Legislative Council - Budget Estimates 2020-2021
About Budget Estimates inquiry
Ministers and senior public servants attend an annual Budget Estimates inquiry to answer questions about the expenditure, performance and effectiveness of their agencies.
Budget Estimates is a key process for government accountability and transparency. The Budget Estimates inquiry involves detailed questioning on the decisions, actions and advice of ministers and public servants.
The Budget Estimates inquiry is conducted by the Legislative Council’s seven Portfolio Committees.
According to the resolution passed by the House on 11 November 2020, initial hearings of the Budget Estimates inquiry are to be scheduled over 12 days from 25 February to 26 February 2021, 1 March to 5 March 2021, and 8 March to 12 March 2021.
The Budget Estimates resolution and schedule was agreed to by the House on 18 November 2020, referring the Budget Estimates and related papers for 2020-2021 to the Portfolio Committees for inquiry and report.
More information about Budget Estimates processes and procedures can be found in the guide below:
Budget Estimates Guide 2020-2021
Initial Hearings
While the Budget Estimates 2020-2021 resolution states that hearings will begin at 9.30 am and conclude by 8.30 pm, please note that each committee has resolved the following times for the examination of their respective portfolios.
For Portfolio Committees 1- 6, an additional 15 minutes has been reserved for Government questions, if required, at the end of each session. If not used, hearings will conclude 15 minutes earlier, for example at 12.30 pm or 5.00 pm.
Thursday 25 February 2021
Friday 26 February 2021
Monday 1 March 2021
Tuesday 2 March 2021
Wednesday 3 March 2021
Thursday 4 March 2021
Friday 5 March 2021
Monday 8 March 2021
Tuesday 9 March 2021
Wednesday 10 March 2021
Thursday 11 March 2021
Friday 12 March 2021
For more information, please contact the secretariat at (02) 9230 2898 or email budget.estimates@parliament.nsw.gov.au.
For transcripts and other information relating to Budget Estimates 2019-2020 please click here.
