(1) Does the Minister support the closure of the CSIRO research facility at Prospect.

(2) When did the Minister first become aware of a report into the CSIRO's Livestock Research Infrastructure.

(3) When did the Minister first become aware of proposals to close the CSIRO research facility at Prospect.

(4) Have there been discussions between the Minister's Department and Boral Quarries at Prospect; if so, what was the (a) date and (h) nature of the discussions.

(5) Have arrangements been made in regard to the future use of the site by Boral Quarries or any other company.

(6) What plans have been made for the future usage of the site.

(7) Was there a $12 million upgrade of the CSIRO Prospect facility in 1995; if so, what specific areas of the site were upgraded and what was the individual cost of each area upgraded.

(8) What sum of Commonwealth funding was allocated to the CSIRO research facility at Prospect in (a) 1990-91, (b) 1991-92, (c) 1992-93, (d) 1993-94, (e) 1994-95, (f) 1995-96, (g) 1996-97, (h) 1997-98, (i) 1998-99 and (j) 1999-2000.

(9) Did the Minister receive advice detailing the closure of the CSIRO's research facility at Prospect; if so, (a) on what date was the advice received and (b) did the advice state that the closure of the facility would (i) involve the loss of highly skilled research staff currently stationed at Prospect and result in the closure of the several research programs owing to the loss of key scientific expertise, (ii) at the least, incur months of disruption to research programs of national importance to the $7 billion Livestock Industry that would affect producers across Australia and (iii) cut established links between the CSIRO's Prospect facility and the animal nutrition, pig and dairy industries in the Greater Sydney region.

(10) What sum of Commonwealth money has been appropriated to allow for relocation for staff and equipment, recruitment of new staff and redundancy packages for staff from the Prospect site.

(1) CSIRO's decision to close the Prospect facility flows from recommendations by a committee of senior industry representatives in a Review of Livestock Research Infrastructure commissioned in December 1999 by the Organisation's Chief Executive. CSIRO's response to this report is a matter for CSIRO.

(2) CSIRO advised the Minister about the deliberations of the Review of Livestock Research Infrastructure on 14 April 2000.

(3) On 14 April 2000, CSIRO advised the Minister that the Review Team was considering recommending that CSIRO's research facility at Prospect be closed. CSIRO's decision to accept the Review recommendation that the Prospect research facility be closed was communicated to the Minister on 15 May 2000.

(4)(a)(b) In 1998/99 Boral initiated a State Environment Planning Policy 59 proposal for redevelopment of its site for employment and residential uses.

In 1998 CSIRO lodged a proposal with Holroyd Council for the rezoning of 18 hectares of the Prospect site which was surplus to requirements. This area, about one third of the total site area, has been designated for disposal once rezoning is approved.

The Boral site is adjacent to CSIRO's Prospect site and, as two adjoining owners with concurrent planning proposals, CSIRO and Boral were required to reach agreement on joint access and services to the development areas.

CSIRO had a number of discussions with Boral in late 1999 and early 2000 on a possible Boral lease of a building in CSIRO's Prospect site (Building 35). This lease did not proceed.

(5) No. CSIRO does not have any arrangements or agreements with Boral or any other company about the future use of CSIRO's Prospect site.

(6) Other than the disposal of the 18 hectares of land surplus to requirements (see response to Q 4) CSIRO has not made any plans for the future use of the balance of the Prospect site. A property strategy is being developed by CSIRO and its equity partner, the Woolmark Company, on the future use of the balance of the site.

(7) A total of $9.2 million was expended in 1994/95 on facilities at Prospect comprising:

- a new facility for the McMaster Laboratory at a cost of $4.5 million

- refurbishment of certain existing facilities including the library, theatrette, climate control building, post mortem facility and animal house at a total cost of $4.7 million.

(8) Funding has not been specifically allocated to the Prospect site. In CSIRO funds are allocated to programs and not sites. CSIRO Animal Production has had staff located at up to nine different sites over the last decade and some programs are carried out on several of these sites.

Commonwealth funding allocated to CSIRO's Division of Animal Production as a whole, is:

(a) 1990-91$11.5 million

(b) 1991-92$12.6 million

(c) 1992-93$15.8 million

(d) 1993-94$14.2 million

(e) 1994-95$13.8 million

(f) 1995-96$17.8 million

(g) 1996-97$16.6 million

(h) 1997-98$15.6 million

(i) 1998-99$14.8 million

(j) 1999-2000$15.5 million

(9) (a) CSIRO advised the Minister in writing on 15 May 2000 of its decision to accept the Review Committee's recommendation that the Prospect site be closed.

(b) (i) CSIRO advised the Minister that all staff at Prospect would be offered relocation with their jobs to other CSIRO sites and that it aims to maximise the number of staff that transfer to other locations by taking all practical measures to provide attractive relocation packages and minimise the stress of relocation. CSIRO also advised that, despite this, some staff might be unable to relocate and will instead opt for redundancy.

(ii) Advice from CSIRO noted the possibility of short to medium term disruption to some research groups, possibly including the loss of work areas to CSIRO.

(iii) An Implementation Team has been commissioned by CSIRO to ensure the orderly withdrawal from the Prospect site and to ensure the most appropriate relocation destinations for research groups into order to maintain and extend their industry links.

(10) No additional Commonwealth money has been appropriated for this purpose.