Notice given 16 March 2012

*1723  Senator Birmingham: To ask the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy—

(1) In regard to the Household Assistance Scheme (HAS) and the Viewer Access Satellite Television (VAST) service programs:

(a) can details be provided as to: (i) where, and (ii) by whom, all of the set top boxes provided to households are manufactured;

(b) what brands of set top box are supplied under these programs, including: (i) the exact model number, and (ii) how many of each model have been installed to date;

(c) who is responsible for purchasing the set top boxes;

(d) who is responsible for deciding which set top box is installed in each household; and

(e) what testing or other form of quality control does the Government undertake before approving each set top box model for use.

(2) Is the Government aware of any modifications made in Australia to set top boxes that have been imported; if so, can details be provided.

(3) Under the programs, who bears the cost for:

(a) replacing faulty set top boxes; and

(b) any call out fees or costs associated with repairing or replacing faulty set top boxes, including details on the exact costs incurred to date associated with faulty set top boxes.

(4) Can details be provided of the unit price for each set top box purchased at the point of sale from manufacturers, and information relating to:

(a) the exact price paid to contractors for each set top box, including cost details if the price varies;

(b) how the price paid to contractors for each unit is determined; and

(c) how the cost per unit of the set top box is taken into account when determining the price paid to contractors for each set top box.

Senator Siewert: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos *1724-*1726)—

(1) Has the department or Minister’s office been approached by, or provided funding and other support to, any of the following organisations since March 2011:

• Azure Funds Management Pty Ltd;
• Azure Capital Pty Ltd;
• Point Torment Supply Base Pty Ltd;
• Indigenous Investment Management Pty Ltd;
• KRED Enterprises Pty Ltd (ACN 147677156);
 


• Kimberley Regional Economic Development Corporation Pty Ltd  (ACN 147677147); and
• the Western Australian Government;

if so, for each organisation:

(a) can details be provided of the nature of the contact or funding and support; and

(b) did the contact or funding and support relate to proposals to develop a port at Point Torment, Northern Territory.

(2) Has the department been approached by any organisation (other than those listed above) in regard to a proposal to develop a port at Point Torment since March 2011.

*1724 Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government

*1725 Minister representing the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

*1726 Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities