benefits1	(5 442)	(5 685)	(5 783)	(5 844)	(5 967)
Superannuation	(414)	(419)	(427)	(431)	(440)
GST payments	(70)	(70)	(70)	(70)	(70)
Supplies and consumables	(691)	(788)	(798)	(808)	(818)
Total cash outflows	(6 617)	(6 962)	(7 078)	(7 153)	(7 295)
Net cash from (used by) operating activities	....)	700)	....)	....)	....)
Cash flows from investing activities
Payments for acquisition of non-financial assets2	....)	(700)	....)	....)	....)
Net cash from (used by) investing activities	....)	(700)	....)	....)	....)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents held	....)	....)	....)	....)	....)
Cash and deposits at the beginning of the reporting period	....)	....)	....)	....)	....)
Cash and deposits at the end of the reporting period	....)	....)	....)	....)	....)

Notes:

1.   The increases in Appropriation receipts - recurrent and Employee benefits primarily reflect the provision of additional funding to support the increase in Members' Salaries as determined by the Industrial Commission in accordance with the Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012.

2.   The increases in Appropriation receipts - capital and Payments for acquisition of non-financial assets reflect the provision of one‑off funding to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.