CHAIR —I welcome officers of the Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff. Are there any questions?

Senator ROBERT RAY —My question relates to the fact that I think now all senators are being provided with a laptop computer, one of the more interesting uses of which for a senator is overseas - for email, information gathering and so on - where the requirement is that it has to interface with the parliamentary network. That is a long, convoluted introduction, I know. What I am asking is whether PISO could develop a guide for how that connection should be made; that is, in the key areas of the globe - not everywhere - what the relevant phone numbers are, how they would interface with the telecard, et cetera. Just from talking very briefly to some colleagues, initially there have been a lot of bedding down problems, and a lot of effort has to be put in by a senator overseas to actually get all of the numbers in the right sequence, et cetera, and then they change. In fact, when I was recently overseas they changed twice in a week. I am wondering whether PISO could put together some sort of a loose-leaf booklet with the relevant numbers. They certainly did not know the numbers before I - and a lot of other people - left, but experience will get us there. Could they do that?

Mr Templeton —Yes, we are working on that. There are two problems. One is the actual protocols of logging on. We have had a number of comments from senators and members that the security concerns - which obviously are paramount - in terms of people connecting into the parliamentary network from overseas also have the impact that it is a difficult log on procedure. We are working to make that simple and quicker. In terms of the sort of information that senators and members will need when they are overseas, yes, we are working on that. The problem we face is that these things change so quickly. We try, if possible, to get to talk to senators and members before they go and give them as much information as we can. But it is a real problem and, yes, we are working on it.

Senator ROBERT RAY —You would concede that a 35-digit log on number to get on the network is fairly high, especially as the machine cannot take that number of digits.

Mr Templeton —Yes, there have been problems. We are trying to simplify the whole process.

Senator ROBERT RAY —I am not expecting a guide when I am - I do not want to pick out any country and insult it, so I will not - in remote country X; I do not expect to be able to pick up a manual and say, `Here is the sequence,' but I think for Europe and Japan, the United States, Canada and South-East Asia it would be a good idea if we could get that.

Mr Templeton —It is also, of course, complicated by telecommunications facilities in different hotels differing quite markedly.

Senator ROBERT RAY —You will have to have about four different alternatives in the US. Then it is up to the senator or member to know which alternative they have to exercise. But I am glad you are working on it because, as I say, I do not actually blame PISO for the problem but it is one that has to be tackled as quickly as possible.

Mr Templeton —It is also a reason why we are seeking to extend the spread of hours of our Client Services help desk area. We know a lot of people will be overseas and, if we can try to be available for a greater spread of hours when people ring up for help, then we are there to do it.

Senator ROBERT RAY —You have mentioned the log on procedures, which I have found are far more complex for those who understand computers than for those who do not. They are the ones who have the most trouble with it. Those who do monkey see, monkey do - like me - have very little trouble, because they just go through every step as a repetitive exercise. But people who actually understand computers inevitably muck it up, I have found. And it is a complex procedure - the password has to be logged on three times; you have a PIN; you have a challenge number and a response number, all timed - is it not?

Mr Templeton —It is complex. When we started the remote and mobile service it was done originally as a trial. It has expanded from that trial to the full service now, but we are constantly trying to refine the ease with which it can be used, consistent with maintaining the security of our network here. It is a balancing act.

Senator ROBERT RAY —Thank you.

CHAIR —That completes the examination of Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff.

[9.55 a.m.]