The purpose of the 2012-13 Portfolio Budget Statements (PB Statements) is to inform Senators and Members of Parliament of the proposed allocation of resources to Government outcomes by agencies within the portfolio. Agencies receive resources from the annual appropriations acts, special appropriations (including standing appropriations and special accounts), and revenue from other sources.

A key role of the PB Statements is to facilitate the understanding of proposed annual appropriations in Appropriation Bills No. 1 and No. 2 2012-13 (or Appropriation Bill [Parliamentary Departments] No. 1 2012-13 for the parliamentary departments). In this sense the PB Statements are Budget related papers and are declared by the Appropriation Acts to be ‗relevant documents‘ to the interpretation of the Acts according to section 15AB of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.   The PB Statements provide information, explanation and justification to enable Parliament to understand the purpose of each outcome proposed in the Bills. 

To consult the PB Statements, please click here.