Senator LUNDY —With respect to the discussion paper on performers' intellectual property rights, what is the timetable for introducing performance rights, if that is the way the government decides to proceed?

Dr Stretton —The government has put out a discussion paper, as you said. We are asking for comments on that by 27 March. We would then start consultations with the people who have put in submissions. I cannot give a final timetable for that process at the moment.

Senator LUNDY —So there is a closing date for comments, then a consultation process and, following that consultation process, I guess there will be some—

Dr Stretton —The consultations will be carried out by both this department and the Attorney[hyphen]General's Department, and we would advise our respective ministers on the outcomes of those consultations and seek advice on how the government will want to take it forward.

Senator LUNDY —How long does it usually take for you to pull together that data and provide that advice?

Dr Stretton —It varies a lot depending on the issue, as you can imagine. We currently have a discussion paper out on the implications of the digital environment on intellectual property rights, which you are probably aware of. That went out in July 1997. Consultations are finished and the departments are currently putting together a cabinet submission. In that case it took around six months or so. With other cases, I imagine it can take a lot longer. It depends on the complexity of the issues, the extent to which you get unanimity of opinion among the various players, et cetera. Also, the consultations often lead to problems that neither department had thought of when we put out the discussion paper, which require additional thought.

Senator LUNDY —On that particular issue, are you liaising with any other government department? Particularly on that report—the digital environment one.

Dr Stretton —It is just the two departments, at this stage. Obviously, other departments have been made aware of the fact that this document is available and the government is wanting to move forward on it, but it is mainly between the two departments and the various industry players.

Senator LUNDY —Have any consultants been engaged as part of the process of assessing either of those reports or facilitating—

CHAIR —Senator Schacht, can you two just move over? I think Dr Stretton is having trouble hearing Senator Lundy.

Mr Stretton —No, we have not engaged any consultants.

Senator LUNDY —So you are just going to manage that process within the department.

Dr Stretton —That is correct.

Senator LUNDY —Just going to another issue, the minister announced last year in November that he proposed to pilot the Film Licensed Investment Companies, while retaining the current division 10BA and 10B concessions. What developments have there been to the FLICs program since the announcement?

Dr Stretton —The department has had a number of consultations with industry players, we are currently developing drafting instructions for the appropriate legislation, and we are developing guidelines for the scheme.

Senator LUNDY —So they are not at the stage where they have attracted any funds?

Dr Stretton —No, we have not called for applications yet.

Senator LUNDY —And that will not occur until after the legislation is processed?

Dr Stretton —That would be my expectation, yes.

Senator LUNDY —Okay. And what is the time frame for that process?

Dr Stretton —I think the minister said that we would hoping to get the FLICs up and running by around July 1998, and we are still hoping to meet that deadline. So it will be some time in either the autumn or the winter session.

Senator LUNDY —That is all I have on 2.1, Chair.

[8.53 p.m.]