Senator Faulkner asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 21 September 1999:

(1) What are the: (a) formal qualifications; (b) relevant experience, and (c) employment classification/grade, of each departmental officer who has made initial stage decisions regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act since 3 March 1996.

(2) What are the: (a) formal qualifications; (b) relevant experience; and (c) employment classification/grade, of each departmental officer who has made internal review decisions regarding requests under the Freedom of Information Act since 3 March 1996.

Senator Hill (Environment and Heritage) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) (a) All decision-makers on release of documents are at senior management level and have the qualifications and experience of a level appropriate to the decision.

(b) Refer to answer at 1(a)

(c) Decision makers are Senior Executive Service officers

(2) (a) Refer to answer at 1(a)

(b) Refer to answer at 1(a)

(c) Senior Executive Service Band 3