(1)   Do any agencies in the Minister’s portfolio offer childcare to employees; if so, which agencies.

(2)   In respect of agencies that offer childcare, (a) is the childcare (i) long day care, (ii) outside school hours care, or (iii) another type of care, (b) is the childcare facility located at the agency’s premises; if so, (i) what is the maximum capacity of the childcare facility, (ii) is enrolment at the facility available to children whose parents are not employees of the agency, and (iii) do the children of agency employees receive preferential enrolment over the children of non-employees; if so, what are the provisions of the preference rule; and (c) will the Minister provide a copy of the information sheet given to employees seeking employer assistance with childcare.

(3)   Are employees given the option of salary-sacrificing childcare offered by the agency.

(4)   How many employees within each of the Minister’s portfolio agencies have made salary-sacrifice arrangements with the employing agency for childcare expenses.

(5)   In respect of the employees identified in the response to part (5), how many use on site-childcare.

(6)   Do any of the Minister’s portfolio agencies have salary-sacrifice agreements relating to childcare with employees who do not use the on-site childcare centre; if so, how many agreements of this type are there.

(7)   Will the Minister provide a copy of the childcare benefits provisions from the Certified Agreements of each of the Minister’s portfolio agencies.

(8)   What financial assistance for childcare, other than salary-sacrificed fees, is available to employees (including those on AWAs) of each of the Minister’s portfolio agencies.

(9)   Have any agencies in the Minister’s portfolio sought private or public rulings from the Australian Taxation Office relating to childcare and fringe benefits tax; if so, when.

(10)   Do any of the Minister’s portfolio agencies have arrangements with other Government agencies to provide childcare to employees, such as sharing childcare facility costs at a site within, or external to, one of the agencies.

(1)   The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) owns three child care centres and is a partner in a fourth.

(2)  

(a)   Both long day care and sessional care.

(b)   Yes or adjacent to CSIRO premises.

(i)   Black Mountain: 44 Clayton: 50 North Ryde: 40 Waite (University of Adelaide): 62

(ii)   Yes.

(iii)   Yes. Priority order for CSIROCARE Black Mountain, Clayton and North Ryde is:

(1)   children of staff;

(2)   children of associate workers;

(3)   children of other parents. A waiting list operates within groups.

(c)   New employees are advised of the availability of these facilities as part of the CSIRO induction procedures.

(3)   Yes.

(4)   109 employees currently utilise salary-sacrifice arrangements in relation to the three CSIRO operated childcare facilities.

(5)   All.

(6)   No.

(7)   Clause 70, CSIRO Enterprise Agreement 2005-2008 states: 70. CHILDCARE CSIRO recognises that many staff have family responsibilities which impinge on their capacity to participate effectively in the work force. CSIRO has facilitated the provision of on-site child care facilities, at several major sites, as a key strategy to attract and retain staff. CSIRO will assess the demand for additional child care facilities by undertaking the following:

(a)   All new CSIRO building projects or significant additions to current facilities will include an assessment of demand for and feasibility of providing childcare for staff with young children.

(b)   CSIRO Corporate will assess the staff demand for childcare and raise awareness of policies and procedures for establishing on-site childcare facilities, during the life of this Agreement.

(8)   No other specific assistance.

(9)   No.

(10)   Yes.