28 November 2005

2645  MR McCLELLAND: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Justice and Customs—Would the Minister update the answer to question No. 3575 ( Hansard , 3 August 2004, page 32009).

2653  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Justice and Customs—

(1) How many people are employed in the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre.

(2) Did the centre engage Right Management Consultants at a cost of $77,000 to provide change management advice; if so, why was it considered n ecessary to engage outside consultants for this work.

MR BOWEN: To ask the Ministers listed below (questions Nos. 2656 - 2674)—For 2004-2005, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of payments made by the Minister’s department to small business were not made within (i) 30 and (ii) 60 days of receipt of the goods or services and a proper invoice in accordance with Government procurement policy.

2656  MR BOWEN: To ask the Prime Minister.

2657  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Trade.

2660  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

2662  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing.

2663  MR BOWEN: To ask the Attorney-General.

2664  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Administration.

2665  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

2667  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

2668  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources.

2670  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

2671  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

2672  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

2673  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Human Services.

2674  MR BOWEN: To ask the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

2676   MR GIBBONS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts—

(1) Is the Minister aware that Internet users who live near Lake Eppalock do not have (a) CDMA or digital network coverage, and (b) access to ADSL, ISDN, or wireless broadband.

(2) Is the Minister aware that Internet users who live near Lake Eppalock were not eligible for the Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme (HiBis) broadband subsidy.

(3) Is the Minister aware that if broadband were connected to the Kimbolton phone exchange that some users who live near Lake Eppalock would be too far away from the exchange to receive it.

(4) Is the Minister aware that the only service available is satellite service at a cost of $250 per month.

(5) Can the Minister explain why the HiBis subsidy has ended.

(6) With regard to adequate services in the country being provided for Internet users, can the Minister explain what those services are, or are likely to be.

(7) Can the Minister assure country users that they will receive better services after Telstra is privatised.

(8) Can the Minister provide details of what current services are available to city users and country users.

(9) Can the Minister explain why Telstra would spend money to provide wireless broadband services to city users when they have other options available to them and not make this service available to country users.

2686   MR M. J. FERGUSON: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs—

(1) How many people who hold a Retirement Visa (subclass 410 - Temporary) are resident in (a) Australia and (b) each Commonwealth electoral division.

(2) Will the Government adopt the recommendations of the Joint House Committee on Migration to permit self-funded retirees who renew their visas a second time to be eligible to apply for permanent residency under a new category of visa based on the same principles applying to the retirement visa.

2688   MR B. P. O'CONNOR: To ask the Minister for Defence—Has the Minister’s department engaged Phillips Fox Lawyers since 21 November 2004; if so, (a) on how many occasions, (b) what was the cost of engaging Phillips Fox Lawyers (i) on each individual occasion and (ii) in total since 21 November 2004, and (c) what services were provided by Phillips Fox Lawyers on each occasion.

MS ROXON: To ask the Ministers listed below (questions Nos. 2691 - 2709)—

(1) What sum did the Minister’s department spend during 2004-2005 on external (a) barristers and (b) solicitors (including private firms, the Australian Government Solicitor and any others).

(2) What sum did the Minister’s department spend on internal legal services.

(3) What is the Minister’s department’s projected expenditure on legal services for 2005-2006.

2691  MS ROXON: To ask the Prime Minister.

2692  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Trade.

2693  MS ROXON: To ask the Treasurer.

2694  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Defence.

2695  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

2696  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Transport and Regional Services.

2697  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing.

2698  MS ROXON: To ask the Attorney-General.

2699  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Finance and Administration.

2700  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs.

2701  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

2702  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

2703  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources.

2704  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

2705  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts.

2706  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

2707  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

2708  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Human Services.

2709  MS ROXON: To ask the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.