Introduction
Purpose of Information Supporting the Estimates
The Information Supporting the Estimates provides members of Parliament with additional performance information in order to:
- support their examination of the appropriations and other authorities requested by the Government in the first Appropriation Bill for the forthcoming financial year, and
- provide a base against which they can later assess the actual performance of the Crown and individual departments and Offices of Parliament over that financial year.
The Information Supporting the Estimates is organised into 10 volumes by sector, each of which covers one or more Votes. The scope of each sector and the allocation of Votes to a sector reflect a balancing of three desired characteristics - namely that each volume should, where possible:
- reflect natural sectors
- keep together Votes administered by the same department, and
- keep together Votes allocated to a particular select committee of the House of Representatives for examination.
The number of sectors and coverage of each sector is set in consultation with the House of Representatives. The 10 sectors are:
- Economic Development and Infrastructure Sector
- Education and Science Sector
- Environment Sector
- External Sector
- Finance and Government Administration Sector
- Health Sector
- Justice Sector
- National Identity Sector
- Primary Sector
- Social Development and Housing Sector.
Votes and departments included in each sector are listed in the following table.
