Mr McMullan asked the Minister for Trade and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 11 March 1998:

(1) How many persons have worked in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility under a contract for services entered into with a firm whose sole or predominant business is the hiring of labour to clients (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(2) In what sections of the department, agency, authority or company were the persons referred to in part (1) employed.

(3) What are the names of the labour-hire firms referred to in part (1) which provided services (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(4) How were the labour-hire firms selected.

(5) Will the Minister provide a copy of the tender documents in each case where a labour-hire firm was selected by public tender.

(6) Will the Minister provide a copy of the terms of reference for the selection of labour-hire firms.

(7) Who comprised the selection panel for successful tenders.

(8) What commission was payable by each department, agency, authority or company to each labour-hire firm for each person contracted for labour.

(9) What total sum (a) is owed and (b) was paid to each labour-hire firm.

(10) What total sum was paid to labour-hire firms in total (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(11) What projected labour requirement will be met by labour-hire firms in the departments, agencies, Commonwealth authorities or companies, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility from (a) February to June 1998 and (b) July 1998 to June 1999.

(12) How many government employees have been replaced through labour provided by labour-hire firms in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility.

Mr Downer (Foreign Affairs) —As indicated above the honourable member has asked identical questions of both ministers. The following answer is provided on behalf of both ministers:

DFAT

(1) The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade hired (a) 49 persons during the period 1996-97 and (b) 61 persons during the period between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998 under a contract for services. These figures include contracts of varying length and give a slightly inflated impression due to the inclusion of people regardless of the length of their contract.

(2) During the periods specified the sections of the department which availed themselves of contracted services were: Executive Branch, Agriculture Branch (TND), Services and Property Branch (PSD) and Information Management Branch (PSD).

(3) The labour-hire firms utilised by the department were:

(4) The information technology labour-hire firms were selected through Common Use Contracts (a group of companies selected by the former Department of Administrative Services and contracted by them to provided services at a Government rate) on the basis of the firm's track record and the suitability of the contractors offered (which depended on the skills and experience required). Where firms approached were not able to offer suitable contractors, the selection was based on knowledge of a particular contractor's skills and experience. Other contractors were selected due to their staff meeting relevant security requirements and holding security clearances for the department, while others were selected through competitive tender.

(5) Yes

(6) Yes

(7) The selection panel for successful tenders was comprised of departmental officers with relevant background and/or knowledge.

(8) Total commission paid by the department is $500 which was paid to Templine.

(9) Total sum (a) owed and (b) paid to each labour-hire firm is as follows:

(10) The total sums paid to labour-hire firms by the department are: (a) for the period 1996-97: $ 3,207,357; (b) 1 July to 28 February 1998: $ 2,764,436.

(11) The department's projected labour-hire requirements (not including contingencies) are: (a) for the period February 98 to June 98: 13; (b) July 1998 to June 1999: 56.

(12) One APS officer has been replaced by a contractor employed through a labour hire firm and is located in the loading dock. In the case of all other contractors, hired labour has been sought in order to staff new or expanded project requirements when a suitable APS officer has not been available. In these instances, no government employees have been replaced or displaced by contractors.

AusAID

(1) How many persons have worked in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility under a contract for services entered into with a firm whose sole or predominant business is the hiring of labour to clients (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(a) In 1996-97 AusAID employed 43 people in this category.

(b) Between 1 July 1997 and 28 February AusAID employed 36 employees in this category.

(2) In what sections of the department, agency, authority or company were the persons referred to in part (1) employed.

AusAID's Queensland, New South Wales, Victorian, South Australian and West Australian State Offices.

AusAID Centre for Pacific Development and Training; Financial and Resource Management Branch, CDS Division; Development Issues and Corporate Policy Branch, CDS Division; Sectoral Policy and Review Branch, CDS Division; Indonesia, China and Business Branch, AAC Division; East Asia Branch, AAC Division; South Asia, Africa and Humanitarian Relief Branch, AAC Division; Papua New Guinea Branch, PIP Division

International Organisations and Public Affairs Branch, PIP Division; South Pacific and Training Branch, PIP Division; Program Support Services 1 Section; Program Support Services 2 Section.

(3) What are the names of the labour-hire firms referred to in part (1) which provided services (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(a) 1996-97: Recruitment Services Australia; Templine; Green and Green Consulting; Hays Personnel Services (Australia) Pty Ltd; Career People; Library Locums Pty Ltd; People Edge; Drake Personnel Ltd; Alectus Personnel Pty Ltd.

(b) 1 July 1997 to 28 February 1998: Recruitment Services Australia; Templine; Library Locums Pty Ltd; Dunhill Personnel; CP Resourcing Pty Ltd; Drake Personnel Ltd; Green and Green Consulting; Careers Unlimited; Effective People Pty Ltd; Career People; Quasar Professionals.

. How were the labour-hire firms selected.

The agencies approached to supply potential staff were selected on the basis of the location of the vacancy and the different skills, qualifications and requirements of the position, such as the need for security cleared staff.

(5) Will the Minister provide a copy of the tender documents in each case where a labour-hire firm was selected by public tender.

No labour-hire firm was selected by public tender

(6) Will the Minister provide a copy of the terms of reference for the selection of labour-hire firms.

Not applicable.

(7) Who comprised the selection panel for successful tenders.

Not applicable.

(8) What commission was payable by each department, agency, authority or company to each labour-hire firm for each person contracted for labour.

During the period 1 July 1996 to 28 February 1998, AusAID paid a commission to the labour-hire firms as listed in the table below.

(9) What total sum (a) is owed and (b) was paid to each labour-hire firm.

During the period 1 July 1996 to 28 February 1998, AusAID paid the labour-hire firms listed below the following amount in COLUMN B. The amounts listed in COLUMN A are for services during the period 1 July 1996 to 28 February 1998 that are outstanding as of 1 March 1998.

(10) What total sum was paid to labour-hire firms in total (a) in 1996-97 and (b) between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998.

(a) The total sum paid to labour-hire firms in 1996-97 was $100,071.48.

(b) The total sum paid to labour-hire firms between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998 was $58,400.25.

(11) What projected labour requirement will be met by labour-hire firms in the departments, agencies, Commonwealth authorities or companies, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility from (a) February to June 1998 and (b) July 1998 to June 1999.

At this stage AusAID would expect there to be a similar trend for (a) February to June 1998 and (b) July 1998 to June 1999 as occurred in the above figures from 1 July 1996 to February 1998.

(12) How many government employees have been replaced through labour provided by labour-hire firms in each department, agency, Commonwealth authority and company, including government business enterprises, for which the Minister has portfolio responsibility.

No government employees have been replaced in AusAID through labour supplied by labour-hire firms.

AUSTRADE

(1) (a) Austrade employed a total of twenty nine persons through labour hire firms in 1996/97. This figure does not include the hiring of persons for short term periods of up to two weeks.

(1) (b) Between 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998 some twenty individuals have been employed through labour hire firms.

(2) The persons referred to in 1 (a) and (b) have been utilised in various parts of the organisation in roles such as personal assistants, data entry operators or special projects support.

(3) Labour hire firms used by Austrade as per 1 (a) and (b) above have included: Wizard Personnel, Strictly Personnel, Quay Appointments, The Employment Agency, Accountancy Placements, Phoenix Contracting, Jackman Consulting Group, Alectus Personnel, Drake Overload, Forbes Consulting, Executive Leasing Australia, Teamwork Human Resources, Direct Appointments, Omega Personnel, Career People, Green and Green, Metier Personnel.

(4) Labour hire firms which comply with the quality accreditation standard ISO 9002 and with a reputation for high quality and reliable personnel are used.

(5) A tender process is not used when seeking to fill short-term/temporary labour-hire firm employment contract arrangements.

(6) Not applicable.

(7) Not applicable.

(8) A commission is not payable for a temporary short-term contract. Austrade pays a fixed hourly rate to individual firms based on the complexity of the work to be performed and according to the level of the job to be undertaken.

(9) Austrade meets its obligations in accordance with labour-hire firms invoice payment requirements. All accounts are paid within one month of assignments being undertaken and in many cases within 7 days. Without substantial resource commitment it is not possible to provide a breakdown of amounts paid to each labour hire firm.

(10) The total amount paid to labour hire firms in 1996-97 was approximately $400,000. For the period 1 July 1997 and 28 February 1998, the total amount paid to labour hire firms was approximately $450,000.

(11) (a) The projected Austrade labour hire requirement for the period February to June 1998 is ten (10) persons.

(11) (b) The projected Austrade labour hire requirement for the period July 1998 to June 1999 is approximately thirty (30) persons.

(12) Nil.