(1) During an election costing period, the Parliamentary Budget Officer must prioritise the exercise of functions under this Division above the exercise of functions under sections 45 and 47.
(2) For the purpose of prioritising the exercise of functions under this Division during an election costing period, the Parliamentary Budget Officer may decide to—
(a) defer the exercise of a function under section 45 or 47; or
(b) decline to exercise a function under section 45 or 47.
(3) If the Parliamentary Budget Officer decides under subsection (2) to defer the exercise of a function under section 45 or 47, the Officer must inform the member of Parliament who requested the exercise of that function as soon as practicable.
(4) If the Parliamentary Budget Officer decides under subsection (2) to decline to prepare a policy costing under section 45, the Officer must, as soon as practicable—
(a) inform the member of Parliament who requested the costing that the Officer will not prepare the costing because the exercise of functions under this Division must be prioritised; and
(b) inform any entity (other than the member of Parliament who requested the costing) that the Officer requested to provide information or a document relevant to the request that the information or document is no longer required.
(5) Subsection (4)(b) does not apply if the information or document is also relevant to another current policy costing request.
(6) If the Parliamentary Budget Officer decides under subsection (2) to decline to provide analysis, advice or a briefing under section 47, the Officer must, as soon as practicable, inform the member of Parliament that the analysis, advice or briefing will not be provided because the exercise of functions under this Division must be prioritised.
Division 2—Other policy costings