The 2018-19 Federal Budget brought down this week by the Treasurer, Scott Morrison, included funding for the expansion of programs in a number of Departments and Agencies in the Australian Public Service (APS).
At the top of the list is the Office of the eSafety Commissioner which is to receive $14.2 million over four years to meet the costs of its newly expanded functions to promote online safety, not only for children but for all Australians.
“These new functions include administering a new civil penalty regime to combat the non-consensual sharing of intimate images and providing guidance and support to Australians of all ages who experience online abuse,” Mr Morrison said.
He said the Commonwealth Ombudsman was also to receive $1.4 million in extra funding over five years for taking on oversight of the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Department of Education and Training will receive $123.6 million over five years to support regional universities adding over 4,900 new bachelor and sub-bachelor places.
The Department of Finance is to receive $11.3 million over two years to strengthen its capacity to “respond to critical priorities and drive productivity improvements across the Australian Public Service”.
The Treasurer said this would include modernising Commonwealth cash management by utilising the New Payments Platform for fast payments which is being rolled out across the banking system in Australia.
The Government’s issues with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation were maintained with the ABC’s indexation ‘paused’ for the next three years although it will be excused from the Efficiency Dividend.
The Budget will also set aside $7 million for a strategic review of the Home Affairs portfolio which Mr Morrison said would identify opportunities for integrating capabilities, reducing duplication and maximising efficiencies.
The Budget papers also revealed that the cost of the recently announced review into the APS is to be $9.8 million over two years.
