For each of the financial years 2000-01 to 2004-05 to date, can the following information be provided for the department and/or its agencies:

   (1)   What were the base and top level salaries of Australian Public Service (APS) level 1 to 6 officers and equivalent staff employed.

   (2)   What were the base and top level salaries of APS Executive level and Senior Executive Service officers and equivalent staff employed.

   (3)   Are APS officers eligible for performance or other bonuses; if so: (a) to what levels are these bonuses applied; (b) are these applied on an annual basis; (c) what conditions are placed on the qualification for these bonuses; and (d) how many bonuses were paid at each level, and what was their dollar value for the periods specified above.

   (4)   (a) How many senior officers have been supplied with motor vehicles; and (b) what has been the cost to date.

   (5)   (a) How many senior officers have been supplied with mobile phones; and (b) what has been the cost to date.

   (6)   How many management retreats or training programs have staff attended.

   (7)   How many management retreats or training programs have been held off-site.

   (8)   In the case of each off-site management retreat or training program: (a) where was the event held; and (b) what was the cost of: (i) accommodation, (ii) food, (iii) alcohol, (iv) transport, and (v) other costs incurred.

   (9)   How many official domestic trips have been undertaken by staff and what was the cost of this domestic travel, and in each case: (a) what was the destination; (b) what was the purpose of the travel; and (c) what was the cost of the travel, including a breakdown of: (i) accommodation, (ii) food, (iii) alcohol, (iv) transport, and (v) other costs incurred.

   (10) How many official overseas trips have been undertaken by staff and what was the cost of this travel, and in each case: (a) what was the destination; (b) what was the purpose of the travel; and (c) what was the cost of the travel, including a breakdown of: (i) accommodation, (ii) food, (iii) alcohol, (iv) transport, and (v) other costs incurred.

   (11) (a) What was the total cost of air charters used; and (b) on how many occasions was aircraft chartered, and in each case, what was the name of the charter company that provided the service and the respective costs.

Parts (1) to (3) and (6) to (10) were answered by Senator Abetz on behalf of all Ministers.

The Department of Human Services was established on 26 October 2004.

Core Department

(4)   At 30 June 2005, five Senior Executive Service officers were supplied with vehicles as part of their remuneration. However, this figure was not constant throughout the period due to recruitment processes and movement in staff numbers during the period. The amount for the period from 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005 is an average of $1,565 per person per month, or $48,515 for the period.

(5)   At 30 June 2005, there were ten mobile phones issued to Senior Executive Service officers, the cost can only be provided as an average, as these phones have not been issued for the entire period, but rather for the time that the senior officers have been employed by the Core Department. The average mobile phone bill for senior officers is $177 per month.

(11)   Nil.

Child Support Agency

(4)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, five motor vehicles were supplied to Senior Executive Service officers in the Child Support Agency at a total cost of $48,465.42.

(5)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, 10 mobile phones were supplied to Senior Executive Service officers in the Child Support Agency at a cost of $7923.87.

(11)   Nil.

CRS Australia

(4)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, three Senior Executive Service officers were supplied with motor vehicles at a total cost of $22,973.

(5)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, 4 Senior Executive Service officers were supplied with mobile phones at a cost of $829. (This figure is based on the average phone charge across the fleet multiplied by the number of Senior Executive Services officer identified in the fleet list)

(11)   Nil

Centrelink

(4)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, 51 motor vehicles were supplied to Senior Executive Service officers in Centrelink at a total cost of $491,176.

(5)   A breakdown of the classification of Centrelink staff that have access to a mobile phone is not available as Centrelink mobile phones are allocated on the basis of accepted business need rather that the classification of staff members.

(11)  

   (a)   Data systems used by Centrelink’s outsourced Travel Service Provider report the following domestic air charter costs for Centrelink for the period 1 November 2004 to 30 June 2005. Centrelink has spent $1,821,605 on student (ABSTUDY) and staff domestic air charters for this period. Of this total, 95.7 per cent or $1,743,835 relates to domestic air charters for students living in remote localities.

   (b)   No information is readily available of the number of occasions an aircraft was chartered, as domestic air charter trip data is recorded by passenger name against an individual charter company and an individual trip cost. However, the names of the domestic charter companies that have provided service to Centrelink for the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 3005:

   Aerotropics

   Air Ngukarr

   Barrier Air Service

   Big Sky Express

   Domair Charter

   Golden Eagle Charter

   Gunbalanya Air Charter

   Inland Pacific

   Janami Air

   Macair

   Murin Air

   Regional Pacific

   Sharpe Aviation

   Skippers

   Skytrans

   Skywest

   Tas Air

   Tiwi Air

   Weipa Air

Medicare Australia

(4)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, 48 Senior Executive Service officers were supplied with motor vehicles at a total cost of $403,507.

(5)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, 80 Senior Executive Service or Senior Executive Service equivalent officers and 7 Commissioners have been supplied with mobile phones at a total cost of $99,888.

(11)   Nil.

Australian Hearing

(4)   As at 30 June 2005, 22 Senior Executive Service staff were provided with motor vehicles at a total cost of $196,477.

(5)   As at 30 June 2005, 69 Senior Executive Service staff were supplied with mobile phones at a total cost of $34,675.

(11)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, there were 8 air charters made at a total cost $6,279.08. The following companies provided air charter services: Airnorth Regional Launceston Flying School MAF North Australia Air Ngukurr

Health Services Australia

(4)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, there were 16 motor vehicles supplied to Senior executives at a total cost of $264,000.

(5)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, there were 16 mobile phones supplied to Senior executives. Costs for mobile phones are not available as they are included in total billings covering mobiles and land lines.

(11)   For the period 26 October 2004 to 30 June 2005, there were 12 air charters made at a total cost of $18,480. All air charters were with Independent Aviation Ltd. The time taken to prepare the answer to this question has taken approximately 44 hours and 50 minutes at an estimated cost of $1,984.