Senator Chris Evans asked the Minister for Health and Ageing, upon notice, on 10 September 2003:

(1) What is the total cost, including production and placement, of advertising in relation to the Australian Health Care Agreements, placed by the Commonwealth in all newspapers on 21 August 2003.

(2) What is the total cost, including production and placement, of advertising in relation to the Australian Health Care Agreements, placed by the Commonwealth in all newspapers on 29 August 2003.

Senator Patterson (Minister for Family and Community Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Status of Women) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The total cost, including production and placement, of the advertisements placed by the Australian Government on 21 August 2003, was $158,263.93. The advertisements were placed in the following 12 newspapers: Financial Review, The Australian, Sydney Morning Herald, The Daily Telegraph, The Age, Herald Sun, Courier Mail, Adelaide Advertiser, West Australian, Hobart Mercury, Northern Territory News and The Canberra Times.

(2) The total cost, including production and placement, of the advertisements placed by the Australian Government on 29 August 2003, was $41,615.66. The advertisements were placed in the following two newspapers: The Age and Herald Sun.