Coalition

Implementation of commitments

 

The PBO identified 10 election commitments affecting payments that would have no net impact on the budget as they are wholly offset from within existing resources. In total, these commitments reflect a reallocation of $62.1 million over the forward estimates (see Table 4‑2).

Table 4-2: Commitments funded through reallocation of existing resources, the Coalition

Commitment

Estimated cost offset from existing resources over the forward estimates ($ million)

Accurate labelling for plant-based meat products 

1.5

Country of Origin labelling – supporting the seafood industry 

2.0

Creative Australia – redirect towards Melbourne Jewish Arts Quarter and supporting broadcasting 

18.0

Farm Safety 

2.5

Farmer Mental Health Package 

7.9

Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway 

0.7

No fault Investigations – pilot 

6.0

Real-time vector surveillance capability to detect Lumpy Skin Disease technology – pilot 

2.0

Regional Agricultural Shows Development Grant program 

20.0

Sculpture by the Sea – Cottesloe 

1.5

Total

62.1

Source: PBO analysis.
Note: These commitments also appear in the tables in Appendix B. As they were assessed as having a nil impact on the budget they do not have a costing minute.

 

Departmental costs have generally been included by the PBO in costings except where the Coalition has specified that departmental costs would be absorbed within existing departmental resources (Table 4-3) or where the PBO has assumed they have been absorbed. This is the case for 17 commitments across 9 portfolios.

Table 4-3: Commitments with absorbed departmental expenses, the Coalition

Portfolio

Number of commitments with absorbed expenses

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

3

Attorney-General’s

1

Education

5

Foreign Affairs and Trade

2

Health and Aged Care

2

Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

1

Prime Minister and Cabinet

1

Social Services

1

Treasury

1

Total

17

Source: PBO analysis.
Note: A detailed breakdown of commitments with either PBO assumed or party specified absorbed departmental expenses is included in Appendix B.

 

The Coalition's commitment Reducing the APS to a sustainable level over time through natural attrition (ECR-2025-2147) would also reduce overall departmental funding by around $12.2 billion. The impact of this commitment, on top of a forecast reduction in departmental spending over the forward estimates (see Box 3), creates downside risk to either the budget balance or policy objectives.