Report to the
Senate
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Introduction
On 22 May 2001 the following documents were referred to
Legislation Committees for examination and report:
- Particulars of proposed expenditure
for the service of the year ending on 30 June 2002 [Document A -
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2001-2002];
- Particulars of certain proposed
expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2002 [Document B -
Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2001-2002];
- Particulars of proposed expenditure
in relation to the Parliamentary Departments in respect of the year ending
on 30 June 2002 [Document C - Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments)
Bill (No. 1) 2001-2002]
The Committee was required to report to the Senate on
Wednesday, 20 June 2001.
Hearings
The Committee conducted hearings in public session on the
Environment and Heritage portfolio on Monday 4 and Tuesday 5 June 2001 for a
total of 12 hours and 32 minutes and on the Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts portfolio on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 June 2001, for
a total of 21 hours and 27 minutes. The
evidence given is recorded in Hansard
and is available on the Internet at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/commttee/comsen.htm
Further written responses and information provided to the
Committee on notice arising from the hearings are compiled as volumes of
Additional Information. These are tabled
in the Senate and posted on the Committee’s web page at:
http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_environment
General Comments
Questions on notice and supplementary hearing date
In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the Committee
agreed that the date for written answers or additional information in response
to questions placed on notice be 13 July 2001.
A date for the commencement of supplementary meetings of the Committee
has been set, in accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(b), for 15 November 2001.
Portfolio Specific Issues
The Committee raised a wide variety of issues during its
examination of the 2001-2002 Estimates as follows:
Environment and Heritage portfolio
The Environment and Heritage portfolio was examined by the
Committee on Monday 4 June 2001, and the morning of Tuesday 5 June 2001. The Committee chose to question interstate
divisions first, followed by the Australian Greenhouse Office and finally the
Department. A copy of the agenda is
attached (Appendix 1). A considerable
number of questions on notice were also tabled.
Representatives from the Environment and Heritage portfolio were
questioned on the following areas:
Supervising Scientist Division
-
The changed output structure of the Supervising
Scientist, a comparison with previous years’ budget allocations (pp. 3-6)[1]
-
Water storage at Jabiluka and ERA requirements
at Jabiluka (pp. 6-10)
-
The World Heritage Committee visit and Cairns
meeting (pp. 8-11)
National Oceans Office (NOO)
-
Future funding for the NOO over the next three
years and the funding relationship between it as an Executive Agency and
Environment Australia’s Marine and Water Division along with NHT funding (pp.
11-16)
-
Regional marine plan development and
negotiations with the states (pp. 17-18)
Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)
-
Consultancy with Mr Vince FitzGerald (Allen
Consulting) (pp. 19-22)
-
Revenue earned from commercial operations (pp.
21-26)
-
Aviation weather service (pp. 24-27)
-
Internal evaluation of the bureau and changes to
outputs (pp. 27-30)
-
Long term climate change impact work (pp. 31-32)
Australian Antarctic Division
-
Proposed airlink from Australia to Antarctica
(pp. 32-37)
-
Antarctic animal care, seal branding (p. 37)
-
Antarctic Division’s performance evaluation (p.
37)
-
Grants programs and the caretaker conventions
(pp. 38-40)
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
-
Status of the Marine Biological Research Station
at Watsons Bay (pp. 41-42)
-
The terms of the operation of the Trust and membership of the board (pp. 42-45)
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)
-
Environment management charge revenue (pp.
45-46)
-
Management of aquaculture impacts and water
quality (pp. 47-48, 57-59)
-
Death of dugongs and the success of dugong
protection areas (DPA)
(pp. 48-52, 59-60, 62-63)
-
Crown of Thorns Starfish and the implications
for the tourist industry (pp. 53-54)
-
Stuart oil shale mine status (pp. 55-56)
-
General funding issues (pp. 56-57)
-
Damage to a silt curtain while dredging in the
Nelly Bay area (pp. 63-64)
Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO)
-
Australian input to the US government
administration’s recent announcement on energy policy (pp. 65-66)
-
Cost and commissioning of the ‘Don Burke’
advertising campaign (pp. 66-74)
-
Australia’s stance on the Kyoto protocol (pp.
74-76)
-
Grants programs administered by the AGO,
including the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program, the Renewable Energy
Commercialisation Program and the Renewable Energy Showcase Program along with
building industry grants (pp. 76-79, 83-96, 110-111)
-
Staff levels and contractors used by the AGO
(pp. 79-80)
-
Comparative budget figures over past two years
(pp. 80-81, 112)
-
Media and communications levels within the
corporate division (pp. 81-82)
-
Greenhouse Challenge membership and reporting
progress on abatement program
(pp. 96-101)
-
Funding for greenhouse allies as a program
funded by the Greenhouse Challenge
(pp. 101-103)
-
Update on the status of programs: Household
Greenhouse Action Program, Alternative Fuels Conversion Program, Renewable
Energy Equity Fund (pp. 104-107)
-
Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator and the
role and future of the position, including the monitoring of the use of native
forest waste as a renewable form of energy (pp. 107-110)
-
Transport policy on energy emissions (pp.
113-114)
Environment Australia (EA)
Senator Bolkus indicated at the beginning of questions for
the Department he would place a considerable number of his questions on
notice. These referred to the following
areas:
Senator BOLKUS-I thought that you might appreciate that. It is
on the basis that the minister has promised fulsome replies, which I also
appreciate. For instance, in approvals in the legislation division there are
questions on the Honeymoon uranium mine, EPBC implementation, bats in botanic
gardens, ecological communities listings, brigalow communities, species, land
clearing, long-line fishing, threat abatement plan, other threatening processes
and seismic testing. There are some questions with respect to the budget in
this area. The questions for the environment quality division include its
dioxin program-that is, dioxins in furans and food-the national advisory body
on scheduled waste, MTBE and whales. If I can give those to the secretariat on
the basis that we will get fulsome answers.[2]
-
Details were requested on general grants
programs administered by Environment Australia (pp. 114-115)
-
Discussion on the process for the Secretary’s
(Mr Beale) performance pay
(pp. 116-117)
-
Budget figures compared to the previous year (p.
117)
Strategic Development Division
-
Media and communications resources, financial
and personnel (p. 118)
-
The Natural Heritage Trust advertising campaign
(pp. 118-120)
-
Departmental involvement in the Banksia
Environment awards (pp. 120-121)
Marine and Water Division
-
Southern bluefin tuna and Australia’s state of
negotiation with Japan (pp. 121-122)
Australian and World Heritage
Division
-
Allocation of budget funds (p. 122)
-
Indigenous employment opportunities and
subsequent appointments in Kakadu (pp. 123-124)
-
New heritage legislation and criteria
established for the listing of places on the proposed national heritage list
(pp. 125-126)
Natural Heritage Division
-
Budget figures and the amount of carryover of
funds from prior years for the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) programs (pp.
128-133)
-
Decisions on applications for one stop shop
funding (p. 133)
-
Discussion over the Auditor General’s Report, Performance Information for Commonwealth
Financial Assistance under the Natural Heritage Trust, Audit Report No. 43
2000-01 (pp. 134-139)
-
Resources for improved performance indicators
for the NHT (pp. 139-140)
-
Departmental comment on the joint ACF NFF report
on repairing the land
(pp. 140-141)
-
National Reserve System and the Cape York
component of it (pp. 141-142)
-
Update on the national action plan for salinity
and water quality (pp. 142-143)
Parks Australia
-
Cane toads advancing towards Kakadu (p. 124)
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio
Arts
During the examination of the Communications, Information
Technology and the Arts portfolio there were no questions for the Australian
Film, Television and Radio School, National Maritime Museum of Australia,
ScreenSound Australia, the National Archives of Australia, the National Library
of Australia and Questacon. A copy of
the agenda is attached (Appendix 1). A
considerable number of questions on notice were also tabled. Representatives
from the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio were
questioned on the following areas:
National Gallery of Australia (NGA)
-
Consideration of the Director’s future (Dr
Kennedy), status of further contract negotiations (pp. 147-148)[3]
-
Funding for a new entrance and airconditioning
upgrade - $42.9 million additional budget funding for building and
refurbishment, architects consulted over the entrance (pp. 149-151)
-
Attendance figures (pp. 151-152)
-
Accuracy of answers to questions on notice
provided to the committee from previous Estimates hearings, including the
termination of Ms Douglas’s employment, removal of files from staff work areas
(pp. 152-155)
-
Registration office issues, including a stop
work meeting and the advertising of the position of Associate Registrar (p.
155)
-
The status of the airconditioning and the
planned upgrade (pp. 156-157)
-
The status of Mr John McDonald’s terminated
contract as a consultant to the Federation Exhibition (pp. 157- 158)
Australia Council
-
Reprioritisation of expenditure for the
Australia Council over the next three years, regional arts, young and emerging,
contemporary music and major festivals, as four initiatives in the current year
(pp. 159-160)
-
The future of the Regional Arts fund and
contemporary music development, including the plans of Playing Australia (pp.
161-165)
-
Online initiative for contemporary music (pp.
165-166)
Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC) and Australian Film Commission
(AFC)
-
Budget allocation for the AFFC compared to past
four years and the Liability Discharge Limit (LDL) (pp. 167-170)
-
Internal review by the AFC and budget comparison
with previous years (pp. 170-171)
National Museum of Australia
-
The employment of Ms Elaine Heuman-Gurian as a
consultant (p. 172)
Outcome 1 - A rich and stimulating cultural environment
-
Regional Arts Fund and a Press Releases from
Senator Alston, Mr McGauran and Senator Ian McDonald (pp. 173-174, 181-184)
-
The Federation Fund and projects managed within
this fund by DOCITA (pp. 175-179)
-
Comments about the Federation Fund in The Boy from Boree Creek, biography of
Mr Tim Fischer (pp. 179-181)
Output 1.2 National Council for the
Centenary of Federation
-
Assessment of the centenary events held so far
(p. 184)
-
Centenary medallions minted for primary school
children, cost, allocation and distribution processes (pp. 184-202)
Information Technology
Outcome 2 - Competitive and effective communications and information
technology industries and services
-
Building Information Technology Strengths (BITS)
incubators and pre-seed fund initiative (pp. 204-205)
-
BITS regional incubators (pp. 205-208)
-
Advanced Networks funding, part of the BITS
program (pp. 208-212)
-
Industry development aspects of IT outsourcing
(pp. 212-214)
-
Networking the Nation - Farmwide budget aspect
(p. 215)
-
The Rural Access Internet Fund and response to
the Besley - telecommunications service inquiry (pp. 215-219, 223-224)
-
Reallocation of surplus departmental budget
funds (pp. 219-220)
-
Funding for the development of the software
development program (pp. 220-223)
Outcome 5 - Sustainable and effective e-commerce and online activity, and
an internationally competitive information economy
National Office for the Information
Economy (NOIE)
-
Echelon eavesdropping on privacy and extracting
information from emails, NOIE’s participation in the Electronic Security
Coordination Group and response to the views from the European Commission (pp.
225-231)
-
Speech by NOIE CEO, Mr John Rimmer, at the
National Press Club April 2001, relating to the direction NOIE is taking (pp.
231-232)
-
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
development and the growth that has occurred in this sector (pp. 232-238)
-
Establishment of the ICT Centre of Excellence,
funding location and recruitment
(pp. 238-244)
-
Backing Australia’s Ability and R&D support
within the ICT sector (p. 244)
-
The Innovation Access Program and ITOL program
(pp. 245-246)
-
Assessment of the ITOL projects (pp. 245-250)
Government online
-
NOIE’s assessment of government agencies’
attempts to meet online goals
(pp. 250-252)
Corporate Services
-
Group 5 IT Outsourcing and the implications for
the market testing and contracting out of services within the department (pp.
252-258)
Communications
Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
-
Funding for additional programming (pp. 260-261)
-
Anti-hoarding and Channel 7’s offer of the Ashes
Test series rights for the first session (pp. 262-266)
Australia Post
-
Special dividend payment to the Government (pp.
267-272)
-
Superannuation arrangements of Australia Post
employees (pp. 272-274)
-
Impact of the GST (pp. 274-275)
-
Postal Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2000
(pp. 275-277)
-
Postal outlets in regional Australia (pp.
277-278)
Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA)
-
Commercial radio inquiry (pp. 278-281)
Australian Communications Authority (ACA)
-
Proposed auction of two space licences (pp.
281-282)
-
Mobile phone spectrum licence fees (pp. 282-284)
-
Apparatus licences (pp. 284-285)
-
Universal service obligation (USO) (pp. 286-291)
Telstra
-
Billing for the GST (pp. 291-293)
-
Universal service obligation (USO)
contestability (p. 293)
-
Untimed local call tender (pp. 293-296)
-
Telstra sea phone coastal service (p. 296)
-
NDC sale process (p. 296)
-
Next generation cost reduction program (pp.
297-298)
-
Call centres (pp. 298-300)
-
Business line rental increases (pp. 300-301)
-
Special dividends (p. 302)
-
Line break in central and northern New South
Wales (pp. 303-304)
-
Servicing of Commander telephone systems in
remote locations (pp. 304-307)
-
Network design and construction sale (p. 307)
-
Redundancies (pp. 307-308)
-
Commercial-in-confidence issues relating to E71s
advice (p. 308)
-
Competitive arrangements in the
telecommunications industry (pp. 309-310)
-
Sale of Telstra assets (pp. 310-312)
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
-
The Managing Director, Mr Shier, was invited to
comment on allegations in the press from Mr Stephen Claypole (pp. 312-313)
-
Mr Shier’s interview process and the headhunters
that were consulted to recommend appointments for senior management were
revisited (pp. 313-315)
-
Appointments to audience research positions (pp.
315-316)
-
The Australian Federal Police investigation to
the leaked document, discussed at the Additional Estimates 00-01 hearing was
revisited (pp. 315-319)
-
Mr Shier’s performance pay and his self
assessment of his first year’s performance
(pp. 319-321)
-
ABC’s purchase of Channel 9 advertising time
(pp. 321-323)
-
Leaked defence document to Four Corners (pp. 323-325)
-
Announcement of new programs planned by the ABC,
including an arts program on Sunday mornings, a Sunday morning current affairs
show (working title Agenda) and a
weekly program that will travel
Australia with a panel and a chair that traverse a range of issues (working
title Australia Talks), possibility
of a Right of Reply program
(pp. 327-333, 334-339, 352-358)
-
ABC’s involvement in attempts to purchase rights
to The Weakest Link (pp. 340-341)
-
ABC’s television ratings (pp. 341-345, 358-360,
373)
-
The status of the five trainees selected under a
multiskilling traineeship (pp. 345-249)
-
Breakdown of areas to receive funding for
training (p. 349)
-
The definition and amount spent on ‘Corporate
Wide Priorities’, including the Launceston conference and Polaris consultant
engaged to speak there (pp. 350-352)
-
Executive salaries and the current production
state of commissioned programs, such as Kath
and Kim and Changi as well as the
future of Littlemore or Mediawatch
(pp. 360-365)
-
The Development division and the process for
commissioning television programs
(pp. 365-372)
-
Cricket rights offered to the ABC for the first
session of the Ashes test series, from Channel 7, under the anti-hoarding
provisions (pp. 375-380)
-
Archive and library services (pp. 380-381)
-
Regional radio programming and the capacity to
extend NewsRadio into regional Australia and Tasmania (pp. 381-388, 391)
Outcome 2 - Competitive and effective communications and information
technology industries and services
-
Telecommunications Service Inquiry response -
Improving Community Awareness (pp. 392-393)
-
Networking the Nation programs (pp. 393-398)
Acknowledgments
The Committee thanks the Minister for the Environment and
Heritage, Senator the Hon Robert Hill and the Minister for Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Richard Alston, along with
officers from both portfolio departments and agencies for their assistance
during this Estimates process.
Senator Alan Eggleston
Chair
Appendix 1 - Public hearing
agendas
Environment,
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee
Budget
Estimates 2001-2002
Monday, 4 June
& Tuesday, 5 June 2001
Commencing
9:00am
Committee Room
2S1
(Waiting Room
Committee Room 2S2)
To be broadcast on
Channel 8
http://webcast.aph.gov.au
Lunch will be from
1:00pm to 2:00pm on both days
Environment
and Heritage Portfolio
Supervising Scientist Division (Interstate)
The National Oceans Office (Interstate)
Bureau of Meteorology (Interstate)
Australian Antarctic Division (Interstate)
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Interstate)
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust (Interstate)
Australian Greenhouse Office
Department of the
Environment and Heritage
Policy Coordination
Division
Strategic Development
Division
Approvals and
Legislation Division
Environment Quality
Division
Marine and Water
Division
Australia and World
Heritage Division (including Australian Heritage Commission)
Natural Heritage
Division
Parks Australia
(Unfinished
divisions/agencies to be continued 5 June 2001)
Environment,
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee
Budget
Estimates 2001-2002
Wednesday, 6
June 2001
Commencing 9:00am
Committee Room
2S1
(Waiting Room
Committee Room 2S2)
To be broadcast on
Channel 8
http://webcast.aph.gov.au
Lunch will be from
1:00pm to 2:00pm on both days
Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
Arts
National Gallery of
Australia
Australia Council (Interstate)
Australian Film
Commission (Interstate)
Australian Film
Finance Corporation (Interstate)
Australian Film,
Television and Radio School (Interstate)
National Maritime
Museum of Australia (Interstate)
Department -
Outcome 1
- A rich and stimulating cultural environment
Output 1.1 Cultural support and awareness
Output 1.2 National Council for the
Centenary of Federation
Output 1.3 National Portrait Gallery and
Old Parliament House
Outcome 4
- Increased use, enjoyment
and safety of Australia’s audiovisual heritage
Output 4.1 -
4.2 ScreenSound Australia
National Archives of
Australia
National Library of
Australia
National Museum of
Australia and Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies
(Information
Technology - approx 2pm)
Information
Technology
Department
Outcome 2 - Competitive
and effective communications and information technology industries and services
Output 2.1 ID, BITS
Outcome 3
- Australians value science and technology’s contribution to our culture
and economic prosperity
Output 3.1 Questacon - The National
Science and Technology Centre
Outcome 5
- Sustainable and effective e-commerce and online activity, and an
internationally competitive information economy
Output
5.1-5.2 National Office for the
Information Economy
Output 5.3 Government online
Corporate Services
Close 11pmEnvironment, Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee
Budget
Estimates 2001-2002
Thursday, 7
June 2001
Commencing 9:00am
Committee Room
2S1
(Waiting Room
Committee Room 2S2)
To be broadcast on
Channel 8
http://webcast.aph.gov.au
Lunch will be from
1:00pm to 2:00pm on both days
Communications,
Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
Communications
Special Broadcasting
Service (Interstate)
Australia Post (Interstate)
Australian
Broadcasting Authority (Interstate)
Australian
Communications Authority (Interstate)
Telstra (Interstate)
Australian
Broadcasting Corporation (Interstate)
Department
Outcome 2 - Competitive
and effective communications and information technology industries and services
Outcome 2.1 (Telecommunications, Broadcasting
and Intellectual Property)
Close - 11pm
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