Senator O'Brien asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, upon notice, on 30 August 1999:

(1) When was each Area Consultative Committee (ACC) established as part of the Regional Assistance Program.

(2) (a) What was the location of each ACC; and (b) what federal electorates were incorporated in the area covered by each ACC.

(3) Has the area covered by each ACC varied since its establishment; if so: (a) how has the region varied; (b) what was the basis of each variation; and (c) when were the changed boundaries communicated to the department.

(4) (a) What was the membership of each ACC at the time of its establishment; and (b) what changes to the membership of each ACC has occurred since it was first established.

(5) What process was followed in the selection of people to be appointed to each ACC; in each case; (a) who was consulted as part of that selection process; and (b) who made the final decision on the membership of each ACC.

(6) (a) Who was appointed as the chair of each ACC at the time of its establishment; and (b) what changes to the chair of each ACC have occurred since it was first established.

(7) What process was followed in the selection of people to be appointed to chair each ACC and in each case: (a) who was consulted as part of that selection process; and (b) who made the final decision on the chair of each ACC.

(8) (a) What funding was provided to each ACC in the 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years; and (b) how much of that funding allocation was expended by each ACC in each financial year.

(9) (a) How much of that funding was reallocated between ACCs in each financial year; (b) which ACCs received additional funding; and (c) what was the amount of additional funding received by each ACC as a result of the above re-allocation.

(10) Was funding for any ACC supplemented from consolidated revenue or from another program in either of the above financial years; if so (a) which ACCs received additional funding ; (b) how much additional funding was provided; (c) when was the additional funding sought; (d) when was the request met; and (e) who approved the additional money.

(11) Where additional funding was provided at the request of the ACC: (a) how was the additional funding used; and (b) was all of the additional funding expended.

(12) If additional funding provided to an ACC in the above financial years was not requested by the ACC: (a) who requested the funding; (b) what was the basis for the request; and (c) who approved the request.

Senator Alston (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —The Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) ACCs were not established as a part of the RAP. ACCs were established in 1994. RAP commenced on 1 July 1997. From that date ACCs were given a supporting role in relation to the development and endorsement of proposals for RAP funding.

(2) A copy of the responses to (a) and (b) is being separately supplied to the honourable senator (a copy is also held in the Senate Table Office).

(3) Responses to (a) (b) and (c) are contained in the table provided for (2) above. I am advised by my department that while dates have been provided where possible in relation to changes in ACC areas, such amendments were most often addressed by consultation over a period of time between the relevant ACC(s) and the department.

(4) (a) and (b) I am advised by my department that this information is not readily available. I am also advised that the sum of the resources required to answer this question in its entirety would represent an unwarranted diversion of the resources of the Department and there could be no guarantee that the information finally identified would be comprehensive.

(5) The Secretary of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business has the authority to appoint members of ACCs. However, in practice, Chairs of each ACC select members in accordance with the requirements of their rules of incorporation under State law. (a) This is at the discretion of the Chair of the ACC. However, it is expected that State offices of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business be consulted in this process. To assist in identifying suitable members, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, Minister for Employment Services, wrote to all Government members and to the Hon Martin Ferguson MP as spokesperson for the Federal Opposition, inviting them to forward to the department the names of any potential appointees to ACCs.

(b) The Chair, or the membership, depending on the rules of incorporation for each ACC under State law.

(6) (a) and (b) A table containing the information is being separately supplied to the honourable senator (a copy is also held in the Senate Table Office). I am advised by my department that dates in relation to the terms of each Chair have been provided wherever historical records have permitted.

(7) I am advised by my department that details of the process of the appointment of individual Chairs to each ACC prior to October 1998 are not readily available. I am also advised that the sum of the resources required to answer this question in its entirety would represent an unwarranted diversion of the resources of the Department and there could be no guarantee that the final information obtained would be comprehensive. Since the transfer of responsibility for ACCs to my department in October 1998, the procedure for the appointment of Chairs is for the Secretary of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business to appoint Chairs to ACCs following the provision of nominees from state managers, the outgoing Chair or ACC members.

(a) To identify nominees, the Secretary and State Managers may consult the outgoing Chair, existing members of ACCs, local community leaders, the register maintained by the Office of the Status of Women and other government bodies as considered appropriate or desirable. The Secretary may also consult with Ministers' offices.

(b) The Secretary of the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.

(8) I am advised by my department that the information for the financial year 1997-98 is not readily available. I am also advised that the sum of the resources required to answer this question in its entirety would represent an unwarranted diversion of the resources of the Department. A table containing the information based on State office records for (a) & (b) for 1998-99 is being separately supplied to the honourable senator (a copy is also held in the Senate Table Office).

(9) (a) (b) and (c). I am advised by my department that prior to the transfer of responsibility for ACCs to my department in October 1998, there was no formal process for the re-allocation of funds between ACCs. At the local level some re-allocation may have occurred due to under-expenditure or on a needs basis. However, I am advised that details on any re-allocations that may have taken place are not readily available. The new guidelines issued by my department on 18 July 1999 provide for the department to re-allocate unspent funds at its discretion.

(10) I am advised by my department that no ACC was supplemented from consolidated revenue or another program for either of the financial years.

(11) Not applicable.

(12) Not applicable.