Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, upon notice, on 28 July 1997:

(1) What was the total cost of media monitoring services, including press clippings, electronic media transcripts etcetera, provided to the minister's office in the 1996-97 financial year.

(2) Which agency or agencies provided these services.

(3) What was the total cost of media transcripts etcetera, provided to the department and its agencies in the 1996-97 financial year.

(4) Which agency or agencies provided these services.

Senator Herron —The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission has provided the following information in response to the honourable senator's question:

My office receives a copy of the ATSIC press clippings each week day. However, the cost of these and any media transcripts sought by my office are met by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet which has answered questions (1) and (2) separately.

ATSIC itself generally uses the services of two agencies i.e. Media Monitors and Rehame Australia, through the Commission's Office of Public Affairs (OPA) in Central Office as well as through some of the State Offices i.e. NSW, Victoria, WA and SA. The remaining States QLD, Tas and the NT rely on Central Office press clippings and transcripts.

The total amount spent on the services highlighted in the 1996-97 financial year was $92,026.45, comprising $80,450.45 for services provided by Media Monitors and $11,576 for services provided by Rehame Australia. On balance, Media Monitors provided the bulk of such services to ATSIC including the daily press clippings.

All of the $11,576 paid to Rehame came from Central Office. The $80,45.45 paid to Media Monitors comprised $52, 334.13 from Central Office, $6522.31 from the Victoria State Office, $5924.45 from the WA State Office, $5963 from the SA State Office, and $9706.56 from the NSW State Office. The WA figure also accounts for media monitoring services obtained from a company called News Research which was bought out by Media Monitors in May 1997.