Office of Parliamentary Counsel

Office of Parliamentary Counsel

Office of Parliamentary Counsel

Section 1: Entity overview and resources

1.1Strategic direction

The strategic direction statement for the Office of Parliamentary Counsel (OPC) can be found in the 2014–15 Portfolio Budget Statements. There has been no change to OPC’s strategic direction as a result of Additional Estimates.

1.2Entity resource statement

The entity resource statement details the resourcing for OPC at Additional Estimates. Table 1.1 outlines the total resourcing available from all sources for the 2014–15 budget year, including variations through Appropriation Bill No.3.

Table 1.1: Entity resource statement—additional estimates for 2014–15 as at Additional Estimates February 2015

All figures are GST exclusive.

(1) Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2014–15 and Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2014–15.

(2) Estimated adjusted balance carried forward from previous year for annual appropriations.

(3) Includes an amount of $0.930m in 2014–15 for the departmental capital budget (seeTable 3.2.5 forfurther details). For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’.

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

1.3Entity measures table

Table 1.2 summarises new government measures taken since the 2014–15 Budget.

Table 1.2: Entity 2014–15measures since Budget

Prepared on a Government Finance Statistics (fiscal) basis.

1.4Additional estimates and variations

The following tables detail the changes to the resourcing for OPC at Additional Estimates, by outcome. Table 1.3 details the additional estimates and variations resulting from new measures since the 2014–15 Budget in Appropriation Bill No.3. Table 1.4 details additional estimates or variations through other factors, such as parameter adjustments.

Table 1.3: Additional estimates and variations to outcomes from measures since 2014–15 Budget

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

1.5Breakdown of additional estimates by appropriation bill

Table 1.5 details the additional estimates sought for OPC through Appropriation Bill No.3. OPC has no additional estimates through Appropriation Bill No.4.

Table 1.5: Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2014–15

(1) 2013–14 available appropriation is included to allow a comparison of this year’s appropriation with what was made available for use in the previous year.

Section 2: Revisions to outcomes and planned performance

2.1Outcome and performance information

There are no changes to OPC’s outcome and performance information as reported in the 2014–15 Portfolio Budget Statements.

Outcome 1

Outcome 1 strategy

There are no changes to the strategy for Outcome 1 as reported in the 2014–15 Portfolio Budget Statements.

Table 2.1: Budgeted expenses for Outcome 1

(1) Departmental appropriation combines ‘Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)’ and ‘s 74 retained revenue receipts’.

(2) Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year are made up of depreciation and amortisation expenses of $0.406m and resources received free of charge (Australian National Audit Office audit fees) of$0.042m.

Programme 1.1 expenses

(1) Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year are made up of depreciation and amortisation expenses and resources received free of charge (Australian National Audit Office audit fees).

Section 3: Explanatory tables and budgeted financial statements

3.1Explanatory tables

Estimates of special account flows

OPC has no special accounts.

3.2Budgeted financial statements

3.2.1Analysis of budgeted financial statements

OPC’s income statement has been updated:

•to reflect the 2013–14 operating result (an operating surplus of $1.690m)

•for the impact of the National Security—additional counter-terrorism funding measure ($0.565m in 2014–15)

•for indexation changes across the forward years.

OPC’s balance sheet has been updated to reflect the impact of the closing balances from 2013–14.

3.2.2Budgeted financial statements

Table 3.2.1: Budgeted departmental comprehensive income statement (showing net cost of services) for the period ended 30 June

Prepared on Australian Accounting Standards basis.

Table 3.2.2: Budgeted departmental balance sheet (as at 30 June)

Prepared on Australian Accounting Standards basis.

Table 3.2.3: Departmental statement of changes in equity—summary of movement (budget year 2014–15)

Prepared on Australian Accounting Standards basis.

Table 3.2.4: Budgeted departmental statement of cash flows (for the period ended 30 June)

Prepared on Australian Accounting Standards basis.

Table 3.2.5:Departmental capital budget statement

Consistent with information contained in the statement of asset movements and the budgeted statement of cash flows.

DCB = departmental capital budget.

(1) Includes funding from both current and prior years’ DCB appropriations.

(2) Includes funding from prior year Act 1 appropriations (excluding amounts from the DCB).

Table 3.2.6: Statement of asset movements (2014–15)

Prepared on Australian Accounting Standards basis.

(1) ‘Appropriation ordinary annual services’ refers to funding provided through Appropriation Act (No.1) from current and prior year appropriations.

3.2.3Notes to the financial statements

Basis of accounting

The budgeted financial statements have been prepared on an accrual accounting basis, having regard to Statements of Accounting Concepts, and in accordance with the Finance Minister’s Orders, Australian Accounting Standards and other authoritative pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board.

Revenue from government

Appropriations for departmental programmes are recognised as revenue, with the exception of departmental capital budget appropriations which are recognised as equity.

Employee expenses

Employee expenses consist of salaries, superannuation and leave entitlements.

Supplier expenses

Supplier expenses consist of office lease, information technology, Bill printing and other administrative costs.

Cash

Cash includes notes and coins held and any deposits held at call with a bank or other financial institution.

Receivables

Receivables include both trade and appropriation. Appropriation receivables are appropriations controlled by OPC but held in the Official Public Account to be drawn as required.

Non-financial assets

Purchases of property, plant and equipment are recognised initially at cost, except for purchases costing less than $1,000, which are expensed in the year of acquisition (other than where they form part of a group of similar items that are significant in total).

The Finance Minister’s Orders require property, plant and equipment to be measured at fair value.

Liabilities

Supplier payables consist of trade creditor and accrued supplier expenses. Other payables consist of unearned income from training courses. Employee provisions consist of annual and long service leave liabilities and accrued salaries and superannuation. Other provisions consist of make-good provisions for the office.

Equity

Departmental capital budget appropriations are for the purchase of assets and are shown as an increase in contributed equity.

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