Attorney-General’s Department

Attorney-General’s Department

Section 1: Entity overview and resources

1.1 Strategic direction statement

Under the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) of 21September 2015, responsibilities for classification, copyright and cultural affairs functions have been transferred from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Department of Communications and the Arts. The strategic direction statement published in the
2015–16 Portfolio Budget Statements has been updated as set out below.

The Attorney-General’s Department (the Department) supports the Attorney-General, the Minister for Justice and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Counter-Terrorism and the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs in achieving a just and secure society.

The Department provides legal services to the Commonwealth (including legal advice and representation), protects and promotes national security, and leads within government on justice, law enforcement and emergency management policy.

In 2015–16, the Department will pursue the following strategic priorities:

•  support the Attorney-General as First Law Officer, including by providing
high-quality legal advice to the Commonwealth

•  protect Australia by delivering effective national security policies, legislation and programmes

•  maintain an efficient and effective Commonwealth justice system

•  pursue national responses to serious and organised crime, and improve community safety

•  enable a free society with balanced rights, freedoms and responsibilities

•  provide national leadership in emergency management.

1.2 Entity resource statement

The entity resource statement details the resourcing for the Department at Additional Estimates. Table 1.1 outlines the total resourcing available from all sources for the 2015–16 budget year, including variations through Appropriation Bills Nos.3 and4, special appropriations and special accounts.

Table 1.1: Entity resource statement—additional estimates for 2015–16 as at Additional Estimates February 2016

/ Actual available appropriation 2014–15
$’000 / Estimate as at Budget 2015–16
$’000 / Proposed Additional Estimates 2015–16
$’000 / Total estimate at Additional Estimates 2015–16
$’000 /
ORDINARY ANNUAL SERVICES(a)
Departmental appropriation
Prior year departmental appropriation(b) / 55,429 / 64,929 / – / 64,929
Departmental appropriation(c) / 241,391 / 229,544 / (19,123) / 210,421
s 74 retained revenue receipts(d) / 112,761 / 67,368 / (517) / 66,851
Total / 409,581 / 361,841 / (19,640) / 342,201
Administered expenses
Outcome 1(e) / 474,756 / 488,204 / 15,481 / 503,685
Outcome 2(e) / 211,351 / 213,981 / (122,753) / 91,228
Payments to corporate entities(f) / 439,556 / 409,566 / (143,893) / 265,673
Total / 1,125,663 / 1,111,751 / (251,165) / 860,586
Total ordinary annual services [A] / 1,535,244 / 1,473,592 / (270,805) / 1,202,787
OTHER SERVICES(g)
Administered expenses
Specific payments to states, ACT, NT and local government
Outcome 1 / 5,747 / 7,248 / (2,502) / 4,746
Total / 5,747 / 7,248 / (2,502) / 4,746
Departmental non-operating
Prior year appropriation(b) / 6,920 / 7,510 / – / 7,510
Equity injections / 590 / 20,000 / 9,786 / 29,786
Total / 7,510 / 27,510 / 9,786 / 37,296
Administered non-operating
Prior year appropriation(b) / 34,683 / 46,920 / – / 46,920
Administered assets and liabilities / 40,897 / 5,964 / 985 / 6,949
Payments to corporate entities—
non-operating(f) / 31,512 / 31,177 / (6,046) / 25,131
Total / 107,092 / 84,061 / (5,061) / 79,000
Total other services [B] / 120,349 / 118,819 / 2,223 / 121,042
Total available annual appropriations / 1,655,593 / 1,592,411 / (268,582) / 1,323,829
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS
Special appropriations limited by criteria/entitlement
Law Officers Act 1964 / 414 / 450 / – / 450
Social Security (Administration) Act 1999—Australian Victims of Terrorism Overseas Payment / 5,997 / 1,485 / – / 1,485
Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 / 106,490 / 11,940 / 4,566 / 16,506
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 s 77(h) / 33 / 127 / (10) / 117
Supreme Court Justices Long Service Leave Payments / 973 / – / – / –
Total special appropriations [C] / 113,907 / 14,002 / 4,556 / 18,558
Total appropriations excluding special accounts / 1,769,500 / 1,606,413 / (264,026) / 1,342,387

Table 1.1: Entity resource statement—additional estimates for 2015–16 as at Additional Estimates February 2016 (continued)

/ Actual available appropriation 2014–15
$’000 / Estimate as at Budget 2015–16
$’000 / Proposed Additional Estimates 2015–16
$’000 / Total estimate at Additional Estimates 2015–16
$’000 /
SPECIAL ACCOUNTS
Opening balance(i) / 10,471 / 11,809 / 5,731 / 17,540
Appropriation receipts(j) / 619 / 21,346 / 9,572 / 30,918
Non-appropriation receipts to special accounts / 27,154 / 189,836 / 8,082 / 197,918
Total special accounts [D] / 38,244 / 222,991 / 23,385 / 246,376
Total resourcing [A+B+C+D] / 1,807,744 / 1,829,404 / (240,641) / 1,588,763
Less appropriations drawn from annual or special appropriations above and credited to special accounts / (619) / (21,346) / (9,572) / (30,918)
Less payments to corporate entities through annual appropriations / (471,068) / (440,743) / 149,939 / (290,804)
Total net resourcing for entity / 1,336,057 / 1,367,315 / (100,274) / 1,267,041

All figures are GST exclusive. These figures may not match the figures in the cash flow statement.

Note: The Department of Communications and the Arts has received $141.751m under a section 75 determination for the transfer of classification, copyright and cultural affairs functions. The financial impact of the transfer of functions is reflected in the ‘Proposed Additional Estimates 2015–16’ column.

(a) Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2015–16 and Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2015–16.

(b) Estimated adjusted balance carried forward from previous years.

(c) Includes an amount of $16.533m in 2015–16 for the departmental capital budget (see Table3.2.5 for further details). For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’.

(d) Estimated retained revenue receipts under section 74 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act).

(e) Includes an amount of $2.497m in 2015–16 for the administered capital budget ($0.846m for Outcome1 and $1.651m for Outcome 2) (see Table3.2.10 for further details). For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’.

(f) ‘Corporate entities’ are corporate Commonwealth entities and Commonwealth companies as defined under the PGPA Act.

(g) Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2015–16 and Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2015–16.

(h) Repayments not provided for under other appropriations.

(i) Estimated opening balance for special accounts. For further information on special accounts, see Table3.1.1.

(j) Appropriation receipts from annual and special appropriations for 2014–15 included above.


Third-party payments from and on behalf of other entities

Estimate
as at Budget 2015–16
$’000 / Estimate at Additional Estimates
2015–16
$’000
Payments made on behalf of other entities / 3,863 / 3,863
Australian Public Service Commission—Remuneration Tribunal
Act 1973 (s7) / 3,863 / 3,863
Payments made to corporate entities within the portfolio / 440,743 / 290,804
Appropriation Act 1 (administered)
Australia Council / 184,526 / 135,000
Australian Film, Television and Radio School / 24,058 / 10,024
Australian National Maritime Museum / 22,211 / 14,881
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia / 25,795 / 11,900
National Gallery of Australia / 33,085 / 33,085
National Library of Australia / 50,225 / 20,925
National Museum of Australia / 41,441 / 23,140
National Portrait Gallery of Australia / 11,505 / 6,000
Screen Australia / 16,720 / 10,718
Total Appropriation Act 1 (administered) / 409,566 / 265,673
Appropriation Act 2 (administered)
Australian National Maritime Museum / 1,709 / 1,312
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia / 817 / 817
National Gallery of Australia / 16,829 / 16,829
National Library of Australia / 9,679 / 4,030
National Museum of Australia / 1,944 / 1,944
National Portrait Gallery of Australia / 199 / 199
Total Appropriation Act 2 (administered) / 31,177 / 25,131

Note: The reduced administered estimates under Appropriation Acts 1 and 2 reflect the transfer of functions to the Department of Communications and theArts.

1.3 Entity measures

Table 1.2 summarises new government measures taken since the 2015–16 Budget.


Table 1.2: Entity 2015–16 measures since Budget

/ Programme / 2015–16
$’000 / 2016–17
$’000 / 2017–18
$’000 / 2018–19
$’000 /
Expense measures
Attorney-General’s—one-off efficiency savings to specific agencies / 1.1, 1.2
Administered expenses / – / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / (2,668) / (5,336) / (5,336) / (5,336)
Total / (2,668) / (5,336) / (5,336) / (5,336)
Public Sector Savings—Enterprise Resource Planning Systems(a) / 1.1, 1.2
Administered expenses / – / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / – / – / (100) / (123)
Total / – / – / (100) / (123)
Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan administration fees(b) / 1.1, 1.2
Administered expenses / – / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / (154) / (154) / (154) / (154)
Total / (154) / (154) / (154) / (154)
National Security Awareness Campaign / 1.2, 1.7
Administered expenses / 9,550 / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / 450 / – / – / –
Total / 10,000 / – / – / –
National Security—counter-terrorism prosecutions / 1.4
Administered expenses / – / 766 / 777 / 789
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / –
Total / – / 766 / 777 / 789
Women’s Safety Package(c) / 1.4
Administered expenses / 4,920 / 4,999 / 5,079 / –
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / –
Total / 4,920 / 4,999 / 5,079 / –
Confiscated Assets Account—crime prevention activities / 1.7
Administered expenses / – / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / –
Total / – / – / – / –
Western Foreshore of Mandurah—safer foreshore project(d) / 1.7
Administered expenses / (150) / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / –
Total / (150) / – / – / –
Disaster relief—additional funding(e) / 1.8
Administered expenses / 4,612 / – / – / –
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / –
Total / 4,612 / – / – / –
Total expense measures
Administered / 18,932 / 5,765 / 5,856 / 789
Departmental / (2,372) / (5,490) / (5,590) / (5,613)
Total / 16,560 / 275 / 266 / (4,824)

Notes to Table 1.2

Prepared on a Government Finance Statistics (fiscal) basis.

(a) This is a cross-portfolio measure that was published in Budget Paper No. 2 2015–16. The lead entity is the Department of Finance.

(b) This is a cross-portfolio measure that was published in the 2014–15 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. The lead entity is the Department of Finance.

(c) The lead entity for this measure is the Department of Social Services. The full measure description and package details appear in the 2015–16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook under the Social Services portfolio.

(d) The lead entity for this measure is the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. The full measure description and package details appear in the 2015–16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook under the Infrastructure and Regional Development portfolio.

(e) Includes funding of $2.693m in the 2015–16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook for disaster relief initiatives in South Australia (special appropriations of $2.666m and ex gratia assistance to New Zealand citizens of $0.027m) and an additional $1.919m since the 2015–16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook for disaster relief initiatives in Western Australia (special appropriations of $1.900m and exgratia assistance to New Zealand citizens of $0.019m).

1.4 Additional estimates and variations

The following tables detail the changes to the resourcing for the Department at Additional Estimates, by outcome. Table 1.3 details the additional estimates and variations resulting from new measures since the 2015–16 Budget in Appropriation Bills Nos.3 and4. Table 1.4 details additional estimates and variations through other factors, such as parameter adjustments.

Table 1.3: Additional estimates and variations to outcomes from measures since 2015–16 Budget

Programme impacted / 2015–16
$’000 / 2016–17
$’000 / 2017–18
$’000 / 2018–19
$’000
OUTCOME 1
Increase in estimates (administered)
National Security—counter-terrorism prosecutions / 1.4 / – / 766 / 777 / 789
Women’s Safety Package / 1.4 / 4,920 / 4,999 / 5,079 / –
National Security Awareness Campaign / 1.7 / 9,550 / – / – / –
Disaster relief—additional funding / 1.8 / 4,612 / – / – / –
Decrease in estimates (administered)
Western Foreshore of Mandurah—safer foreshore project / 1.7 / (150) / – / – / –
Net impact on estimates for Outcome 1 (administered) / 18,932 / 5,765 / 5,856 / 789
Increase in estimates (departmental)
National Security Public Awareness Campaign / 1.2 / 450 / – / – / –
Decrease in estimates (departmental)
Attorney-General’s—one-off efficiency savings to specific agencies / 1.1, 1.2 / (2,668) / (5,336) / (5,336) / (5,336)
Public Sector Savings—Enterprise Resource Planning Systems / 1.1, 1.2 / – / – / (100) / (123)
Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Plan administration fees / 1.1, 1.2 / (154) / (154) / (154) / (154)
Net impact on estimates for Outcome 1 (departmental) / (2,372) / (5,490) / (5,590) / (5,613)

Table 1.4: Additional estimates and variations to outcomes from other variations

/ Programme impacted / 2015–16
$’000 / 2016–17
$’000 / 2017–18
$’000 / 2018–19
$’000 /
OUTCOME 1
Increase in estimates (administered)
Movement of funds—courts and tribunals reform / 1.4 / – / (150) / – / 150
Family Court of Western Australia—Remuneration Tribunal increase / 1.4 / 47 / 45 / 44 / 44
Asia–Pacific Rule of Law Aid / 1.7 / 68 / – / – / –
Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery payments—concessional loans / 1.7 / 1,985 / 1,179 / – / –
Movement of funds—Schools Security Programme(a) / 1.7 / (2,502) / 4,034 / 3,214 / –
Movement of funds—Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse(b) / 1.9 / 1,000 / – / 6,993 / –
Movement of funds—Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse—capital(c) / 1.9 / (1,000) / – / 1,515 / –
Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption—financial assistance / 1.9 / 632 / – / – / –
Decrease in estimates (administered)
Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse—financial assistance / 1.9 / (632) / – / – / –
Changes in wage and price indices / All / – / (361) / (593) / (913)
Net impact on estimates for Outcome1 (administered) / (402) / 4,747 / 11,173 / (719)
Increase in estimates (departmental)
Movement of funds—departmental capital budget(d) / 1.1, 1.2 / 2,247 / – / – / –
Australian Government Solicitor—working capital / 1.3 / 9,786 / – / – / –
Decrease in estimates (departmental)
Transfer of responsibilities for classification and copyright functions from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Department of Communications and
the Arts / 1.1 / (7,039) / (9,181) / (9,281) / (9,371)
Changes in wage and price indices / All / – / (388) / (569) / (945)
Net impact on estimates for Outcome1 (departmental) / 4,994 / (9,569) / (9,850) / (10,316)
OUTCOME 2
Decrease in estimates (administered)
Transfer of responsibility for
cultural affairs functions from the Attorney-General’s Department to the Department of Communications and
the Arts / 2.1 / (122,753) / (230,275) / (204,789) / (200,321)
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 s 77 / 2.1 / (10) / (10) / (10) / (10)
Net impact on estimates for Outcome2 (administered) / (122,763) / (230,285) / (204,799) / (200,331)

Table 1.4: Additional estimates and variations to outcomes from other variations (continued)