Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 2021-2022 (No. 8)

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F2022L01337 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

Public Governance, Performance and Accountability

(Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 20212022 (No. 8)

Purpose of the determination

Section 75 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) enables the Finance Minister to determine that one or more Schedules to one or more Appropriation Acts are modified in a specified way in relation to the transfer of a function from one non-corporate Commonwealth entity to another. The power in section 75 recognises that the Executive Government will from time to time choose to reorganise the administration and delivery of its functions with commensurate transfers of resources, including appropriations, between entities.

Subsection 75(7) of the PGPA Act provides that a determination made under subsection (2) is a legislative instrument, but that section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislation Act 2003 does not apply to the determination. The Explanatory Memorandum for the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013 provides (at paragraph 370) that determinations made under section 75 are exempt from disallowance as the changes effected by determinations made under section 75 are in the nature of administrative changes only, relating to the Executive Government’s decisions about the allocation of functions to particular entities.

Under section 107 of the PGPA Act, the Finance Minister has delegated the power to make determinations under section 75 to the Secretary of the Department of Finance. Under section 109 of the PGPA Act, the Secretary has, in turn, subdelegated this power to certain officials within the Department of Finance.

Following the 2022 Federal Election, the Governor-General, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council, made an Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) to commence on 1 July 2022. The new AAO available at https://www.pmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/administrative-arrangements-order resulted in a number of machinery of government (MoG) changes.

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 20212022 (No. 8) (the amendment determination) amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Determination 20212022 (the principal determination) to reflect transfer of appropriations between MoG affected entities, as well as changes to outcome statement structures of transferring entities. The amendment determination does not change the total amount appropriated by the Parliament.

The principal determination modifies the 2021-22 Appropriation Acts to, among other things, increase or decrease appropriation items for affected entities to support the implementation of the new AAO.

The 2021-22 Appropriation Acts include:

  • the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2021-2022;
  • the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2021-2022;
  • the Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 1) 2021-2022;
  • the Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 2) 2021-2022;
  • the Appropriation Act (No. 3) 2021-2022; and
  • the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 2021-2022.

The amendment determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of section 8 of the Legislation Act 2003.

Commencement

The amendment determination commences immediately after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation.

Statement of compatibility with human rights

A statement of compatibility with human rights is not required for the amendment determination.

Subsection 9(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 requires a statement of compatibility with human rights for all legislative instruments subject to disallowance under section 42 of the Legislation Act 2003. A determination made under subsection 75(2) of the PGPA Act is exempt from disallowance under subsection 75(7) of the PGPA Act. As such, a statement of compatibility with human rights is not required.

Consultation

Consistent with section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003, the affected entities were consulted in the preparation of the amendment determination.

Summary of amendments

  1. Item 1 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination has effect of amending outcome statement structures for transferring entities, i.e. those entities which have transferred some of their functions to receiving entities resulting in the loss or revision of some of the outcome statements for transferring entities.

The transferring entities in Item 1 include:

-          the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;

-          the Attorney-General’s Department;

-          the Department of Education;

-          the Department of Industry, Science and Resources;

-          the Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts; and

-          the Department of Home Affairs.

2.      Item 2 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination updates the cumulative effect of the decrease in appropriation items for transferring entities and increase in appropriation items for receiving entities as set out in replacement items 11, 12, 22 and 23 of the table in subsection 5(2) of the principal determination.

Subsection 5(2) of the principal determination has effect as if appropriation items in Schedule 1 to the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2021-2022 were increased or decreased in accordance with the table included in the subsection. If an appropriation item exists only because of the principal determination, the increase is from a nil amount.

Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

11

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Departmental item

-8,856,000.00

-24,805,918.64

-33,661,918.64

12

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts 

Departmental item

+7,567,045.72

-309,319.19

+7,257,726.53

22

Attorney-General’s Department

Departmental item

-7,321,924.66

+7,960,101.00

+638,176.34

23

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Departmental item

+928,878.94

+25,115,237.83

+26,044,116.77

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.

3.      Item 3 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds items 39, 40 and 41 at the end of the table in subsection 5(2) of the principal determination.

Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

39

National Recovery and Resilience Agency

Departmental item

0.00

-17,976,184.00

-17,976,184.00

40

National Emergency Management Agency

Departmental item

0.00

+17,976,184.00

+17,976,184.00

41

Department of Home Affairs

Departmental item

0.00

-7,960,101.00

-7,960,101.00

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.

4.      Item 4 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds new subsection 5A(3A) to the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2021-2022 which has effect as if Schedule 2 to the Act included an administered item for the National Emergency Management Agency. Administered item means an amount set out in Schedule 2 opposite an outcome for a noncorporate entity under the heading ‘New Administered Outcomes’.

Item 4 also adds new subsection 5A(3B) to the Act which has effect as if Schedule 2 to the Act included an other departmental item for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Other departmental item means an amount set out in Schedule 2 in relation to a non-corporate entity opposite the heading ‘Equity Injections’.

5.      Item 5 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds items 3 to 6 at the end of the table in subsection 5A(4) of the principal determination, which has effect as if appropriation items in Schedule 2 to the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2021-2022 were increased or decreased in accordance with the table included in the subsection. If an appropriation item exists only because of the principal determination, the increase is from a nil amount.

Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

3

National Recovery and Resilience Agency

Administered item, Outcome 1

0.00

-4,550,320.08

-4,550,320.08

4

National Emergency Management Agency

Administered item, Outcome 1

0.00

+4,550,320.08

+4,550,320.08

5

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Other departmental item (Equity Injections)

0.00

-1,010,000.00

-1,010,000.00

6

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Other departmental item (Equity Injections)

0.00

+1,010,000.00

+1,010,000.00

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.

6.      Item 6 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination updates the cumulative effect of the decrease in appropriation items for transferring entities and increase in appropriation items for receiving entities as set out in replacement items 1 and 2 of the table in subsection 6(3) of the principal determination.

Subsection 6(3) of the principal determination has effect as if appropriation items in Schedule 1 to the Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 1) 2021-2022 were increased or decreased in accordance with the table included in the subsection. If an appropriation item exists only because of the principal determination, the increase is from a nil amount.


Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

1

National Recovery and Resilience Agency

Administered item, Outcome 1

-600,000,000.00

-259,084,994.67

-859,084,994.67

2

National Emergency Management Agency

Administered item, Outcome 1

+600,000,000.00

+259,084,994.67

+859,084,994.67

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.

7.      Item 7 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds items 13 and 14 at the end of the table in subsection 7(2) of the principal determination, which has effect as if appropriation items in Schedule 1 to the Appropriation Act (No. 3) 2021-2022 were increased or decreased in accordance with the table included in the subsection. If an appropriation item exists only because of the principal determination, the increase is from a nil amount.

Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

13

National Recovery and Resilience Agency

Departmental item

0.00

-5,836,000.00

-5,836,000.00

14

National Emergency Management Agency

Departmental item

0.00

+5,836,000.00

+5,836,000.00

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.


8.      Item 8 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds new subsection 8(2A) to the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 2021-2022 which has effect as if Schedule 2 to the Act included an other departmental item for the Attorney-General’s Department.

9.      Item 9 of Schedule 1 to the amendment determination adds items 3 and 4 at the end of the table in subsection 8(3) of the principal determination, which has effect as if appropriation items in Schedule 2 to the Act were increased or decreased in accordance with the table included in the subsection. If an appropriation item exists only because of the principal determination, the increase is from a nil amount.

Item

Entity

Appropriation item

Previous increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

Current increase/ decrease by the amendment determination

 ($)

Total increase/ decrease by the principal determination

($)

3

Department of Home Affairs

Other departmental item (Equity Injections)

0.00

-41,070,579.00

-41,070,579.00

4

Attorney-General’s Department

Other departmental item (Equity Injections)

0.00

+41,070,579.00

+41,070,579.00

Note: A positive amount reflects an increase in an appropriation item and a negative amount reflects a decrease in an appropriation item.

 

Overview

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 2021-2022 (No. 8) was enacted to facilitate the transfer of appropriations between machinery of government entities following changes in administrative arrangements. This determination, introduced by the Australian Parliament, amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Determination 2021-2022 to align with the new Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) made after the 2022 Federal Election. The amendment ensures the reallocation of appropriations between affected entities without altering the total amount appropriated by Parliament. It was developed under the authority granted by Section 75 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, which allows the Finance Minister to modify appropriation acts in relation to the transfer of functions between non-corporate Commonwealth entities. The amendment is a legislative instrument under the Legislation Act 2003 and commenced immediately upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislation. The policy objective is to streamline the administrative changes resulting from the reorganisation of government functions and their associated resources.

Scope and Application

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 2021-2022 (No. 8) applies to appropriations under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and is concerned with the reallocation of appropriations between non-corporate Commonwealth entities following changes to administrative arrangements, specifically following the 2022 Federal Election and the resultant machinery of government changes. This amendment determination reflects the transfer of appropriations between entities affected by the new Administrative Arrangements Order and updates the outcome statement structures of transferring entities. The amendment determination applies to various appropriation acts, including the Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2021-2022, the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2021-2022, the Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 1) 2021-2022, the Appropriation (Coronavirus Response) Act (No. 2) 2021-2022, the Appropriation Act (No. 3) 2021-2022, and the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 2021-2022. The amendment determination does not alter the total amount appropriated by Parliament but modifies the appropriation items for affected entities to support the implementation of the new Administrative Arrangements Order. The amendment determination is a legislative instrument under the Legislation Act 2003 and is exempt from disallowance, hence no statement of compatibility with human rights is required. The determination was prepared in consultation with the affected entities as required by the Legislation Act 2003.

Key Provisions

The Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Amendment Determination 2021-2022 (No. 8) amends the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Section 75 Transfers) Determination 2021-2022. This amendment determination modifies the 2021-22 Appropriation Acts to support the implementation of the new Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) resulting from the 2022 Federal Election. This includes adjusting appropriation items to reflect the transfer of appropriations between machinery of government (MoG) affected entities, and changes to outcome statement structures of transferring entities. Importantly, the amendment determination does not alter the total amount appropriated by the Parliament. The Act imposes specific obligations on the entities affected by these appropriations. These entities, including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Attorney-General’s Department, and others, must adhere to the new appropriations as adjusted by the amendment determination. The Act also mandates consultation with these affected entities during the preparation of the amendment determination, ensuring that the changes reflect the actual reallocations and restructurings of government functions and resources. Breaching the provisions of this determination could lead to serious consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline criminal or civil penalties for non-compliance, failure to adhere to the appropriations as modified by the determination could result in financial mismanagement and accountability issues. Such breaches might lead to investigations by the Australian National Audit Office or other relevant bodies, potentially resulting in recommendations or actions to rectify the non-compliance. Additionally, entities may face scrutiny and reporting requirements to justify their adherence to the amended appropriations, which could have administrative and reputational consequences if not properly managed.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.