13 May 2009

* 721  MR WOOD: To ask the Minister for Home Affairs—In respect of the Air Security Officers Program: (a) what was the number of “flying hours” (hours spent in the air) worked by Air Security Officers (ASOs) from (i) 1 February 2008 to 31 January 2009, (ii) 1 February 2007 to 31 January 2008; and (b) what other duties might ASOs perform when they are not in the air patrolling Australia’s domestic and international flights.

* 722  MR CIOBO: To ask the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy—In respect of his letters to State and Territory education ministers regarding Building the Education Revolution funding and small business operators: (a) what response has he received from the (i) New South Wales Minister for Education and Training, (ii) Queensland Minister for Education and Training, (iii) South Australian Minister for Education, (iv) Victorian Minister for Education, (v) Tasmanian Minister for Education and Skills, (vi) Western Australian Minister for Education, (vii) Australian Capital Territory Minister for Education and Training, and (ix) Northern Territory Minister for Education and Training; and (b) what measures have the respondents in (a) (i) to (ix) undertaken to ensure participation of small businesses in the implementation of the Building the Education Revolution program.

* 723  MR CIOBO: To ask the Minister for Small Business, Independent Contractors and the Service Economy—

( 1) In respect of the twice-annual reporting requirement for federally funded Business Enterprises Centres (BECs): (a) on what dates are BECs required to submit their reports to his department; (b) how many reporting dates have lapsed since this requirement was implemented; (c) how many BECs have reported within the specified timeframe; (d) have any BECs not met their reporting obligations; if so, (i) what are their names, and (ii) what penalty measures has he implemented; (e) what specific services have been offered by each BEC as a result of the Government’s funding; (f) what cost has been incurred to provide each service; and (g) how many businesses have benefited from each of these services in each BEC.

(2) In respect of the obligations of business advisory organisations funded through his 10 October 2008 announcement: (a) what reporting obligations does each advisory organisation have; (b) if reporting obligations exist, what penalty measures has he implemented for organisations that fail to comply with them; and (c) have any of these organisations submitted reports to his department outlining the services available as a result of the funding.

* 724  MR CIOBO: To ask the Minister for Resources and Energy—How many annual leave days have been accrued by (a) staff, as a cohort, in his department, and (b) his personal staff.

* 725  MR CIOBO: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts—In respect of his announcement on 19 March 2009 regarding appointments to the Board of ArtBank—

(1)  Are new members replacing outgoing members or is the Board membership being expanded.

(2) What recruitment process was undertaken for the selection of the new members of the Board.

(3) Did he meet with the new members prior to their appointment; if so, which members, and on what date(s).

(4) Did his personal staff meet with the new members prior to their appointment; if so, which members, and on what date(s).

(5) Did he, his personal staff, or his department seek advice from industry stakeholders prior to the appointment of the new Board members; if so, what are the names of the stakeholders that were consulted.

* 726  MR FORREST: To ask the Prime Minister—

(1)  Is he aware of a significant Australian Labor Party 2007 election commitment to provide funding of $124 million for the completion of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, and that only $99 million of this has been forthcoming from the Government.

(2) Has he been advised when the balance of $25 million will be made available to fund vital fire service requirements for the associated local government areas and to resolve the difficulties associated with rehabilitation of the Horsham irrigation district.

MR ANDREWS: To ask the Ministers listed below (questions Nos. *727 - *752)—In respect of any intergovernmental agreements that exist in the Minister’s portfolio: (a) how many exist; (b) what are their (i) names, and (ii) objectives and purposes; (c) what are the names of the parties to each; and (d) will the Minister provide a copy of each; if not, why not.

* 727  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Prime Minister.

* 728  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Education.

* 729  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

* 730  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Social Inclusion.

* 731  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Treasurer.

* 732  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship.

* 733  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Special Minister of State.

* 734  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Trade.

* 735  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

* 736  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Defence.

* 737  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing.

* 738  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

* 739  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Finance and Deregulation.

* 740  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

* 741  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

* 742  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts.

* 743  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Attorney-General.

* 744  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services.

* 745  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

* 746  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Resources and Energy.

* 747  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Tourism.

* 748  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.

* 749  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Water.

* 750  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change.

* 751  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Innovation, Industry and Science.

* 752  MR ANDREWS: To ask the Minister for Research.

I. C. HARRIS

Clerk of the House of Representatives