SUPPLY BILL

Introduction and First Reading

Received from the House of Assembly and read a first time.

Second Reading

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (20:06): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This year the government will introduce the 2009-10 budget on 4 June 2009. A supply bill will be necessary for the first three months of the 2009-10 financial year until the budget has passed through the parliamentary stages and the Appropriation Bill 2009 receives assent.

An additional allowance has been included in this bill to cover the impact of the revised funding arrangements with the commonwealth. Under these revised arrangements, funding that was previously provided to agencies will now be paid into the Consolidated Account and then appropriated to agencies as required.

In the absence of special arrangements in the form of the supply acts, there would be no parliamentary authority for expenditure between the commencement of the new financial year and the date on which assent is given to the main appropriation bill. The amount being sought under this bill is $2,750 million. I commend the Supply Bill to the council.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. J.M.A. Lensink.