Notice given 26 August 2003

*1824  Senator Brown: To ask the Minister for Defence—

(1) Has the Minister or have senior advisors to the Minister seen the documentary Massacre in Mazar , by Irish director Jamie Doran, revealing war crimes in Afganistan during the recent invasion.

(2) Is the Minister aware of the mass grave site near the township of Mazar-I-Sharif in Afganistan where thousands of captured prisoners of war and Taliban troops were killed by the Northern Alliance, American and Australian troops.

*1825  Senator Allison: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—Does the National Health and Medical Research Council intend to conduct a review of the composition of human research ethics committees; if so, when.

*1826  Senator Allison: To ask the Minister for Health and Ageing—

(1) What was the rationale for producing advertisements of government health policy from 1996 to the present in all major newspapers on 21 August 2003.

(2) Have these advertisements been paid for through Coalition funding for party campaigns; if not, why not.

(3) What was the total cost of these advertisements.

(4) Are further advertisements to be placed in print media or in any other form of media.

(5) Were the advertisements developed by a consultant, ministerial staff and/or the department.

(6) If a consultant was engaged: (a) who was it; and (b) what was their fee.

(7) Was advice sought as to whether the advertisements violate any covering existing protocol, code of conduct or legislation from the purchase of these advertisements; if so, whom; if not, why not.

(8) Can a copy of this advice be provided.

(9) (a) With reference to the graph of Commonwealth health expenditure published in the advertisement, is the $2.4 billion private health insurance rebate included; (b) what services or programs comprise the ‘other’ category in the graph; and (c) how much of this total is for administration costs.