16 August 2011

* 461  MR HOCKEY: To ask the Treasurer—On how many occasions has the Treasurer met with the Secretary of the Treasury since the Secretary’s appointment.

* 462  MR HOCKEY: To ask the Treasurer—Who are the members of the advisory committee that advised the Treasurer and the Treasury to increase the gross debt limit of Commonwealth Government Securities.

* 463  MR HOCKEY: To ask the Treasurer—How many times in the last three years has the Treasury undertaken economic modelling, and on which issues has this modelling been undertaken.

* 464  MR HOCKEY: To ask the Treasurer—How many Treasury staff have been involved in the development of the proposed carbon price scheme.

* 465  MR CHRISTENSEN: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—In respect of hip replacement operations utilising now recalled products manufactured by DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc., a division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., (a) how many of these operations were funded through Medicare, and at what cost, (b) what was the cost to the Government of patients who have or will have revision surgery, and (c) what is the Government doing to recoup, from DePuy Orthopaedics, the money it has invested in the use of these products, including revision surgery.

* 466  MR CHRISTENSEN: To ask the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport—Further to his answer to question in writing No. 387 ( House Hansard , 6 July 2011, page 175), is he aware that the Queensland Department of Main Roads has identified a preferred option for the provision of a second crossing of the Burdekin River which is likely to have adverse impacts on Ayr businesses and lead to the loss of large amounts of some of Australia’s most productive agricultural land.

* 467  MR CHRISTENSEN: To ask the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport—Further to his answer to question in writing No. 387 ( House Hansard , 6 July 2011, page 175), before committing Federal funding to a national highway construction project, does he require investigation of and costings for all reasonable options for that project.

* 468  MR CHRISTENSEN: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—

(1) Is he aware of the announced closure of the Post Office in Bucasia, Mackay, by Australia Post.

(2) Is he able to intervene to stop the closure of the Bucasia Post Office; if not, what measures can Australia Post implement to ensure that there is easy access to postal and other services currently provided to Bucasia residents, particularly elderly residents, by the existing Bucasia Post Office.

* 469  MR RAMSEY: To ask the Minister for Resources and Energy—In respect of the Whyalla Solar Oasis project for which the Government announced funding of $60 million in May 2010 under the Renewable Energy Development Program, with construction originally due to commence in July 2010: (a) what is the project’s current status; (b) what is the reason for the delay in commencing the project; and (c) what is he doing to expedite the finalisation of the funding deed so that the project can commence.

* 470  DR JENSEN: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—

(1)  Is she aware of the serious health implications and high rate of addiction associated with the consumption of products containing nicotine.

(2) Is she aware that United States regulation requires purchasers of products such as nicotine gum, lozenges and patches to be over 18 years of age.

(3) Is she aware that nicotine products including patches, gum and lozenges, specifically labelled with an ‘Adults 18+’ warning, are currently being sold in Australian supermarkets without restriction.

(4) Will she consider restricting the sale of nicotine products including patches, gum and lozenges, to consumers over 18 years of age.

* 471  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Attorney-General—Are there any restrictions on Mr David Hicks as a free citizen of Australia; if so, can he indicate what these restrictions are, and specifically why each one is in place.

* 472  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Program 4 of his department:

(1) A s at 1 July 2011, what total number of staff were employed under this program.

(2) What total number of staff are forecast to be employed under this program in (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, and (d) 2014-15.

(3) As at 1 J uly 2011, in respect of (a) APS 1, (b) APS 2, (c) APS 3, (d) APS 4, (e) APS 5, (f) APS 6, (g) EL 1, and (h) EL 2, officers under this program, what number were (i) ongoing, (ii) non-ongoing, (iii) full-time, and (iv) part-time, and based in (v) Canberra, (vi) Sydney, (vii) elsewhere in Australia, and (viii) overseas.

(4) As at 1 July 2011, what number of SES Band (a) 1, (b) 2, and (c) 3, officers were (i) ongoing, and (ii) non-ongoing, and what were their (iii) job titles, (iv) common law agreement start and end dates, (v) office locations, and (vi) salary ranges.

* 473  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Program 4 of his department in 2010-11:

(1)  What sum of program expenditure was spent on (a) advertising, (b) hospitality or entertainment, (c) information and communication technologies, (d) consultants, (e) staff training and education, (f) external accounting services, (g) external auditing services, and (h) external legal services.

(2) What are the details of all grants paid, including the (a) recipient, (b) date announced, (c) date that the first payment was dispatched, and (d) date that the last grant payment was due.

(3) What was the total travel expenditure for staff employed under this program.

(4) What was the travel expenditure for (a) first class, (b) business class, (c) premium economy class, (d) economy class, and (e) in total, for (i) domestic, and (ii) international, travel.

 * 474  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Program 4 of his department in 2010-11:

(1) What are the deta ils of all memberships with organisations that are funded by this program, including the (a) name of the organisation, (b) cost of membership, (c) duration of membership, and (d) reason for membership.

(2) What are the details of all sponsorships, including event sponsorships, funded by this program, including the (a) name of the recipient, (b) cost, (c) duration, and (d) reason.

* 475  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of the Tourism division of his department, what are the details of all: (a) leased offices, including the (i) address, (ii) size, (iii) total sum of annual rent (in Australian dollars), and (iv) sum of annual rent per square metre (in Australian dollars); and (b) offices owned by his department, including the (i) address, (ii) size, and (iii) annual depreciation expense.

* 476  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—What is the (a) name, (b) position, (c) terms of appointment, and (d) tenure of appointment of each member of the Tourism Australia Board of Directors.

* 477  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Tourism Australia:

(1) A s at 1 July 2011, what total number of staff were employed by this agency.

(2) As at 1 July 2011, in respect of (a) APS 1, (b) APS 2, (c) APS 3, (d) APS 4, (e) APS 5, (f) APS 6, (g) EL 1, and (h) EL 2, officers, what number were (i) ongoing, (ii) non-ongoing, (iii) full-time, and (iv) part-time, and based in (v) Canberra, (vi) Sydney, (vii) elsewhere in Australia, and (viii) overseas.

(3)  As at 1 July 2011, what number of SES Band (a) 1, (b) 2, and (c) 3, officers were (i) ongoing, and (ii) non-ongoing, and what were their (iii) job titles, (iv) common law agreement start and end dates, (v) office locations, and (vi) salary ranges.

* 478  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Tourism Australia in 2010-11:

(1)  What sum of program expenditure was spent on (a) advertising, (b) hospitality or entertainment, (c) information and communication technologies, (d) consultants, (e) staff training and education, (f) external accounting services, (g) external auditing services, and (h) external legal services.

(2) What are the details of all grants paid, including the (a) recipient, (b) date announced, (c) date that the first payment was dispatched, and (d) date that the last grant payment was due.

(3) What was the total travel expenditure for staff employed in this agency.

(4) What was the travel expenditure for (a) first class, (b) business class, (c) premium economy class, (d) economy class, and (e) in total, for (i) domestic, and (ii) international, travel.

* 479  MR BALDWIN: To ask the Minister for Tourism—In respect of Tourism Australia:

(1) What are the details of all memberships with organisations that are funded by this agency, including the (a) name of the organisation, (b) cost of membership, (c) duration of membership, and (d) reason for membership.

(2) What are the details of all sponsorships, including event sponsorships, funded by this agency, including the (a) name of the recipient, (b) cost, (c) duration, and (d) reason.

* 480  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Treasurer—Do investment guidelines exist for ethical investment of public money, including the Future Fund; if so, are they publicly available; if not, what steps are being taken to introduce ethical investing guidelines throughout the Commonwealth public sector.

* 481  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills—

(1)  For what reasons has the Government abolished the Australian Teaching and Learning Council (ATLC), despite restoring $50 million of the $88 million ATLC budget over four years expressly to maintain its grants and programs under the same terms of reference and conditions.

(2) Has the Government made public its vision for how Australian teaching and learning innovation will be encouraged and recognised internationally; if so, what is it.

* 482  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—

(1) W hy have private health insurance premiums under Medibank Private been rising over the past five years, beyond the annual rate of inflation.

(2) Is she aware that a constituent in the electorate of Lyne claims that his Medibank Private premium rose by (a) 6.7 per cent in 2007, (b) 4.5 per cent in 2008; (c) 10.3 per cent in 2009, (d) 5.4 per cent in 2010, and (e) 8 per cent in 2011.

(3) For the same period, what were Medibank Private’s (a) annual dividends received by the Government, (b) net profit after tax earning, and (c) rate of return.

* 483  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship—Is it a fact that the Government is spending $2.6 million a month on motel accommodation to house asylum seekers because detention centres are currently full; if not, what sum is currently being spent per month to house asylum seekers in motel or other equivalent accommodation.

* 484  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Trade—

(1)  Is he aware that data on the United States Department of Agriculture’s website indicates that substantial quantities of beef and beef products have been exported to Australia since 2003.

(2) Is it a fact that beef or beef products have been imported into Australia from the United States of America (USA) since 2003.

(3) What is the Government’s position on the threat of Bovine Spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contaminated beef and beef products emanating from the USA, and how is the Government disseminating information to Australian consumers about the potential health threat this poses.

(4) What steps is the Government taking to curtail the importation of beef and beef products from the USA to protect consumers and encourage greater consumption of Australian grown, BSE-free beef.

* 485  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare—In respect of proposed changes in the regulation of childcare ratios to be put before COAG in 2011;  is it a fact that the ratio of staff to children in smaller centres for the age group of 2-3 years is proposed to be changed from 1:8 to 1:5, commencing in 2012, and that this ratio will also apply to larger centres, but not until 2016; if so, what is the Government doing to overcome the competitive disadvantage that this will have on smaller centres.

* 486  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—Is the Government aware that its new federal registration body—the Australian Health Professionals Registration Authority—is currently experiencing a very high volume of applications and that a serious backlog is occurring across many categories of registration, including medical doctors, and existing and new nurses; if so, what measures is the Government taking to ensure the smooth and timely processing of applications for registration.

* 487  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—

(1) What impact has the $430.78 million spent on Medicare dentistry during 2008-09 done (a) specifically to reduce public dental waiting lists, especially for those in the NS W community who have been struggling to access public dental services for years, and (b) more generally to improve Australians’ oral health.

(2) What have the neediest and most disadvantaged people in our community gained in improved access to dental treatments having $450 million, a doubling of public money, been spent on dentistry.

(3) What actions have been taken to evaluate the Medicare (a) Enhanced Primary Care Program, and (b) Teen Dental Program, and informing the community on exactly what has happened to the $430.78 million allocated to dentistry in 2008-09.

(4) What method is used to compile ‘waiting lists’ for people requiring services at public dental clinics, and will the Government consider introducing a system whereby those on the waiting list can be given some indication of their place on the list or an estimate of how long they are likely to have to wait.

(5) Would the Government consider legislating to allow a voluntary (not compulsory) co-payment for the provision of dentures for people who are in a position to do so, thus reducing the amount of time and numbers on the waiting list.

* 488  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Attorney-General—Is the Government aware that the Australian Red Cross has approved a proposal to undertake a leading role within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, to publicly support an international convention rendering the use of nuclear weapons clearly illegal under international law; if so, will the Government consider supporting the development of such a convention and undertake to become a signatory to such an instrument.

* 489  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of the Government’s insulation inspection and remediation program, how many inspections have been carried out under the program to date, and how many (a) ‘safety-related’ payments have been made under the program, (b) problems were identified as ‘non-safety’, and what was the average estimated cost to individual households to rectify these problems, and (c) problems were identified as ‘pre-existing’.

 * 490  MR OAKESHOTT: To ask the Treasurer—

(1) Will the Government consider re-establishing the education fund that used to exist under ASX’s stewardship, and that also served to channel revenue from fines imposed for breaches of trading rules into improving compliance and risk management practices to prevent further breaches.

(2) Is he aware that the education fund more effectively used monies from fines than the current system (under new ASIC supervisory arrangements) of directing them into consolidated revenue.

* 491  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—Will the satellite services that will be offered by NBN Co. Ltd have the capacity to provide video conferencing and interactive distance learning applications.

* 492  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—Will the satellite services that will be offered by NBN Co. Ltd have the capacity to deliver the applications that are currently delivered over satellite for interactive distance learning at the School of the Air and the Northern Territory Open Education Centre in the Northern Territory; if so, will these interactive distance learning services continue to receive Government funding.

* 493  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Treasurer—In respect of Treasury modelling of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, what (a) was Australia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2010, (b) is Treasury’s base case forecast of GDP growth per annum between 2010 and 2050, and the forecast of GDP for 2050 at this growth rate, in aggregate and per capita terms, (c) is the forecast of GDP growth per annum if a carbon price is introduced, and the forecast of GDP for 2050 at this growth rate in aggregate and per capita terms, and (d) is the expected difference in GDP for 2050 and on a cumulative basis from 2010 to 2050 with and without a carbon price.

* 494  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of my letter to him dated 22 April 2010 about a claim of alleged fraud under the Home Insulation Program at a property in Killara, (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (c) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.

* 495  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of the report made to his department (ref no. 4301199) of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Turramurra, (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.

* 496  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of the report made to his department of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Hornsby (referenced in my letter to him dated 5 October 2010), (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.

* 497  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of the report made to his department of an alleged fraudulent claim under the Home Insulation Program in an apartment complex in Hornsby (referenced in my letter to him dated 11 July 2010), (a) what is the progress of investigations, (b) what interviews have been conducted, including of the occupants, (c) has any person or entity been charged with an offence, and (d) if fraud has been established, what action has or is being taken to recover monies.

* 498  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency—In respect of the arrangements made through his department for the inspection and removal of unauthorised insulation under the Home Insulation Program at an apartment complex in Hornsby on 6 July 2010 (referenced in my letter to him dated 11 July 2010), (a) what are the names of the companies (both main contractors and subcontractors) that actioned or facilitated the inspection and removal of unauthorised insulation, (b) in what location are these companies based, (c) what number of employees undertook the inspection and removal, and (i) in what location was each based, (ii) at what time, by what means, and at what cost did each travel to and from the premises, and (iii) what is the name of the employer of each, and (d) for the three months prior to 6 July 2011, what are the dates and locations of other inspections and/or removals of insulation that each employee undertook pursuant to direct or indirect (ie, contractor or subcontractor) contractual arrangements with the Commonwealth.

 * 499  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Assistant Treasurer—Can he indicate what proportion (as a percentage) of the Australian equity portfolio held by the following funds (a) Australian Super, (b) Cbus, (c) HESTA, (d) HOSTPLUS, (e) MTAA Super, (f) CareSuper, (g) LUCRF Super, (h) Media Super, (i) NGS Super, (j) TWUSUPER, (k) AustSafe, (l) Energy Super, (m) First Super, (n) legalsuper, and (o) REI Super, is constituted by investments in the top 500 big polluting companies that will be subject to the carbon price.

* 500  MR FLETCHER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—In respect of the Deeds of Agreement that the Commonwealth has entered into ‘for the provision of services related to the Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme’ in different geographic locations around Australia, what are the: (a) parties to each Deed of Agreement, by geographical location, and (b) service charges that each contractor with the Commonwealth will be paid per item/service pursuant to the respective agreement, in a form similar to that set out in Schedule 3, clause 1.1 of the standard Deed of Agreement that his department has made publicly available.

* 501  MR HARTSUYKER: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—How many retail customers signed up for fixed-line National Broadband Network services in the weeks ending (a) 1 July 2011, (b) 8 July 2011, (c) 15 July 2011, (d) 22 July 2011, (e) 29 July 2011, and (f) 5 August 2011, what services did they sign up for, and at what speed.

B. C. WRIGHT

Clerk of the House of Representatives