Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 8 October 1996:

(1) What staff, other than staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984, were employed in or attached to the office(s) of the Minister and each of his or her Parliamentary Secretaries as at Tuesday, 8th October 1996.

(2) What were the total salary costs of such staff.

(3) What was the financial cost to the Commonwealth of the employment of such staff.

(4) What were the titles, roles and duties of such staff and what public service (or equivalent) classifications did they carry.

(5) Under what programs were they employed.

Senator Newman —The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Two Australian Public Service officers and one Australian Defence Force officer.

(2) $196,261 per annum.

(3) $356,557 per annum. The total financial cost reflects both variable and fixed full on-costs and overheads and is calculated from the Ready Reckoner of Personnel Costs and Related Overheads, Edition 4, July 1996 (Department of Defence).

(4) Two Departmental Liaison Officers (DLOs), one Senior Officer Grade B and one Senior Officer Grade C, act as contact points for liaison between the Minister's Office and the Department; manage correspondence relevant to the Defence portfolio; and coordinate, and where necessary assist with, the development of briefs required by the Minister. One Escort Officer, an Army Captain, escorts the Minister on visits to Defence establishments and carries out liaison and administrative duties associated with such visits.

(5) The two DLOs are from Budget and Management Program of the Department of Defence, and the Escort Officer is from the Forces Executive Program of the Department.