Senator O'Brien asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 1 September 1997:

What programs and/or grants administered by the portfolio provide assistance to people living in the following federal electorates: Bass, Denison, Franklin, Lyons and Braddon; and (b) what was the level of funding provided through the programs or grants to each electorate for each of the 1994-95, 1995-96, 1996-97 financial years; and (c) what level of funding was budgeted for in each program or grant to each electorate for the 1997-98 financial year.

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

(a) (b) and (c) Defence expenditure is directed to a number of facilities and establishments within the electorates referred to. The funding allocated to these electorates incorporates expenditure on base operating costs and the salaries paid to individuals, both military and civilian.

The table below provides a summary of expenditure paid to recipients within the electorates. It excludes expenditure generated at Defence units within the electorates which is paid to contractors located outside the electorates. With regard to estimates for expenditure in 1997-98, Defence does not budget by electorate and cannot therefore provide comparable expenditure data for 1997-98. Based on the data provided, however, similar trends for 1997-98 are expected. It is not possible to attribute salary expenditure accurately to each electorate but, given the location of Defence Establishments in Tasmania, most of the salary expenditure would be attributable to the Electorates of Denison and Franklin.

With regard to grants, Defence information systems do not generally capture the expenditure on Commonwealth Grants by electorate. The aggregate of these grants across all electorates in Australia is, however, quite small, totalling $0.460m in 1994-95, $0.556 in 1995-96, $0.415m in 1996-97 and $1.035 (estimate only) in 1997-98. The estimate for 1997-98 includes, for the first time, payments to the Defence Force Family Support Funding Program which, because of its specific nature, can be provided by electorate. Prior to 1997-98, this grant was included in normal Defence administration expenditure.

Payments to the Defence Force Family Support Funding Program in 1997-98 are: