Senator Sherry asked the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice, on 3 March 2003:

With reference to the Migration Review Tribunal and the Refugee Review Tribunal:

(1) Does each Tribunal maintain lists of the number of cases determined by each member; if so, can a copy of these lists be provided.

(2) (a) Has the Remuneration Tribunal determined a special remuneration payable to the principal member of the two tribunals only while Mr Karas occupies these positions; and (b) is this the result of a special arrangement between Mr Karas and the Minister.

(3) What are the total costs to the Commonwealth: (a) of the Sydney apartment provided for Mr Karas; and (b) for travel between Brisbane for Mr Karas and his wife.

(4) (a) What is the frequency of Mr Karas' travel between Sydney and Brisbane; and (b) what was his shortest stay in Sydney when travel was funded by the Commonwealth.

Senator Ellison (Minister for Justice and Customs) —The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Yes. Please see the tables below: Table (1)(a) Refugee Review Tribunal and Table (1)(b) Migration Review Tribunal. These tables set out the numbers of RRT and MRT cases finalised by RRT and MRT Members for the full financial year 2001-02 and for the first eight months of financial year 2002-03 (ie to 28 February 2003).

(2) (a) Yes. The Remuneration Tribunal has determined that Mr. Karas will receive a personal loading of $27,810 per annum while he occupies the office of both Principal Member of the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and Principal Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT). Mr. Karas' appointment as Principal Member of both Tribunals represents a savings of approximately $105,000 per annum compared to the cost if separate persons were to occupy each position.

(b) No. The Remuneration Tribunal has statutory responsibility for determining the remuneration of the Principal Member of the Migration Review Tribunal and the Principal Member of the Refugee Review Tribunal.

(3) (a) The total cost to the Commonwealth of Mr Karas' accommodation in Sydney since his appointment on 1 July 2001 as the Principal Member of both Tribunals is as follows:

· 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 - $29,464, and

· 1 July 2002 to 28 February 2003 - $21,438.

(b) The total cost to the Commonwealth for Mr Karas' travel between Brisbane and the 3 locations where the two Tribunals principally conduct their business (ie. Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra) is as follows:

· 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 - $42,308, comprising

· Brisbane to Sydney - $21,223,

· Brisbane to Melbourne - $12,716, and

· Brisbane to Canberra - $ 8,369.

· 1 July 2002 to 28 February 2003 - $21,949, comprising

· Brisbane to Sydney - $12,028,

· Brisbane to Melbourne - $ 4,912, and

· Brisbane to Canberra - $ 5,009.

Air travel costs for Mrs Karas in this period were as follows:

· 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002 - $4,080, and

· 1 July 2002 to 28 February 2003 - $1,276.

Given that Mr Karas' home is in Brisbane, and his principal place of business is Sydney, the Remuneration Tribunal has provided, in clause 3.2.1 of Determination 2002/23, that Mr Karas is entitled to receive a reunion fare allowance of up to $47,187 per annum while he occupies the positions of Principal Member of the MRT and Principal Member of the RRT. This allows Mr Karas to return to Brisbane to see his family, or to have his wife join him. The reunion fare allowance is only for this purpose and Mr Karas does not have the option to use this allowance for any other purpose or to cash out any unused reunion fare allowance.

(4) (a) Over the past 18 months Mr. Karas has travelled to Brisbane on average 3 times per month.

(b) Mr Karas' travel to Sydney, as the principal place of business of the RRT and MRT, is dependent on the work requirements of the two Tribunals. As there are RRT Registries in Sydney and Melbourne, and MRT registries in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, Mr Karas' travel plans each week vary according to the work requirements of each of the Tribunals in their various locations. The length of time Mr Karas spends in each location similarly varies. His shortest stay in Sydney during the period in question was 1 day.

Table (1)(a): Refugee Review Tribunal,

Cases Finalised by Members in 2001-02 and 2002-03 (to 28 February 2003).

* The numbers of cases finalised by individual members may be affected by extended absences, in relation to, for example, leave without pay and sickness. Finalisation figures might also be affected by factors such as starting dates for newly appointed members, finishing dates for existing members or the volume of other Tribunal work undertaken by members (for example, the Principal Member, Deputy Principal Member and Senior Members have management and administrative responsibilities, in addition to case work). Decision figures will also reflect the variable nature of individual cases. Finally, members are appointed on either a part-time or full-time basis, as noted in the table, and the number of days that part-time members are engaged varies according to their availability and the Tribunal's case load.

Table (1)(b): Migration Review Tribunal,

Cases Finalised by Members in 2001-02 and 2002-03 (to 28 February 2003)

* The numbers of cases finalised by individual members may be affected by extended absences, in relation to, for example, leave without pay and sickness. Finalisation figures might also be affected by factors such as starting dates for newly appointed members, finishing dates for existing members or the volume of other Tribunal work undertaken by members (for example, the Principal Member, Deputy Principal Member and Senior Members have management and administrative responsibilities, in addition to case work). Decision figures will also reflect the variable nature of individual cases. Finally, members are appointed on either a part-time or full-time basis, as noted in the table, and the number of days that part-time members are engaged varies according to their availability and the Tribunal's case load.