Opened the debate
Jones moved that the bill be read a second time, noting it provided appropriations from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of $195.3 million. Jones explained that this amount represented seven-twelfths of the estimated annual appropriations for 2025-26, covering the last seven months of the financial year. Jones highlighted that the most significant expenditure was over $155 million allocated to the Department of Parliamentary Services to support parliamentary operations and custodianship of Parliament House. Jones also noted an advance of $1.9 million to the responsible Presiding Officer, consistent with previous years, and commended the bill to the chamber.