Climate, budget on parliament agenda

Parliament resumes in Canberra for two weeks on Monday, with Senate estimates hearings and the House probing the first Abbott government budget.

Senators in the Senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra

The Senate looks set for another late night to pass the Turnbull government's Gonski 2.0 plan. (AAP)

Abbott government plans to tackle climate change, sell assets and slash the public service will come under scrutiny when Senate committees examine the federal budget next week.

Senators will spend a fortnight quizzing senior public servants and ministers, while the lower house will focus on budget-related laws including the deficit levy.

The Senate's environment committee will kick off its estimates hearings on Monday looking at the government's Direct Action climate policy, water issues and the restarting of the Green Army.

The committee's hearings will continue on Tuesday looking at the Climate Change Authority and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

Cuts to the ABC and the potential sale of Australia Post will be examined on Wednesday, while SBS, media regulation and the national broadband network will be on the agenda for Thursday.

The Senate finance and public administration committee on Monday will run its eyes over parliamentary departments and a number of agencies set to be abolished, including the COAG Reform Council and the national security monitor.

The Public Service Commissioner will be quizzed on the size and nature of cuts to public service jobs.

Labor and Greens senators are expected to follow up on issues to do with the three royal commissions and staff appointments when Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet officials attend hearings on Tuesday.

The Future Fund, national disability insurance scheme and the two new medical research and asset recycling funds will come under scrutiny on Wednesday.

The privatisation of Medibank Private and the Australian Electoral Commission's handling of the West Australian Senate election re-run will be scrutinised on Thursday.

Federal police, immigration, roads and agricultural policy will be dealt with by two other estimates committees over the week.

The Greens will be pursuing the issue of whether border protection personnel committed a people smuggling offence during a boat turnback in early May.

The asylum-seeker issue will be raised in the Labor caucus meeting on Tuesday, when a motion moved by WA MP Melissa Parkes to end offshore processing goes to a vote.

Party insiders say the motion is expected to fail.

Labor leader Bill Shorten on Monday will introduce a private member's bill to ensure the so-called Gonski funding deals with the states and territories are honoured.

Monday is also National Sorry Day, which marks the start of National Reconciliation Week.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags will fly alongside the national flag outside Parliament House.

Spending on indigenous programs will be the subject of an estimates hearing on May 30.


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Source: AAP


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