Part A

User Guide

Introduction

The purpose of the 2003-04 Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) is to inform Senators and Members of Parliament of the proposed allocation of resources to Government outcomes by agencies within the portfolio. They also facilitate understanding of the proposed appropriations in Appropriation Bills (Numbers 1 and 2) 2003-04. The PBS provides sufficient information, explanation and justification to enable Parliament to understand the purpose of each outcome proposed in the Bills.

Structure of the Portfolio Budget Statements

The PBS is presented in three parts as outlined below.

Part A: User Guide

Provides an introduction explaining the purpose of the PBS as well as information in relation to the structure of the document, styles and conventions used.

Part B: Portfolio Overview

Provides a brief overview of the portfolio. Portfolio outcomes are depicted in a chart that outlines the structure of the outcomes to which the portfolio contributes.

Part C: Agency Budget Statements

For each agency within the portfolio, a statement is presented under the name of the agency. These are presented in four sections as outlined below.

Section 1: Overview, appropriations and budget measures summary

This section provides a brief overview of the agency, details agency appropriations and summarises, where applicable, budget measures. This section describes the link between the resources appropriated and their application to the outputs that contribute to the achievement of outcomes.

Section 2: Outcomes and outputs information

This section provides a brief description of the outcomes and, where applicable, budget measures. The section also provides details of resourcing, outlining administered and agency appropriations, how the outputs contribute to the outcome, performance information for the outcome, and evaluations.

Section 3: Budgeted financial statements

This section contains the budgeted financial statements in accrual format covering budget year, previous year and the three forward years for each agency.

Section 4: Purchaser/provider and cost recovery arrangements

This section is presented, where relevant, for those agencies that have entered into purchaser/provider and any cost recovery arrangements with other agencies.

Glossaries are provided at the end of the document.

Styles and conventions used

(a) The following notation may be used:

- nil

$m $ million

 

(b) Figures in tables and in the text may be rounded. Figures in text are generally rounded to one decimal place, whereas figures in tables are generally rounded to the nearest thousand. Discrepancies in tables between totals and sums of components are due to rounding.

Enquiries

Should you have any enquiries regarding this publication please contact Ms Kate McCormack in the Department of the Treasury on (02) 6263 2111.

A copy of this document can be located on the Department of the Treasury website at: http://www.treasury.gov.au or the Commonwealth's Budget website at: http://www.budget.gov.au

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