Senator LUNDY (2:00 PM) —My question is to Senator Vanstone, representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Can the minister inform the Senate of the circumstances surrounding the discovery of high levels of legionella bacteria in the cooling towers of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care offices in Woden, ACT? Can the minister confirm that, in addition to original high levels in December, high levels of legionella were again found just yesterday, despite building management assurances that full cleaning of the towers had taken place? Is the minister aware that the department proposes replacing the cooling towers entirely? Have the delays in communicating this potentially serious health issue to staff arisen because the ownership and management of these buildings no longer lies with the federal government itself and don't these most recent legionella scares mean that the Howard government should rethink its proposed watering down of statutory occupational health and safety protections for its own staff?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —I thank the senator for her question. I have checked the index of briefs and I do not appear to have any advice with respect to that matter. I will do two things. I will give you a gold star for putting as many questions as you possibly could into one minute—you have to almost have the record in that respect. You did it without mumbling and with clear enunciation and I am sure somebody—perhaps a newsreader or somebody—would give you an award. I will also refer the matter to Dr Wooldridge and get you an answer as soon as I can.

Senator LUNDY —I do have a supplementary for the minister. Is the minister aware that the Acting Secretary to the Department of Health and Aged Care sent a message to all staff on 31 January stating `the incident was not reported earlier because we as tenants were not informed of the problem when it first occurred'? Can the minister now confirm—

Honourable senators interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Lundy, I cannot hear you. Would senators cease interjecting and shouting. I need to hear the question and so does the minister.

Senator LUNDY —Can the minister now confirm that, contrary to this statement, the Department of Health and Aged Care received a fax on 2 January 2001 from their building maintenance firm advising the department of the high level of legionella bacteria in the cooling towers? Why then were the staff not advised until 31 January that the cooling towers had levels of legionella bacteria above the Australian limits? Why were 29 days allowed to pass before staff were urged to seek immediate medical attention if they experienced any symptoms of the potentially fatal legionnaire's disease?

Senator VANSTONE (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —Senator, without wishing to be patronising any particular way, I can assure you—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Senator VANSTONE —Bear with me before you misjudge what I am going to say. In some 12 or 13 years in opposition, we were given by your then government a lot of experience at asking questions and I can assure you that there is one thing that you learn—that is, if you want to ask about a specific small area you either give notice in advance or you run the risk that, with a huge portfolio like this, there is not a brief. I have told you that there is not a brief on this matter. I will get the answers for you and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Senator Lundy —There should be.

Senator VANSTONE —Senator, I notice you remonstrating and saying that there should be a brief. It would not be possible in the health department to have a brief on every single issue. I will get you your answers, such that Dr Wooldridge can provide, and I will give them to you as soon as possible.