Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister for Family and Community Services, representing the Minister for Community Services, upon notice, on 24 August 1999:

(1) How many departmental liaison officers (DLOs) are employed in, or seconded to, the office of the Minister as at 23 August 1999.

(2) (a) What are the names of the DLOs; (b) what are their employment classifications; and (c) what duties are they assigned, that is, to which policy areas or agencies are they allocated responsibility.

(3) What was the total cost to the Department of these officers.

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:

(1) Two.

(2) (a) Sharon Ong and Tom Dzaja; (b) Sharon Ong is a FaCS 2; Tom Dzaja is a Centrelink 4 and (c) Sharon Ong deals with matters relating to policy areas and agencies in the FaCS portfolio with the exception of Centrelink. Tom Dzaja deals with matters relating to Centrelink.

(3) The total cost for DLOs in Mr Anthony's office (and previously in Mr Truss's office ) for the period 21 October 1998 to 23 August 1999 has been $131,053.58 including $66,724.94 paid by Centrelink. In addition, the department provides each of these officers with the use of equipment in the office (eg. personal computer, printer, photocopier and facsimile machine). Sharon Ong has a mobile phone provided by FaCS, Tom Dzaja has a mobile phone provided by Centrelink.