Notice given 12 August 2003

1751  Senator Ludwig: To ask the Minister representing the Attorney-General—

(1) What is the total amount budgeted for the Protective Security Coordination Centre.

(2) How much of this budget is allocated for staff wages.

(3) What is the wage scale for staff.

(4) How many calls does the Protective Security Coordination Centre receive each day.

(5) How is information received on the hotline forwarded to respective agencies.

(6) Is there a criteria to determine which agency should receive incoming information; if so, can this criteria be provided.

(7) Are there any reporting processes in place to determine the feasibility of the program; if so, can these details be provided; if not, why not.

(8) Is there a counselling service for staff who are showing signs or symptoms of distress relating to calls they receive during working hours; if not, why not.

1752  Senator Ludwig: To ask the Minister representing the Attorney-General—With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 23 asked during the 2003-04 Budget estimates hearings of the Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee:

(1) Is there an option for an alternate contact person in the event the programmer contracted is unavailable.

(2) What are the hours of operation.

1753  Senator Ludwig: To ask the Minister representing the Attorney-General—In relation to the Community Legal Services Information System design and development of a new data collection and reporting system:

(1) What data is collected.

(2) What is the data used for.

(3) Who has access to the database.

(4) Can examples be provided of the records kept or information gathered as a result of information gained by this database.

(5) Will the report be reviewed; if not, why not; if so: (a) when will the review be held; and (b) when will a report be released.

1754  Senator Ludwig: To ask the Minister representing the Attorney-General—In relation to the department’s submission to the Attorney-General on Community Legal Centres and the Regional Law Hotline: Can a copy be provided of the department’s submission be provided. 

Senator Brown: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1757-1759)—

1. Have any analyses been conducted in relation to a national carbon tax or greenhouse gas emissions trading system; if so, can the following information be provided: (a) the dates the analyses were conducted; (b) who did the work; and (c) where copies of these analyses can be obtained.
2. (a) What meetings have been held between government and industry to discuss carbon taxes or emissions trading this year; (b) who attended the meetings; (b) when were the meetings held; and (c) what was discussed.

1758 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

1759 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Senator Brown: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1760-1761)—With reference to the review of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target Scheme:

(1) What input, if any, have the following agencies had to the preparation of the panel’s report: Environment Australia, Australian Greenhouse Office, Department of Industry, Tourism and resources, Treasury, any other government agencies.

(2) What advice, analysis or information have the agencies listed in paragraph (1) provided to the review, and can a copy be provided.

(3) Can a list be provided of groups and individuals with whom the review panel has met, including the dates of the meetings, locations and length.

(4) Can a list be provided of confidential submissions including reasons as to why they have been made confidential.

(5) (a) Has the Government of New South Wales made a submission; (b) did the panel request a submission from New South Wales or have any meetings with representatives of the New South Wales Government; if so, can details be provided.

1760 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

1761 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Senator Brown: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1762-1764)—In relation to the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme:

1. What analyses of MRET have been conducted by the department or its agencies; please include in the answer: (a) a description of each analysis; (b) when it was carried out; (c) by whom; and (d) its conclusions.
2. Has any assessment been undertaken of the economic, environmental and social benefits of different MRET targets in 2010; if so, what were the conclusions.
3. What information or analysis has been obtained on levels of renewable energy targets internationally and the benefits derived from them.

1763 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

1764 Minister representing the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources

Senator Brown: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1765-1766)—

(1) Why has Australia slipped from providing 5 per cent of the world’s photovoltaic (PV) power to less than 1 per cent.

(2) Is the Minister concerned that Australia’s advantage in PV power has declined so precipitately; if so, what are the consequences, environmentally and economically, of the decline.

(3) Why is PV power going ahead so fast in Japan and Germany.

(4) What action is being taken to bring Australia’s PV power back up to 5 per cent of world production.

1765 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

1766 Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Heritage

Senator Brown: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question Nos 1769-1770)—

(1) (a) How many cameras watch over the Aboriginal Tent Embassy and surrounding area; and (b) how long have these cameras been in place.

(2) (a) Were any persons identified as responsible for the fire bombing of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on 14 June 2003; and (b) did the camera footage show people in the vicinity who may have been responsible.

(3) Can the original unedited video of 14 June 2003 (24 hours) be available for viewing by Senator Brown’s office.

1769 Minister representing the Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government

1770 Minister representing the Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government