Mrs Crosio asked the Minister for Transport and Regional Development, upon notice, on 6 April 1998:

(1) Did the Government hire Cosway Australia Pty Ltd to produce an advertising campaign related to the proposed airport at Badgerys Creek; if so, (a)what is the contract worth, (b) what forms of media will be used in the campaign, (c) when was the contract signed, (d) why is the campaign necessary, (e) when will the campaign be completed, (f) who are the persons responsible for designing the campaign and (g) who are the directors of Cosway Australia Pty Ltd.

(2) Did he decide to use Cosway for the campaign; if so, why.

(3) Were other agencies considered for the campaign; if not, why not; if so, (a) which agencies were considered and (b) what were their quotes.

(4) Has the Government used Cosway previously; if so, in each case, (a) when, (b) for what project and (c) what sum did the Government pay.

Mr Vaile (Transport and Regional Development) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) The Government has selected Cosway Australia Pty Ltd to develop and implement a public awareness program for the second Sydney airport.

(a) The contract for this consultancy is based upon a contract price of up to $250,000.

(b) The forms of media to be used will be determined according to the circumstances applying to particular issues and judgements about how information on those issues might be communicated most effectively.

(c) The contract between Cosway Australia Pty Ltd and the Department of Transport and Regional Development was signed on 3 June 1998.

(d) The public awareness program is designed to balance the public debate through the provision of factual material and the correction of any inaccuracies in the media.

(e) The contract terminates on 31 December 1998.

(f) The contract requires the consultant to develop a strategy for consideration by the Department of Transport and Regional Development.

(g) The directors of Cosway Australia Pty Ltd are Mr Mark Rudder and Mr John Frey.

(2) and (3) Six consultancy firms were invited to tender for the contract and four of those submitted tenders. Tenderers were invited to submit proposals for a program of activity involving expenditure of around $250,000.

Two tenders were assessed by a selection panel as being superior proposals and were subsequently put forward to the Ministerial Committee on Government Communications (MCGC) for selection of a preferred tenderer.

The MCGC chose Cosway Australia Pty Ltd and a contract was subsequently signed with this firm.

(4) This question should be directed to the Minister for Finance and Administration.