Senator Faulkner asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, upon notice, on 2 November 1999:

As a dollar amount, and as a percentage of the department's total outlay on salaries, what was the cost in the 1996-97, 1997-98 and 1998-99 financial years of: (a) staff training; (b) consultants; and (c) performance pay.

Senator Newman (Family and Community Services; Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

. Staff training: Department of Social Security 1996-97 $15,594,877 (1.64%); 1997-98 $848,452 (1.78%) and Department of Family and Community Services 1998-99 $7,904,312 (3.65%); Centrelink 1997-98 $3,806,521 (0.35%) and 1998-99 $6,134,156 (0.57%).

. Consultants: Department of Social Security 1996-97 $4,021,174 (0.42%); 1997-98 $5,753,900 (12.04%) and Department of Family and Community Services 1998-99 $10,423,061 (4.82%); Centrelink 1997-98 $9,571,653 (0.87%) and 1998-99 $7,011,157 (0.66%).

. Performance Pay: Department of Social Security 1996-97 $341,543 (0.04%); 1997-98 $374,066 (0.78%) and Department of Family and Community Services 1998-99 $59,824 (0.03%); Centrelink 1997-98 $201,294 (0.02%) and 1998-99 $160,783 (0.02%).

The above figures are in respect of the Department of Social Security for 1996-97 (before the creation of Centrelink), Department of Social Security and Centrelink for 1997-98, and the former Department of Social Security for the full 1998-99 financial year, together with the elements of the Attorney-General's Department, the former Department of Family and Community Services (including CRS Australia) and the Child Support Agency that combined to form the Department of Family and Community Services in October 1998 for the period 21 October 1998 to 30 June 1999, and Centrelink for 1998-99.