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 2018‑19 and over the Forward Estimates period (2019‑20 to 2021‑22). Further information about the Legislative Council is provided at www.parliament.tas.gov.au.
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
· the completion of upgrades to the Council Chamber to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues.
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 15.1 provides an Output Group Expense Summary for the Legislative Council.
Table 15.1: Output Group Expense Summary1
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Notes:
1. Agency estimates do not include the indexation impact of any variations to agency expenditure that have been made since the finalisation of the Revised Estimates Report 2017‑18 (including the December Quarterly Report). For further information see chapter 1 of this Budget Paper.
2. The increase in Payments Administered by the Legislative Council in 2018‑19 primarily reflects the reinstatement of funding for Member Allowances.
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.
This Output provides support and advice to Legislative Council Standing and Select Committees, Joint Parliamentary Standing and Select Committees, and Joint Statutory Committees.
This Output Group provides for the Parliamentary salaries and allowances of Members of the Legislative Council as prescribed in legislation.
Table 15.2: Statement of Comprehensive Income
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Notes:
1. The increases in Appropriation revenue - recurrent and Supplies and Consumables in 2018‑19 primarily reflects the reinstatement of funding for Member Allowances.
2. The decrease in Appropriation revenue - works & services in 2018‑19 reflects the one‑off funding provided in 2017‑18 to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.
Table 15.3: Revenue from Appropriation by Output
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Notes:
1. The decrease in Capital Investment Program in 2018‑19 reflects the one‑off funding provided in 2017‑18 to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.
2. The increase in Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances in 2018‑19 primarily reflects the reinstatement of funding for Member Allowances.
Table 15.4: Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June
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Note:
1. The variation in this item reflects revised estimates based on 30 June 2017 actuals.
Table 15.5: Statement of Cash Flows
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Notes:
1. The increases in Appropriation receipts - recurrent and Supplies and consumables in 2018‑19 primarily reflect the reinstatement of funding for Member Allowances.
2. The decreases in Appropriation receipts - capital and Payments for acquisition of non‑financial assets in 2018‑19 reflect the one‑off funding provided in 2017‑18 to address occupational health and safety and disability access issues in the Legislative Council Chamber.