26 June 2000

1673  MR McCLELLAND: To ask the Attorney-General—

(1) Was the 1989 UN Convention on the Righ ts of the Child signed for Australia on 22 August 1990.

(2) Did the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties table its report on the convention in the Senate on 10 November 1998.

(3) With which Departments must the Government consult, and from which Departments must it have input, before it finalises and tables its response to the report.

(4) When did his Department first seek consultation with, and receive input from, each of th e other Departments.

1674  MR LATHAM: To ask the Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation—

(1) On his forthcoming visit to Britain, will he ask his British counterpart, Culture Secretary Chris Smith, for the return of all Aboriginal remains f rom British museums and other institutions; if so, on what grounds will he argue for the return of the remains.

(2) Is he able to say whether there is British legislation through which the return of the Aboriginal remains would be facilitated.

(3) Would those laws also facilitate the repatriation of the Parthenon Marbles to Greece.

(4) Will he raise with his British counterpart the failure of the British Government to become a party to the Unesco Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (Paris, 1970).

(5) Is he able to say whether British museums will not repatriate items unless a government-to-government agreement is in place; if so, will he pursue such an agreement.

MR TANNER: To ask the Ministers listed below (questions Nos. 1675 - 1692)—

(1)  How many individual transactions with individual members of the public were conducted by each agency in the Minister’s portfolio in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000, and if available, what are the forecast figures for (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02, (e) 2002-03 and (f) 2003-04.

(2) What definition of transaction is used to determine these figures.

(3) What proportion of these transactions were or are expected to be conducted online.

(4) What was the total cost of administering these transactions for each agency in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000 and what is the estimated cost for (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02, (e) 2002-03 and (f) 2003-04.

(5) What was the total cost of administering the online transactions in (a) 1998-99 and (b) 1999-2000 and what is the estimated cost for (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02, (e) 2002-03 and (f) 2003-04.

1675  MR TANNER: To ask the Prime Minister.

1676  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

1677  MR TANNER: To ask the Treasurer.

1678  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Trade.

1679  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

1680  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

1681  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.

1682  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Family and Community Services.

1683  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

1684  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Defence.

1685  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Health and Aged Care.

1686  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Finance and Administration.

1687  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs.

1688  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Science and Resources.

1689  MR TANNER: To ask the Attorney-General.

1690  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

1691  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

1692  MR TANNER: To ask the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

1693  MR L. D. T. FERGUSON: To ask the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence—

(1) How many firms or consortia submitted expressions of interest for the marketing testing exercise for Defence recruitment.

(2) Was an in-house bid submitted as part of the market testing exercise.

(3) How many firms or consortia were short-listed and on what date was the short listing finalised.

(4) Did the short list include any in-house bid.

(5) What was the nature of the disclosures that short-listed firms were required to make regarding their assets, liabilities, and financial contingencies.

(6) Did the Government announce on 23 November that Manpower Services Australia Pty Ltd (Manpower) and Employment National would be invited to participate in a 3 month national trial to assist Defence meet its recruitment needs.

(7) Did Employment National agree to participate in this trial; if not, why not.

(8) On what date did Manpower commence its involvement in the national trial and when is the trial due to end.

(9) Did the Government announce on 29 May 2000 that Manpower was the preferred tenderer for a twelve month contract, with a five year option, to provide Defence recruitment services in Victoria, Tasmania and southern New South Wales.

(10) Has the contract referred to in part (9) been signed; if so, on what date did this occur.

(11) Has his attention been drawn to media reports alleging that a former senior executive of Manpower is under investigation for serious fraud.

(12) Was he or his Department aware of these allegations before they were reported in the media; if so, when was this information received.

(13) Is he satisfied that Manpower has at all times made all necessary disclosures to his Department.

(14) In terms of the contracts referred to in parts (8) (9) and (10), what systems are in place to protect taxpayers’ funds and to ensure that value for money is obtained.