| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| -26.5 | -26.9 | -27.4 | -27.9 |
Explanation
A 4 per cent across-the-board reduction has been made to the running costs of all agencies and departments within the Attorney-General's portfolio. The bodies affected are:
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 0.0 | -7.1 | -7.2 | -7.4 |
Explanation
An additional reduction in running costs within the Attorney-General's portfolio will apply to the following agencies from 1998-99: the Insolvency and Trustee Service, Australia; the Australian Institute of Criminology; the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre; the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; the Law Reform Commission; the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence; and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. During 1997-98, these agencies will develop implementation strategies to achieve the savings through increased efficiencies and rationalisation of services.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 14.8 | 8.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Explanation
Reform of the Legal Practice will involve separation of its policy advising function, which will continue to be budget funded, from the commercial legal services function, effective from 1 July 1997. During 1997-98, legal services will be progressively opened up to greater private sector competition. The commercial element of the business unit will be restructured with effect from 1 July 1998, to provide legal services to the Commonwealth in full competition with private sector providers. The new body is to be known as the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS).
The net addition to outlays over the first two years is due to transitional costs associated with establishment of the AGS, including funding for anticipated redundancy, corporatisation and human resource management costs in 1997-98, and lease termination costs in 1998-99. Included in 1998-99 is a working capital advance to the new organisation to be repaid in the same year through private sector refinancing. The corresponding revenue measure for this initiative is titled: 'Reform of the provision of legal services provided by the Attorney-General's Legal Practice to enhance contestability and competitiveness' (see Part II).
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 0.0 | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.2 |
Explanation
The Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) classifies films, videos, publications and computer games in accordance with the National Classification Code under the Classifications (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995. The OFLC will increase classification fees to achieve full cost recovery from 1 July 1998. Taxation legislation will need to be introduced to give effect to the increases in charges. Budget funding for the OFLC will cease from 1998-99 which will remove the OFLC from operating on the Commonwealth Public Account.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 0.0 | -0.4 | -1.2 | -1.4 |
Explanation
Savings of approximately $3 million a year from 1997-98 were realised in the 1996-97 Budget as part of the Government's commitment in this area. Further savings have now been identified as a result of the rationalisation of staff and facilities being transferred from the Industrial Relations Court of Australia to the Federal Court.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 16.1 | 14.5 | 14.8 | 15.1 |
Explanation
The Government has provided additional resources to the Federal Court and the National Native Title Tribunal to handle increased native title workload flowing through under the existing legislative regime and expected additional workload and responsibilities under proposed legislation to amend the Native Title Act 1993.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | ||
| Attorney General's | 4.2 | -0.3 | -0.2 | 0.0 | |
| Finance | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | |
| TOTAL | 4.6 | -0.3 | -0.2 | 0.0 |
Explanation
The Government has decided to realise its investment in Auscript. The outlays effect in the Attorney-General's portfolio is due to transitional costs associated with divestment, including redundancy and lease termination costs.
Outlays shown for the Department of Finance relate to the divestment costs incurred by the Office of Asset Sales.
Estimated proceeds of the divestment have not been published for commercial-in-confidence reasons.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Explanation
The Australian Federal Police Adjustment Scheme (AFPAS) is an unfunded eligible termination payment designed to support Australian Federal Police (AFP) anti-corruption measures, enhance performance, and compensate for loss of tenure. It is paid to all members of the AFP who successfully complete a fixed term appointment (FTA) with the AFP, except those convicted of serious misconduct or corruption. The payment is only paid on cessation of employment and is currently calculated as 12.5 per cent of a member's total accumulated salary earned over the period of all completed FTAs.
The Government is providing the AFP with additional funding in each of the four years to 2000-01 to meet the emerging costs of accrued AFPAS liabilities. This funding is in addition to approximately $2.0 million already included in the AFP's budget and forward estimates.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 6.9 | 6.7 | 6.8 | 0.0 |
Explanation
Additional funding has been provided over three years to enable the National Crime Authority to extend its investigations of complex money laundering and tax evasion schemes. The anticipated impact of these investigations is a significant increase in collections of taxation revenue and recoveries under the Proceeds of Crime Act (1987). The corresponding revenue measure for this initiative is titled: 'National Crime Authority Investigations' (see Part II).
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 1.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Explanation
The Protective Security Co-ordination Centre (PSCC) is the Commonwealth body responsible for protecting missions and diplomats against any attack, intrusion, damage and the impairment of their dignity. The PSCC will receive an additional $1.06 million in 1997-98, principally to continue the prevention of the impairment of the dignity of certain missions, consistent with Australia's international obligations.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 11.3 | 1.2 | -0.7 | -1.7 |
Explanation
The recent review of the Commonwealth's provider of specialist protective and security services concluded that sensitive protective security work should continue to be provided by the Australian Protective Service. However, remaining work is to be opened up to competition from the private sector.
The net addition to outlays over the first two years is due to transitional costs associated with rationalisation of the business unit, including funding for redundancy and other rationalisation costs. Enhanced efficiencies in operation are expected to result in savings over the last two years and thereafter.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| -1.6 | -1.6 | -1.6 | -1.6 |
Explanation
The Government provided the Protective Security Coordination Centre (PSCC) with approximately $2 million a year to provide personal security for Senators and Members other than Ministers, former office holders, their staff, and their families at the last Budget. The PSCC has subsequently identified it requires less to provide this security, providing a saving of approximately $1.6 million a year.
Financial Implications ($m)
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 |
| 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 |
Explanation
The Government is providing the Protective Security Co-ordination Centre with approximately $0.4 million for the replacement of security vehicles. Funding for the purchase of these vehicles has been provided over four years.
