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 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.

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

·       the completion of upgrades to the Council Chamber 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 15.1 provides an Output Group Expense Summary for the Legislative Council.

Table 15.1:       Output Group Expense Summary1

2017-18  2018-19  2019-20  2020-21  2021-22        Forward  Forward  Forward    Budget  Budget  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate    $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000              Output Group 1 - Legislative Council Support Services           1.1 Legislative Council Support Services 3 491  3 551  3 592  3 666  3 747  1.2 Committee Support Services 12  12  12  12  12    3 503  3 563  3 604  3 678  3 759  Output Group 2 - Payments Administered by the Legislative Council           2.1 Payments Administered by the Legislative Council2 3 404  3 500  3 534  3 602  3 677    3 404  3 500  3 534  3 602  3 677                          TOTAL 6 907  7 063  7 138  7 280  7 436

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.

 

 

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 15.2:       Statement of Comprehensive Income

2017-18  2018-19  2019-20  2020-21  2021-22        Forward  Forward  Forward    Budget  Budget  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate    $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000              Revenue and other income from transactions           Appropriation revenue - recurrent1 6 892  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421  Appropriation revenue - works & services2 700  ....  ....  ....  ....  Total revenue and other income from transactions 7 592  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421              Expenses from transactions           Employee benefits 6 116  6 262  6 327  6 459  6 604  Depreciation and amortisation 3  3  3  3  3  Supplies and consumables1 788  798  808  818  829  Total expenses from transactions 6 907  7 063  7 138  7 280  7 436              Net result from transactions (net operating balance) 685  (15) (15) (15) (15)             Net result 685  (15) (15) (15) (15)             Comprehensive result 685  (15) (15) (15) (15)

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

2017-18  2018-19  2019-20  2020-21  2021-22        Forward  Forward  Forward    Budget  Budget  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate    $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000              Legislative Council                       Output Group 1 - Legislative Council Support Services           1.1 Legislative Council Support Services 3 476  3 536  3 577  3 651  3 732  1.2 Committee Support Services 12  12  12  12  12    3 488  3 548  3 589  3 663  3 744  Output Group 2 - Payments Administered by the Legislative Council           2.1 Payments Administered by the Legislative Council 387  387  387  387  387    387  387  387  387  387              Capital Investment Program1 700  ....  ....  ....  ....              Legislative Council           Total Recurrent Services 3 875  3 935  3 976  4 050  4 131  Total Works and Services 700  ....  ....  ....  ....    4 575  3 935  3 976  4 050  4 131              Reserved by Law           Members' Committee Fees and Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012) 36  36  36  36  36  Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012)2 2 828  2 924  2 958  3 026  3 101  Travelling Allowances (Parliamentary Salaries, Superannuation and Allowances Act 2012) 153  153  153  153  153    3 017  3 113  3 147  3 215  3 290              Total Revenue from Appropriation 7 592  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421              Controlled Revenue from Appropriation 7 592  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421    7 592  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421

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

2018  2019  2020  2021  2022        Forward  Forward  Forward    Budget  Budget  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate    $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000              Assets           Financial assets           Receivables1 17  28  28  28  28    17  28  28  28  28              Non-financial assets           Property, plant and equipment1 801  789  786  783  780  Heritage and cultural assets 1 619  1 619  1 619  1 619  1 619    2 420  2 408  2 405  2 402  2 399              Total assets 2 437  2 436  2 433  2 430  2 427              Liabilities           Payables1 63  58  58  58  58  Employee benefits1 730  580  592  604  616  Total liabilities 793  638  650  662  674              Net assets (liabilities) 1 644  1 798  1 783  1 768  1 753              Equity           Reserves 764  764  764  764  764  Accumulated funds 880  1 034  1 019  1 004  989  Total equity 1 644  1 798  1 783  1 768  1 753

Note:

1.   The variation in this item reflects revised estimates based on 30 June 2017 actuals.

 

 

Table 15.5:       Statement of Cash Flows

2017-18  2018-19  2019-20  2020-21  2021-22        Forward  Forward  Forward    Budget  Budget  Estimate  Estimate  Estimate    $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000  $'000              Cash flows from operating activities           Cash inflows           Appropriation receipts - recurrent1 6 892  7 048  7 123  7 265  7 421  Appropriation receipts - capital2 700  ....  ....  ....  ....  GST receipts 70  70  70  70  70  Total cash inflows 7 662  7 118  7 193  7 335  7 491              Cash outflows           Employee benefits (5 685) (5 823) (5 884) (6 007) (6 143) Superannuation (419) (427) (431) (440) (449) GST payments (70) (70) (70) (70) (70) Supplies and consumables1 (788) (798) (808) (818) (829) Total cash outflows (6 962) (7 118) (7 193) (7 335) (7 491)             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 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.