Notice given 8 February 2012

1539  Senator Cash: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Health—With reference to the department’s review into the situation of holders of the Retirement Visa (Subclass 410) and Investor Retirement Visa (Subclass 405) and access to Medicare through Reciprocal Health Care Agreements, when is the final report due.

1540  Senator Cash: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship—

(1) Following a letter dated 17 March 2011 from the Minister to the Member for Forrest, which stated that ‘My Department, together with a number of other Government agencies, is currently reviewing the issues faced by individuals remaining in Australia long term as temporary residents. In this context concerns raised by Retirement visa holders, and possible options for resolution, are being given due consideration’:

(a) has any continuing work been undertaken by the department in relation to this matter; if so, can details of this work be provided; and

(b) what further work is planned by the department.

(2) Has the department accepted the feasibility of any of the ‘alternative scenarios’ of the Australian Government Actuary (AGA) report into the estimated costs of 410 retirement visa holders gaining a pathway to permanent residence; if so, which scenarios.

(3) How has the AGA report been used since its publication to ‘help inform Government discussions’, as mentioned in a letter from the department to British ExPat Retirees in Australia (BERIA) in June 2010.

(4) What feedback has the department received on the issue of permanent residence for 410 retirement visa holders from ‘other Government agencies, retirement visa holders and their representatives, including organisations such as BERIA’, as mentioned in a letter from the department to BERIA in June 2010.

Senator Macdonald: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1541-1545)—For the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011, or if more convenient for data purposes the 2010-11 financial year, what flights were taken by departmental staff between: (a) Townsville and Canberra; and (b) Canberra and Townsville, including details on whether they were direct or indirect flights.

1541 Minister representing the Treasurer

1542 Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research

1543 Minister representing the Minister for Defence

1544 Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities

1545 Minister representing the Minister for Industry and Innovation