(1) Is the Minister's Department, or are agencies within the portfolio, large purchasers or consumers of office papers.

(2) How are Commonwealth procurement guidelines being adhered to by the Minister's Department and agencies within the portfolio.

(3) What methodology or weighting criteria does the Minister's Department and agencies use to determine the importance of the core principles which underpin the procurement guidelines, namely (a) value for money, (b) open and effective competition, (c) ethics and fair dealing, (d) accountability and reporting, (e) national competitiveness and industry development and (f) support for other Commonwealth policies.

(4) What weighting criteria are used to implement the mandatory provisions in the guidelines which state that agencies must be able to demonstrate that Australia New Zealand (ANZ) suppliers have had a fair opportunity to compete.

(5) In inviting suppliers to tender for the provision of goods, are suppliers advised that they must offer ANZ goods.

(6) If the Minister's Department or agencies within the portfolio do not have weighting criteria for determining the principles, will the Minister take steps to ensure that they provide an appropriate means to demonstrate their compliance with Commonwealth procurement policy.

(1) As an example of paper consumption within my portfolio, my department and portfolio agencies used approximately 30,000 reams of office paper and 130 boxes of continuous computer paper in the 1999/2000 financial year.

(2) My department and portfolio agencies have in place guidelines and working documents that reflect the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines: Core Policies and Principles.

(3) No standard methodology or weighting is applied by my department and portfolio agencies. Each individual procurement has selection criteria that seek to ensure that best value for money is attained and that other requirements in the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines: Core Policies and Principles are adhered to.

(4) See answer to question 3. It should be noted that procurement by my department and portfolio agencies is generally sourced from within Australia and/or New Zealand.

My department and portfolio agencies comply with the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines: Core Policies and Principles.

(6) See answers to questions 4 and 5.