Introduction
The culmination of the Budget process involves an annual appropriation by an act of Parliament of the money needed for Government expenditure in the coming financial year.
Its passage ensures Parliamentary authorisation of the amount of money to be drawn from the Consolidated Fund and the specific purposes for which the funds are to be used. In accordance with the NSW Constitution and the Westminster parliamentary system of representative government, this particular legislation must originate in the Legislative Assembly.
Each year, the Treasurer presents the NSW Budget and tables the Appropriation bill and various cognate bills. Interestingly, this year the Treasurer is a member of the Legislative Council.
The first time a Treasurer was appointed from the Legislative Council occurred on 4 April 1995. In this instance, the Treasurer attended the Legislative Assembly Chamber for the purpose of delivering a Budget Speech. This practice continued up until 2010, the last year the Treasurer was a member of the Legislative Council.
This year, in line with this practice, the Assembly invited the Treasurer, the Hon. Daniel Mookhey MLC to give a speech of unlimited duration in relation the NSW Budget.
The House adopted a resolution suspending Standing and Sessional Orders to provide for the expedited passage of the bills through the House
The Budget
On Tuesday 19 September 2023, the Hon Paul Scully MP, on behalf of the Premier, introduced the Appropriation Bill and various cognate bills. Immediately following this, the Treasurer, the Hon. Daniel Mookhey MLC, was admitted to the House for the purpose of delivering the Budget Speech.
Once the Treasurer concluded his speech, the Hon. Paul Scully MP move the second reading of the bills and the debate was automatically adjourned until Thursday 21 September 2023, after which, the 2023-2024 Budget papers were tabled.
Debate
On Thursday 21 September 2023, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Mark Speakman MP delivered his second reading speech in response to the Budget.
After the Leader of the Opposition concluded his speech, the bills were forwarded to the Legislative Council for concurrence. Mr David Mehan MP then moved that the House take note of the Budget Estimates and related papers for 2023-2024.
Take Note Debate
All Members have the opportunity to speak in the subsequent debate on the budget papers. The scope of the debate may include issues about how the budget might affect a Member's electorate.
Budget Estimates
Once Budget Estimates and related papers are tabled, they are referred to the eight Legislative Council Portfolio Committees for inquiry and report. The Budget Estimates process involves the questioning of Ministers and relevant Public Servants.
The Budget Papers
The 2023-24 budget papers are available at the following links:
Budget Paper 1 - Budget Statement 2023-24
Budget Paper 2 - Agency Financial Statements 2023-24
Budget Paper 3 - Infrastructure Statement 2023-24
Budget Paper 4 - Appropriation Bills 2023-24
