CHAIRMAN --Are there any questions on program 4?

Senator ROBERT RAY --At 4.1.2 on page 11 it shows under `Household and property' a rise of 50 per cent on estimated actual to actual budget. Why is that?

Mr Sturkey --The reason for the substantial increase in household and property is twofold. First of all there has been a very large transfer of personnel from one program to another as part of a domestic restructuring that we have undertaken. That transfer involved about 20 persons and the salaries component that goes with that which is about $814,000. The second element is that moneys are carried forward from this financial year to next financial year for capital works and services under that program.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Where did the people transfer from,--what section?

Mr Sturkey --They were transferred from component 4.1.1, which is now executive support and was previously management executive. The former program looked after the Governor-General's program as well as the hospitality which he extended. We have now moved that hospitality component and property maintenance component into one group.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Why have you done that?

Mr Sturkey --We had a consultancy undertaken in 1996 to look at the running of the establishment--how it might be done in a more cost-effective way. One of the recommendations of that was that we bring the household and property program together.

Senator ROBERT RAY --How much did that consultancy cost?

Mr Sturkey --Could I take that on notice?

Senator ROBERT RAY --Sure. This transfer has resulted in what level of savings?

Mr Sturkey --Overall in the last 18 months we have reduced our staffing establishment by about six positions.

Senator ROBERT RAY --I was asking specifically in terms of moving component 4.1.1 to component 4.1.2. What are the estimated savings in that?

Mr Sturkey --There were no savings directly as a result of moving the program from its location under one program to another.

Senator ROBERT RAY --I thought earlier you mentioned savings.

Mr Sturkey --There were savings as a result of staff reductions in one of the programs.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Did the consultancy actually recommend anything that brought about savings?

Mr Sturkey --Yes, in staff reductions.

Senator ROBERT RAY --In what area?

Mr Sturkey --There were three positions which were reduced in the household. There were two other positions which were vacant which were not filled. As a result of bringing together some other senior positions at SOGC level we were able to reduce that by one.

Senator ROBERT RAY --The actual transfer from 4.1.1 to 4.1.2 has saved you 0.7, according to these figures. Is that right?

Mr Sturkey --Yes, in one financial year.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Have any redundancy payments been involved in the reduction of staffing?

Mr Sturkey --There were four redundancy payments.

Senator ROBERT RAY --I will move to page 19, `other services, Australian honours and insignia'. Can you tell me why the `estimated actual' this financial year involves an underspend of about $700,000?

Mr Sturkey --Yes, it is mainly due to the fact that the estimates of the persons who would be eligible to take up awards and who would apply for awards has not been met. The estimate was prepared by the Department of Defence. Possibly because this is the first year for some of these awards, the number of applications has been lower than anticipated. But the advice we have had from the Department of Defence is that their total estimated number is likely to remain the same.

Senator FAULKNER --Does that then relate only to Defence or--

Mr Sturkey --Yes, these are basically for the Australian service medal.

Senator ROBERT RAY --You estimate that Mr Tuckey's promise of an extra 30,000 has now been cancelled?

Mr Sturkey --I am sorry. I did not hear the question.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Mr Tuckey promised an extra 3,000 service medals. That is not computed in here because it has been cancelled. Is that right?

Mr Sturkey --I am sorry. I am not quite sure I actually heard the question.

Senator ROBERT RAY --There was a promise for an extra 3,000 service medals and I wondered if that appeared anywhere here. But I notice it has been rejected, in any event. That is not reflected in any of these figures?

Mr Sturkey --No, it is not.

Senator ROBERT RAY --I know this is probably more relevant to the next part of the department we are looking at, but what has happened to the review of Australian honours and awards in terms of final determination? I think two years ago we got a report.

Mr Sturkey --I believe that matter is with ministers, actually.

Senator ROBERT RAY --With ministers?

Mr Sturkey --Yes.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Has the Governor-General's office been asked to comment on it?

Mr Sturkey --Yes, we have, and we have submitted our comments.

Senator ROBERT RAY --So you are just awaiting a decision?

Mr Sturkey --That is right.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Will you be consulted before the final decision is made or is it strictly a government matter to determine?

Mr Sturkey --We were asked for our comments at various stages, but our most recent comments went in last week.

Senator FAULKNER --Mr Sturkey, could you explain why there was an overestimation from Defence in relation to the ASM?

Mr Sturkey --I cannot really answer that, I am afraid, because we were going on the Department of Defence's figures. Senator FAULKNER --Do you know what that would mean in terms of numbers of Australian service medals?

Mr Sturkey --I am advised 50,000 to 70,000.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Getting back to the staffing budget, does the Governor-General have a speech writer?

Mr Sturkey --He has a part-time research assistant who helps him with the writing of his speeches, but he does a great deal of the writing himself.

Senator ROBERT RAY --If he is to give a speech anywhere, he does not have to submit it to the government for approval, does he?

Mr Sturkey --It is entirely up to him as to whether he--

Senator ROBERT RAY --What is the common practice?

Mr Sturkey --The common practice is that he does not show it to anybody before he delivers it.

Senator ROBERT RAY --Do you get any remits from government on the nature of the speech or the content of the speech?

Mr Sturkey --No, not that I am aware of.

CHAIRMAN --The minister has arrived. Minister, with your approval we will move to program 1. For the Hansard record, Senator Harradine has put a number of questions on notice.

[2.28 p.m.]