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Funding

This section identifies the Department of the House of Representatives funding structure.

Note 10: Appropriations

Note 10: Annual appropriations ('Recoverable GST exclusive')

Annual appropriations for 2020

Appropriation Act

PGPA Act

Total appropriation

Appropriation applied in 2020 (current & prior years)

Variance2

Annual appropriation1

Section 74 receipts

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

Departmental

Operating budget

25,014

3,902

28,916

(23,193)

5,723

Capital budget

635

-

635

(173)

462

Total departmental

25,649

3,902

29,551

(23,366)

6,185

Administered

Operating budget

319

-

319

(222)

97

Total administered

319

-

319

(222)

97

1. In 2019–20, there were no appropriations subject to quarantine and no reductions. The departmental and administered appropriation are automatically repealed three years after they are passed by parliament.

2. The departmental variance primarily relates to:

a. operating budget:

  • lower catering and incidental expenses, travel and office services from March to June 2020 due to the pandemic.
  • the department's term deposit of $2,546,108.00 matured on 29 June 2020 and was not revinvested until July. This amount was held in the department's bank account and not applied until reinvestment in July 2020.

b. capital budget—a number of procurements of new equipment for the print room were delayed and not completed or delivered by 30 June 2020, it is anticipated these will be completed in the first half of 2020–21. In addition, the department had budgeted to pay for replacement of the Parliamentary Relations Office database, but this was subsequently identified to be funded through the Department of Parliamentary Services capital works plan.

The administered variance relates to reduced school visits because of the pandemic shutdown from March to June 2020.

Annual appropriations for 2019

Appropriation Act

PGPA Act

Total appropriation

Appropriation applied in 2019
(current and prior years)

Variance2

Annual appropriation1

Section 74 receipts

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

$'000

Departmental

Operating budget

24,113

314

24,427

(22,955)

1,472

Capital budget

637

-

637

(234)

403

Total departmental

24,750

314

25,064

(23,189)

1,875

Administered

Operating budget

313

-

313

(330)

(17)

Total administered

313

-

313

(330)

(17)

  1. In 2018–19, there were no appropriations subject to quarantine and no reductions. The departmental and administered appropriation are automatically repealed three years after they are passed by parliament.
  2. The departmental variance primarily relates to:
  • a) operating budget—lower employee benefits expense due to a number of positions remaining vacant throughout the reporting period
  • b) capital budget—a number of bespoke software projects remained incomplete at balance date.

The administered variance relates to accrued expenses in 2017–18 which were drawn and paid in 2018–19.

Note 11: Unspent annual appropriations

Note 11: Unspent annual appropriations ('recoverable GST exclusive')

2020

2019

$’000

$’000

Departmental

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 2018–19

235

17,779

Appropriation - Operating Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 201920

15,455

-

Appropriation - Operating (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 201920

5,423

-

Cash at bank

2,855

617

Total departmental

23,968

18,396

Administered

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 201819

-

17

Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Act (No. 1) 201920

114

-

Total administered

114

17

Note 12A: Special appropriations ('recoverable GST exclusive')

Note 12A: Special Appropriations ('Recoverable GST exclusive')

2020

2019

Authority

$’000

$’000

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013–section 58

-

5,092

Total special appropriations applied

-

5,092

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Finance Minister to Accountable Authorities of Non-Corporate Commonwealth Entities) Delegation 2014 provides the department the delegation to invest relevant money in any authorised investment on behalf of the Commonwealth or to authorise the reinvestment upon maturity of the proceeds of an authorised investment. The delegation is made under section 58 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

Investments made in accordance with this delegation throughout the year were as follows:

201920 amount applied

Date

$'000

Term deposit matured

29 June 2020

-

Total applied

-

201819 amount applied

Date

$'000

Term deposit matured and principal reinvested

20 July 2018

2,546

Term deposit matured and principal reinvested

28 June 2019

2,546

Total applied

5,092

The department's term deposit of $2,546,108 matured on 29 June 2020. This amount was held in cash at bank as at 30 June 2020. The department reinvested the funds to a new term deposit with a different financial institution on 10 July 2020 for a period of 12 months at 1.5% interest payable on maturity. The source of the initial deposit was the former Inter-parliamentary Relations Special Account which was subject to a sun-setting provision. The balance of the account was initially invested after the release of a new delegation from the Finance Minister in July 2017. The balance of this account is disclosed in Note 3C and interest earned is recorded on an accrual basis in Note 2B.

Note 12B: Disclosures by agent in relation to special appropriations ('recoverable GST exclusive')

Note 12B: Disclosures by agent in relation to annual and special appropriations
('recoverable GST exclusive')

Department of Finance
(third party access)

2020

2019

$’000

$’000

Total receipts

50,794

48,534

Total payments

50,794

48,534

Throughout the financial year, the department made payments via special appropriations in accordance with third party access agreements with the Department of Finance. The agreement facilitates payments under the following Acts for the purposes described:

  • Parliamentary Superannuation Act 2004 — For the purposes necessary to administer the special appropriation in section 18 of the Act.
  • Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act — For the purposes necessary to administer the special appropriation in section 66 of the Act.
  • Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017 — For the appropriation in section 59 of the Act.

Note 13: Net cash appropriation arrangements

Note 13: Net cash appropriation arrangements

2020

2019

$’000

$’000

Total comprehensive income/(loss) less depreciation/amortisation expenses previously funded through revenue appropriations

1,487

1,371

Plus: depreciation/amortisation expenses previously funded through revenue appropriation

(517)

(584)

Plus: depreciation right-of-use assets

33

-

Less: principal repayments - leased assets

(33)

-

Total comprehensive income/(loss)—as per the statement of comprehensive income

970

787