Notice given 23 January 2007

2967  Senator Milne: To ask the Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation—With reference to the Minister’s announcement on 4 December 2006 that Gunns Limited will be paid $2.6 million to assist in the development of a pulp mill feasibility study and preliminary engineering works:

(1) How much of the $2.6 million will go towards: (a) funding the study; and (b) the preliminary engineering works.

(2) Has the study been completed; if not, when will the study be completed.

(3) When will the study be made available to the public.

(4) What is involved in the preliminary engineering works.

(5) Have the preliminary engineering works begun; if not, when will they commence.

 (6) Why has the Minister agreed to provide funding for preliminary engineering works for the pulp mill when the construction of the pulp mill has not been approved.

(7) Will the Minister request that the funding for the preliminary engineering works be re-funded if the pulp mill is not approved; if not, why not.

2968  Senator Allison: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs—

(1) Can the Minister confirm that participants at the Maralinga nuclear tests must independently prove that they were at the tests in order to be eligible for the new white cards; if so, why is this the case given that the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has ruled that the published document of the preliminary nominal roll was sufficient evidence that they were present.

(2) Does the Government now dispute the fact that those on the roll were present at the tests; if so, on what basis.

(3) If the Government has taken the position that the Epidemiology Studies (Confidentiality) Act 1981 restricts the use of the roll for such purposes, is it the case that this restriction does not apply once the relevant study is completed.

(4) To date, how many: (a) veterans have been issued with white cards; and (b) applications have been made for white cards.

(5) What is the average length of time taken to process applications.

(6) Are veterans who were on ships providing services to the tests entitled to white cards; if not, why not.

(7) How many veterans received: (a) an act of grace compensation; and (b) Comcare compensation, for leukaemia prior to the closure of those schemes.

(8) Given the number of veterans found in the study to have leukaemia, is the Government considering reinstating these schemes; if not, why not.