(1) How many agencies within the Minister's portfolio are administered by a board.

(2) Are all members of the above boards appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Executive Council, if not, who is responsible for making board appointments.

(3) In each case, does the Remuneration Tribunal have a role in setting the of the fees, allowances and other benefits for members of the boards; if not: (a) under which section of the relevant legislation are such fees, allowances and benefits authorised; and (b) how is the value of these fees, allowances and other benefits determined.

(4) In each case, what is the nature and value of fees paid to board members.

(5) What other benefits, such as mobile phones, home computers and home phone/facsimile machines, are provided to board members by virtue of their membership of a government board.

(6) What class of air travel, what standard of accommodation and what car allowances are paid to board members and, in each case, what is the value of these benefits and who determines that value.

(7) Are board members entitled to, or do they receive, any spouse benefits; if so, what is the nature and value of these benefits.

(8) (a) On how many occasions since January 1998 have the above fees, allowances and other benefits been varied, (b) what was the reason for each variation; and (c) what was the quantum of each variation.

(9) If variations to fees, allowances and other payments to board members were not determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, who determined the quantum and timing of each increase.

(10) Do board members qualify for, and are they paid, superannuation benefits; if so, are such payments additional to, and separate from, other allowances they receive.

(11) Do board members receive any additional allowances if they are appointed to board sub-committees; if so, are such additional benefits provided for in relevant legislation.

(1) There is only one agency within the Defence portfolio, this being the Defence Housing Authority (DHA). The DHA is administered by a board.

(2) In accordance with the Defence Housing Authority Act 1987, the Governor-General appoints the:

. Chairperson,

. four board members from the private sector, and

. one spouse of a Defence Force member.

The Defence Housing Authority appoints a full time Managing Director.

In accordance with the Defence Housing Authority Act 1987, the remainder of the board consists of:

. Four members of the Defence Force being the members holding the four appointments in the Defence Force designated by the Governor-General.

. A person engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 being the occupant of such office in the Department of Defence as designated by the Governor-General.

(3) The Remuneration Tribunal sets fees and allowances for the Chairperson, the Managing Director and five other appointed members of the board. The ex-officio members, being members of the Australian Defence Force or the Department of Defence, do not receive sitting fees and any allowance entitlement is in accordance with their normal Defence entitlements.

(4) Sitting Fees and Salaries:

Chairperson $600 per day

Appointed members $550 per day

Managing Director $125,500 per annum

Travelling Allowances (Chairperson and appointed members):

Meals $50 per day

Incidentals $30 per day

Accommodation $270 per night for Sydney

$210 per night for other capital cities

$120 per night for other locations

Part day travel $60

Other Out of pocket expenses directly related to attendance on DHA business are reimbursed.

Travelling Allowances (Managing Director):

The Managing Director receives travelling allowance entitlements identical to Senior Executive Service employees of the Australian Public Service.

(5) With the exception of the Managing Director, members do not receive such benefits.

(6) Air Travel: Business class for all members.

Accommodation: Accommodation allowance is paid to prescribed limit as per part 4. Members may choose to stay where they wish, but the value of the allowance does not change.

Car Allowances: The Managing Director receives a car allowance of $16,000 per annum. Other members do not receive car allowances, but costs (including taxi fares) of travel to and from board meetings are met by the Authority.

The Remuneration Tribunal determines the accommodation allowance, and the Defence Housing Authority determines the policy for class of air travel and the Managing Director's car allowance.

(7) Appointed members do not receive such benefits. The Managing Director is entitled to spouse accompanied travel to the value of $7,500 per annum.

(8) (a) Since January 1998, part-time appointed members have received one increase in sitting fees (on 1 March 1999), and the Managing Director's salary was increased twice - on 1 July 1998 and 31 March 1999.

(b) The variations occurred in line with normal determinations by the Remuneration Tribunal covering a range of similar offices.

(c) On 1 March 1999, the Chairperson's fees increased from $553 to $600 per day, and the appointed members' fees increased from $502 to $550 per day. On 1 July 1998, the Managing Director's salary was increased from $117,201 to $119,545 per annum, and again on 31 March 1999 the Managing Director's salary was increased to $125,500 per annum.

(9) The Remuneration Tribunal determines allowances and variations to fees for Authority board members.

(10) The Managing Director and appointed board members are paid superannuation benefits and these payments are additional to, and separate from, their other allowances.

(11) No additional allowances are paid to members serving on board sub-committees. However sitting fees are paid for attendance in accordance with the Remuneration Tribunal determination.