Senator Webber asked the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, upon notice, on 23 June 2003:

(1) How many staff at the senior executive service (SES) level are employed in the department within Western Australia.

(2) Given Western Australia's contribution to the nation's economy, is the department adequately represented in Western Australia to ensure that development opportunities are maximised.

(3) Does the lack of senior Commonwealth departmental representatives or SES staff have a negative impact on Commonwealth program funds in Western Australia.

(4) Would Western Australia be advantaged by an increase in the number of SES staff located within the state.

Senator Minchin (Minister for Finance and Administration) —The Acting Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources advises that the answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) There are no staff at the Senior Executive Service (SES) level employed by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources in Western Australia. The Department has six AusIndustry offices in State capital cities, and fourteen regional offices. Only the State Manager of the New South Wales State Office is employed at the SES level.

(2) AusIndustry's experienced non-SES officers ensure the Department is adequately represented in Western Australia to maximise development opportunities. In addition to these experienced officers, senior policy and program officers of the Department's Canberra office are regular visitors to Western Australia and are familiar with the State's development opportunities.

(3) Staffing arrangements in the Western Australia State Office do not have a negative impact on Commonwealth program funds.

(4) The staffing of the Western Australia State Office, as with all State offices, reflects a sensible resource management decision. For the reasons outlined in (2), Western Australia would not be advantaged by an increase in the number of SES staff located within the state.