House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Estimates Replies Operating Budgets Operating Budgets In reply to Mr WHETSTONE House of Assembly Chaffey Operating Budgets In reply to Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (26 June 2024). (Estimates Committee B) The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS House of Assembly Cheltenham Minister for Trade and Investment Minister for Local Government Minister for Veterans Affairs Operating Budgets The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Veterans Affairs): I have been advised of the following: The operating expenses referenced relate to the Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Housing Infrastructure and Minister for Planning. The variance does not represent an overspend but approved changes to the 2023-24 budget since the 2023-24 budget, including carryovers. These changes relate to both Trade and Investment, and Planning functions of the department, and are comprised of the initial 2023-24 total expenses budget of $182.694 million, compared with the 2023-24 estimated result budget of $201.352 million, a difference of $18.658 million. The variance of $18.7 million (rounded) is comprised mainly of the following: $3.6 million in employee benefit expenses; $9.7 million general supplies and services; $800,000 depreciation; $2 million grants and subsidies; and $2.6 million intra-government transfers. The $3.6 million increase in employee benefit expenses mainly relates to: $800,000 for TradeStart contract extension; $900,000 to establish the Housing Infrastructure Planning Development Unit; and $1.6 million in planning fees amendment changes and recoveries. The $9.7 million general supplies and services mainly relates to: $5.7 million contractual payments to Land Services SA; $1.1 million regional planning carryover; $1.2 million for hydrogen funding; $600,000 in grant carryovers; and $1.1 million in various other planning related costs and adjustments. The $800,000 increase in depreciation is mainly related to leasehold improvements and the e-planning system. The $2 million increase in grants and subsidies is mainly related to grant carryovers from 2022-23. The $2.6 million increase in intra-government transfers is mainly related to grant carryovers from 2022-23.