(1)   Did the department or any agency in the Minister’s portfolio pay for massages for its staff in 2005; if so, what sum was spent on this purpose.

(2)   What was the cost per massage.

(3)   How many staff made use of the service.

(1)   Yes.

(2)   and (3)—

(a)   Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) utilised a massage service.

(i)   Total 2005 cost was $1,673.00 (inc GST).

(ii)   The costs of the massages ranged from $3.50 - $17.50 with the average cost being $9.50 (inc GST).

(iii)   176 DSTO staff utilised this service.

(b)   The Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group hosted a Health and Wellbeing Fair during November 2005 for its staff located in Western Australia. The fair comprised 11 stands highlighting services provided by Defence and Health Services Australia (HSA). One of the HSA stands offered an introductory five-minute massage.

(i)   The cost of this service was included in the overall package by HSA. Neither the massage stand, nor any individual massages were separately costed.

(ii)   No record is available of the number of massages conducted.

(c)   Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) utilised a massage service under a wellbeing program to reduce stress and tension.

(i)   Total cost was $6,603.00 (inc GST).

(ii)   Costs of massages varied, with the average cost being $51.50 (inc GST).

(iii)   128 DMO staff utilised this service.