Cross Portfolio

Budget estimates — enhanced quality and timeliness

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
All Agencies	16.4	15.8	15.2	15.1
Related capital ($m)
All Agencies	0.6	0.8	-	-

The Government will provide $88.5 million over four years (including $24.8 million in 2003-04) to implement the Budget Estimates and Framework Review recommendations that were endorsed by the Government in 2002. This amount includes $1.4 million in capital funding.

Provision for this purpose was made in the Contingency Reserve in the 2003-04 Budget pending consideration of funding for individual agencies.

This funding is in addition to the $3.6 million specifically provided to the Foreign Affairs and Trade and Employment and Workplace Relations portfolios in the 2003-04 Budget, and $54.4 million provided to the Department of Finance and Administration was recorded as a measure in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2002-03.

Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games — contribution

Expense ($m)

	2004-05	2005-06	2006-07	2007-08
All Agencies	8.0	90.3	1.3	-
Related capital ($m)
All Agencies	0.1	0.1	-	-
Related revenue(a) ($m)
All Agencies	-	-1.4	-	-

1. A negative number for revenue indicates a decrease in the fiscal balance.

The Government will provide a package of assistance totalling $272.5 million over four years from 2003-04 to 2006-07 to contribute to the staging of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games (M2006) to be held from 15-26 March 2006.

The assistance package includes $139.8 million (including $40 million in 2003-04) in new funding over the four years as a contribution to meeting the costs of the Games. The Government will also provide $132.7 million in services and support which will be absorbed within existing resources.

Funding includes a grant of $102.9 million to the Victorian Government for specific M2006 initiatives. These include $40 million for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, $15 million for the Queen’s Baton Relay, $18.2 million for the M2006 Volunteer Programme, $10 million for the Elite Athletes with a Disability Programme, $7.5 million to provide airfare subsidies for athletes from developing countries participating in M2006, and $6 million towards the costs of the M2006 Cultural Programme.

Funding of $84.8 million will be provided over three years to provide security services and support to ensure a safe and secure M2006. Of this, $56.5 million will be funded from existing resources.

Funding of $27.1 million (including capital of $0.2 million) over three years will be provided for non-security related services associated with staging M2006, of which $18.5 million will be provided from existing resources. Activities involved include pre-event drug testing of international athletes, sporting programmes for people with disabilities, provision of aviation safety information and increased trade and investment promotion activities.

The Australian Sports Commission will provide an estimated $55.3 million in direct assistance for M2006 sports through existing programmes over two years from 2004-05. Significant indirect assistance is also provided to support athletes, coaches and support staff of M2006 sports.

Visa application costs will be waived for Commonwealth Games Family Members, resulting in revenue forgone of $1.4 million. Exemptions from Income and Witholding Tax for the Commonwealth Games Federation, estimated at $1 million, were recorded as a measure, Income tax exemption for the Commonwealth Games Federation, in the 2002-03 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook.

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