Notice given 9 August 2006

2322  Senator McLucas: To ask the Minister representing the Prime Minister—With reference to: (a) the requirement under the Prime Minister’s A Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Responsibility dated December 1998 that ministers attending Cabinet or Cabinet committee meetings declare private interests that give rise or are likely to give rise to a conflict with their public duties; (b) the requirement under the Cabinet Handbook dated March 2004 that ministers should take into account the interests of family members and all interests of their own when considering whether to make a declaration of interest; and (c) the Prime Minister’s admonition to ministers to adhere to ‘the spirit as well as the letter’ of the Cabinet Handbook :

(1) Did the Treasurer declare the Qantas gift of a business class upgrade for his three children on a flight between Los Angeles and Melbourne preceding Cabinet and/or Cabinet committee consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route: (a) if so: (i) on what date was the declaration made and recorded by Cabinet officers, and (ii) did the meeting excuse the Treasurer from the discussion or explicitly agree to his taking part; and (b) if not: (i) why not, and (ii) what action has the Prime Minister taken with respect to the breach of his ministerial code of conduct.

(2) Did the Treasurer declare any other matters including complimentary airline lounge memberships, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue, Singapore Airlines and/or other Australian and international airlines; if so: (a) what was the nature of the declaration; (b) on what date was it made; and (c) was the Treasurer excused from discussion or explicitly permitted to take part.

(3) Did the Minister for Health and Ageing declare the Qantas gift of a business class upgrade for himself and his wife on a flight between Sydney and London preceding the Cabinet and/or Cabinet committee consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route: (a) if so: (i) on what date was the declaration made and recorded by Cabinet officers, and (ii) did the meeting excuse the Minister from the discussion or explicitly agree to his taking part; and (b) if not: (i) why not, and (ii) what action has the Prime minister taken with respect to the breach of his ministerial code of conduct.

(4) Did the Minister for Health and Ageing declare any other matters including complimentary airline lounge memberships, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue, Singapore Airlines and/or other Australian and international airlines; if so: (a) what was the nature of the declaration; (b) on what date was it made; and (c) was the minister excused from discussion or explicitly permitted to take part.

(5) Which other Cabinet ministers declared complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue, Singapore Airlines and/or other Australian and international airlines preceding Cabinet and/or Cabinet committee consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route.

(6) In each case please identify the minister and provide details of: (a) the declaration; (b) the date it was made; and (c) whether the minister was excused from discussion or explicitly permitted to take part.

(7) With reference to chapter 9 of APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice: A Guide to Official Conduct for APS Employees and Agency Heads dated 2005 relating to avoiding and managing conflict of interest: (a) does the department maintain up-to-date registers of pecuniary interests and/or gifts related to agency heads, members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and those acting in SES positions; (b) did the Prime Minister and the Secretary of his department ensure that details were up-to-date with respect to officers responsible for the provision of advice in relation to the Government’s review of international air services policy; and (c) did relevant declarations include complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines.

(8) With reference to the requirement under the Prime Minister’s A Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Responsibility that ministerial staff should not accept gifts, sponsored travel or hospitality if acceptance could give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict: has any member of the Prime Minister’s staff accepted complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines since the commencement of the Government’s consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route; if so, were those interests immediately declared and recorded in a written register; and if, in any case, such interests have not been immediately declared and recorded, why not.

2323  Senator McLucas: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs—With reference to chapter 9 of APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice: A Guide to Official Conduct for APS Employees and Agency Heads dated 2005 relating to avoiding and managing conflict of interest:

(1) Does the department maintain up-to-date registers of pecuniary interests and/or gifts related to agency heads, members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and those acting in SES positions.

(2) Did the Minister and the Secretary of the department ensure that details were up-to-date with respect to officers responsible for the provision of advice in relation to the Government’s review of international air services policy.

(3) Did relevant declarations include complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines.

(4) With reference to the requirement under the Prime Minister’s A Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Responsibility dated December 1998 that ministerial staff should not accept gifts, sponsored travel or hospitality if acceptance could give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict: has any member of the Minister’s staff accepted complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines since the commencement of the Government’s consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route; if so, were those interests immediately declared and recorded in a written register; and if, in any case, such interests have not been immediately declared and recorded, why not.

2324  Senator McLucas: To ask the Minister representing the Treasurer—With reference to chapter 9 of APS Values and Code of Conduct in Practice: A Guide to Official Conduct for APS Employees and Agency Heads dated 2005 relating to avoiding and managing conflict of interest:

(1) Does the department maintain up-to-date registers of pecuniary interests and/or gifts related to agency heads, members of the Senior Executive Service (SES) and those acting in SES positions.

(2) Did the Treasurer and the Secretary of the department ensure that details were up-to-date with respect to officers responsible for the provision of advice in relation to the Government’s review of international air services policy.

 (3) Did relevant declarations include complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines.

(4) With reference to the requirement under the Prime Minister’s A Guide on Key Elements of Ministerial Responsibility dated December 1998 that ministerial staff should not accept gifts, sponsored travel or hospitality if acceptance could give rise to a conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict: has any member of the Treasurer’s staff accepted complimentary airline lounge memberships, complimentary upgrades, sponsored travel and/or other gifts from Qantas, Virgin Blue and/or Singapore Airlines since the commencement of the Government’s consideration of Singapore Airlines’ request to access the Pacific route; if so, were those interests immediately declared and recorded in a written register; and if, in any case, such interests have not been immediately declared and recorded, why not.

2326  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—For each of the financial years 2001-02, 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06:

(1) How many flight movements occurred at Sydney Airport on a monthly basis.

(2) Have there been any changes to flight paths; if so: (a) on what dates did these changes occur; (b) have these changes been maintained; and (c) what, if any, consultations were undertaken by the Department with residents affected by the change of flight path.

(3) How many noise complaints have been received by the Department or any portfolio agency on a monthly basis.

2327  Senator O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional Services—

(1) Can the Minister confirm that the Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Sydney Airport failed on 4 August 2006; if so: (a) when did the Minister became aware of the failure; (b) what was the reason for the failure; (c) for what period was the ILS out of service; (d) which flights were on approach at the time of the failure; (e) what action was taken to ensure the safety of any aircraft in transit at the time of the failure; (f) did the failure cause delays at Sydney Airport or throughout the network; (g) has Airservices Australia made any form of financial compensation (including waiver of fees) available to any airlines as a result of this incident; and (h) what remedial action has been taken by Airservices Australia to ensure that this failure does not occur again.

(2) Can details be provided of any other reported ILS failures for the financial years 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.