Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee, , 10:06 to 14:42
The Chair opens the hearing, acknowledges traditional owners, and outlines the rules of evidence and parliamentary privilege for the supplementary budget estimates.
Topics: Government spending, Integrity
Speakers: Ellie Whiteaker, Hon Jenny McAllister, Blair Comley, Unknown Speaker
Good morning. I declare open this hearing of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee 2026, 27 supplementary budget estimates. I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Nanawal and Nambury people, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. I extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today. The committee has fixed Thursday 17 December 2026 as the date for the return of answers to questions taken on notice. The committee would appreciate if Senators could provide any written questions on notice to the Secretariat by Thursday, 5 November 2026. The committee's proceedings today will continue with the Department of Health, Disability and Aging Outcome 1, Health Policy Access and Support and Cross Portfolio Indigenous Matters. The committee will be conducting today's hearing in person and via teleconference. Video conference. Understanding Order 26, the committee must take all evidence in public session, and this includes answers to questions on notice. I remind all witnesses that in giving evidence to the committee, they are protected by parliamentary privilege. It is unlawful for anyone to threaten or disadvantage a witness on account of evidence given to a committee, and such action may be treated by the Senate as a contempt. It is also a contempt to give false or misleading evidence. The Senate has endorsed the following test of relevance of questions at estimates hearings. Any questions going to the operations or financial positions of the departments and agencies which are seeking funds in estimates are relevant questions for the purpose of estimates hearings. I remind officers that the Senate has resolved that there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has discretion to withhold details or explanations from the Parliament or its committees unless the Parliament has expressly provided otherwise. The Senate has also resolved that an officer of a department of the Commonwealth shall not be asked to give opinions on matters of policy and shall be given reasonable opportunity to refer questions asked of the officer to superior officers or to a minister. This resolution does not preclude questions asking for explanations of policies or factual questions about when and how policies were adopted. Witnesses are reminded of the Senate order specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised. I incorporate the public interest immunity statement into the handsard. I remind Senators of their obligations under the behaviour code for Australian parliamentarians to treat witnesses with dignity, courtesy, fairness, and respect. An officer called to answer a question for the first time should state their full name and the capacity in which they appear. I remind committee members and witnesses who are appearing via video conference and who are not speaking to mute their microphones. Live captions have been enabled for the entire duration of today's hearings. The feed will be displayed on selected video conferencing monitors at the witness bench, the back of the room, and in the waiting room. We ask witnesses to please inform the Secretariat if at any time during the hearing you're experiencing any issues, and they will endeavour to troubleshoot them as quickly as possible. I now welcome Senator the Honourable Jenny McAllister, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, representing the Minister for Health, Disability and Aging. Minister, do you wish to make an opening statement?
No, I don't, thank you. But I may when we come later in the programme to the NTIS if that's okay.
Absolutely. I welcome the Secretary of the Department of Defence. Sorry, Department of Health, Disability and Aging. I welcome the Secretary of the Department of Health, Disability and Aging. Mr. Blair Comley, PSM. Mr. Comley, welcome back. Do you wish to make an opening statement?
No, thank you, Chair.
Okay. About health or defence, either would be.
I'll leave defence to Megan.
I now call officers from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing in relation to outcome one, health policy, access and support and cross-portfolio indigenous matters. And I will invite Senator Ananda Raja to begin with questions. Over to you.