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Senate Committees

Additional Estimates 2000-2001 Report

March 2001

ISSN 1441-9904

Download this report as a single file (PDF 207KB)

Committee membership
Report to the Senate
Introduction
General Comments
Portfolio Specific Issues
Environment and Heritage portfolio
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio
- Arts
- Communications
- Information Technology
Acknowledgements
appendix 1 Public hearing agendas
Appendix 2 NGA Correspondence

Committee membership

Members
Senator Alan Eggleston, Chair (LP, WA)
Senator Mark Bishop, Deputy Chair (ALP, WA)
Senator Andrew Bartlett (AD, QLD)
Senator the Hon Nick Bolkus (ALP, SA)
Senator Paul Calvert (LP, TAS)
Senator Tsebin Tchen (LP, VIC)

Substitute Members
Senator Natasha Stott Despoja (AD, SA) to substitute for Senator Bartlett for matters relating to information technology as at 30/09/99
Senator Kate Lundy (ALP, ACT) to replace Senator Bishop on matters relating to information technology for the committee’s 2000-2001 additional estimates hearings

Participating Members
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz (LP, TAS)
Senator Lyn Allison (AD, VIC) appointed for communications issues as at 30/09/99
Senator the Hon Ron Boswell (NPA, QLD)
Senator Vicki Bourne (AD, NSW)
Senator Bob Brown (AG, TAS)
Senator George Campbell (ALP, NSW)
Senator Kim Carr (ALP, VIC)
Senator Grant Chapman (LP, SA)
Senator Helen Coonan (LP, NSW)
Senator Winston Crane (LP, WA)
Senator the Hon John Faulkner (ALP, NSW)
Senator Alan Ferguson (LP, SA)
Senator Jeannie Ferris (LP, SA)
Senator the Hon Brian Gibson, AM (LP, TAS)
Senator Brian Harradine (IND, TAS)
Senator Len Harris (PHON, QLD)
Senator Steve Hutchins (ALP, NSW)
Senator Susan Knowles (LP, WA)
Senator Meg Lees (AD, SA)
Senator Ross Lightfoot (LP, WA)
Senator Kate Lundy (ALP, ACT)
Senator Sue Mackay (ALP, TAS)
Senator Brett Mason (LP, QLD)
Senator Julian McGauran (NPA, VIC)
Senator Jan McLucas (ALP, QLD)
Senator Shane Murphy (ALP, TAS)
Senator Aden Ridgeway (AD, NSW) appointed for arts issues as at 30/09/99
Senator the Hon Chris Schacht (ALP, SA)
Senator John Watson (LP, TAS)

Committee Secretariat
Ms Andrea Griffiths, Secretary
Mr Michael Gallagher, Estimates Officer

Committee Address:
Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee
S1.57, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Tel: 02 6277 3526
Fax: 02 6277 5818
Email: ecita.sen@aph.gov.au
Internet: http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/index.htm

Report to the Senate

Introduction

On 30 November 2000 the following documents were referred to Legislation Committees for examination and report:

Particulars of proposed additional expenditure for the service of the year ending on 30 June 2001 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2000-2001];
Particulars of Proposed Expenditure for the service of the year ending on 30 June 2001 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2000-2001];
Statement of savings expected in annual appropriations made by Act No. 81 of 2000 (Appropriation Act (No. 1) 2000-2001) , and Act No. 82 of 2000 (Appropriation Act (No. 2) 2000-2001); and
Final budget outcome 1999-2000 (tabled 3 October 2000).

The Committee was required to report to the Senate on Tuesday, 27 March 2001.

Hearings

The Committee conducted hearings in public session on the Environment and Heritage portfolio on Wednesday 21 February 2001 and on the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio on Thursday 22 February 2001. The evidence given is recorded in Hansard and is available on the Internet at:

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/commttee/comsen.htm

Further written responses and information provided to the Committee on notice arising from the hearings are compiled as volumes of Additional Information. These are tabled in the Senate and posted on the Committee’s web page at:

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/index.htm

General Comments

Questions on notice - date for response

In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the Committee agreed that the date for written answers or additional information in response to questions placed on notice at the hearings be 21 March 2001. The Committee notes that as at 22 March 2001, it had received no written answers. The Committee is concerned that departments and agencies are not providing the required information in a timely manner and expects a marked improvement for the next round of estimates.

Recommendations of the Procedure Committee

The Committee notes that on 6 February 2001 the Senate adopted changes to arrangements for estimates hearings recommended by the Procedure Committee, which included the abolition of supplementary hearings on additional estimates, with effect from the beginning of 2001.

Staff approaching the table

The Committee wishes to reaffirm the long standing convention that senators’ staff should not approach the table during hearings. The Committee is an extension of the Senate chamber where ‘strangers’ are not permitted on the floor. These rules are applicable to the Committee’s hearings, therefore staff should avoid approaching the table at any time during hearings, and senators should avoid requesting their staff to do so. Staff approaching the table are distracting to other senators and witnesses.

Portfolio Specific Issues

The Committee raised a wide variety of issues during its examination of the 2000-2001 Additional Estimates and wishes to make the following comments on portfolios examined.

Environment and Heritage portfolio

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)

Representatives from GBRMPA were questioned on the following areas:

Terms of reference and progress on the review of ship safety and pollution prevention measures (pp. 3-4)[1]

Nelly Bay, Magnetic Island - finger bund, 1992 Whitehouse report, soil stockpile, pipeline discharge and non conformance to the environmental impact management plan (pp. 4-9)

Water quality and impact of toxins on dugongs and crabs (pp. 10-12)

National Oceans Office (NOO)

Establishment of the NOO and its forward budget (pp. 12-13)

Regional Marine Plans/State agreements (pp. 13-16)

Environment Australia (EA)

Policy Coordination Division

Cost of promotional and information material (pp. 16-17)

Department’s involvement in a government-wide output pricing regime (pp. 17-19)

Progress in Bureau of Meteorology’s IT service arrangements (pp. 19-20)

Strategic Development Division

Online action agenda, the department’s performance criteria for assessment (p. 20)

Approvals and Legislation Division

Status of bilateral Commonwealth / State agreements over EPBC legislation (pp. 20-23)

Nuclear matters - IAEA conference in Vienna 2000: agenda and papers presented (pp. 24-25)

Approval and tender for replacement reactor (p. 25)

Discussions between ANSTO and the Department regarding assessment at Lucas Heights (pp. 26-36)

Environmental assessment of a low-level repository (proposed waste dump) (p. 36)

Australian and World Heritage Division

Sydney Harbour Federation Trust

Valuation of land and property in Markham Close (pp. 37-40)

Environment Quality Division

Update on the Natural Pollution Inventory (NPI) (pp. 40-41)

Overview / review of the NPI (pp. 41-42)

POPs treaty ratification (p. 43)

Environmental rating scheme for commercial buildings - SEDA’s involvement in scheme (pp. 60-64)

Natural Heritage Division

Number of threatening processes listed under the EPBC Act (pp. 23-24)

Assessment on the impact of salinity and other forms of environmental degradation (p. 44)

Spending within National Heritage Trust (NHT) Budget (pp. 44-49)

Timetable for NHT approvals (p. 48)

NHT mid-term reviews (pp. 49-52)

Salinity action plan (pp. 52-53)

Cape York Regional Advisory Group (pp. 54-55)

Land clearing / conflict with NHT grants (p. 55)

NHT television advertising, costs and details (pp. 56-60)

Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO)

Cost of promotional material and information over the past three years - including that spent on the COP6 stand (p. 64)

Comment on recent report of the IPCC findings on increasing temperature levels (p. 64)

Australia’s status on meeting its target emission levels (pp. 64-65)

COP 6 progress (pp. 67-68)

Greenhouse gas abatement program (pp. 68-69).

Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio

Arts

Australia Council

Nugent Report, Securing the Future, State/Commonwealth liaison and increased funding to 28 major arts companies (pp. 75-76)[2]

Theatre industry funding (pp. 77-78)

State orchestra funding (pp. 78-82)

Australian Film Commission

Decline in the number of feature films produced in Australia over the past year, based on national production survey (pp. 82-83)

Australian Film Finance Corporation

Decrease in return on AFFC’s investments (pp. 83-84)

Film Licence Investment Company pilot companies (pp. 84-86)

Outcome 1 - A rich and stimulating cultural environment

Output 1.1 Playing Australia

Funding for interstate and intrastate theatre company tours (pp. 86-88)

Output 1.1 Symphony Australia

WASO financial position (p. 88)

WASO accommodation (pp. 89-90)

Output 1.3 National Portrait Gallery

Acquisition of Captain Cook portrait and future acquisition funding (pp. 91-93)

National Australia Day Council

Financial status (pp. 93-94)

Output 1.4 National Museum

Revenue rising levels set and the possibility of an entry fee (pp. 94-95)

Use of the hospice site on the peninsula and relationship with the National Capital Authority (pp. 95-96)

Parking arrangements on museum site and buses between Mining Industry House and the National Museum for staff (pp. 96-98)

Sourcing and cost of granite and building materials (pp. 98-100)

Staffing levels and organisation (pp. 100-101)

Plans for the museum opening (pp. 101-102)

National Gallery of Australia (NGA)

The Committee continued its scrutiny of the NGA’s air conditioning and Senator Schacht referred to a response he considered inadequate to a question from Senator Lundy at the Estimates hearing on 25 May 2000 (pp.102-103). This was based on the Steensen Varming report attached to questions on notice 163 and 164 from the Supplementary Budget Estimates Hearing on 30 November 2000. Subsequently Dr Kennedy provided correspondence to the Committee stating that the report in question from Senator Schacht had been identified and quoted from at Budget Estimates 2000-2001 (See Appendix 2).

Other issues canvassed included:

Separation and payout to a former employee - Ms Douglas (p. 103)

Criticisms in a recent speech by former employee - Mr John McDonald (pp. 104-105)

Attendance levels at the gallery (p. 106)

Mr McDonald’s article on Dr Kennedy’s involvement in the discovery of the Caravaggio painting ‘The Taking of Christ’ (p. 107)

Forward program of the gallery (pp. 107-108)

Air conditioning and use of hydrogen peroxide as a cleaning agent (pp. 109-111).

Communications

Australian Broadcasting Authority

Digital television impact on the existing analogue system (pp. 111-113)

Anti-siphoning review (p. 113)

Australian Communications Authority

CB radio bands (pp. 113-114)

Spectrum auctions (p. 114-115)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Due to recent publicity surrounding the ABC, the Committee agreed to a request from its Managing Director, Mr Jonathon Shier, to deliver an opening statement at the commencement of proceedings. The Committee then proceeded to ask a large number of questions pertaining to the recent Australian Federal Police investigation into a leaked internal staffing memo (pp. 115-137, 140-152, 160-161, 179-181).

Telstra

Time line for the Besley inquiry (pp. 186-187)

The role and staffing levels of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, IT and the Arts, Senator the Hon Ian Campbell (pp. 186-187)

Government’s position on the privatisation of Telstra (p. 187)

ADSL roll out, for the corporate sector (pp. 188-190)

Update on the proposed sale of NDC (pp. 190-195)

E71 faults (pp. 195-196).

Information Technology

Outcome2 - A competitive and sustainable advantage in the global information economy

The department’s role in the Innovation Statement (pp. 197-200)

Parallel importing of software (pp. 200-201)

Funding for world class centres of excellence (pp. 201-203)

Incubator program within BITS program (pp. 204-206)

Advanced Networks, within BITS program (pp. 206-208)

Intelligent Island (pp. 208-210)

Senator Lundy took issue with the refusal of the department to provide industry development reports at the last round of supplementary Estimates (question on notice 15), due to reasons of ‘commercial-in-confidence’. Senator Lundy again requested the department provide the documents or sufficient justification as to why they should remain confidential (pp. 210-211).

National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE)

Melbourne and Sydney office space (pp. 211-212)

NOIE’s current priorities (p. 212)

Interactive gambling legislation (pp. 213-214)

IT Engine Room Report (pp. 214-215)

Salary package of new CEO, Mr John Rimmer (p. 215).

Acknowledgements

The Committee thanks the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator the Hon Robert Hill and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator the Hon Richard Alston, along with officers from both portfolio departments and agencies for their assistance during this Estimates process.

The Committee also wishes to acknowledge and congratulate Mr Neville Stevens, Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, for his contribution to the Estimates process. Mr Stevens is retiring from the public service and the Committee wishes him well in his future endeavours.

Senator Alan Eggleston
Chair

Appendix 1 - Public hearing agendas

Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee

Additional Estimates 2000-2001

Wednesday, 21 February 2001

Commencing 9:00am

Committee Room 2S1

(Waiting Room Committee Room 2S2)

To be broadcast on Channel 8

http://webcast.aph.gov.au

Environment and Heritage Portfolio

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (Interstate)

National Oceans Office (Interstate)

Environment Australia

Policy Coordination Division
Strategic Development Division
Approvals and Legislation Division
Australian and World Heritage Division (including Australian Heritage Commission)
Environmental Quality Division
Marine and Water Division
National Heritage Division

Parks Australia

Australian Greenhouse Office

Close 6 pmEnvironment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee

Additional Estimates 2000-2001

Thursday, 22 February 2001

Commencing 9:00am

Committee Room 2S1

(Waiting Room Committee Room 2S2)

To be broadcast on Channel 8

http://webcast.aph.gov.au

Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio

Arts

Australia Council (Interstate)

Australian Film Commission (Interstate)

Australian Film Finance Corporation (Interstate)

Department -

Outcome 1

Output 1.1 Playing Australia

Symphony Australia

Output 1.3 National Portrait Gallery

Output 1.4 National Museum of Australia

National Gallery of Australia

Communications

Australian Broadcasting Authority (Interstate)

Australian Communications Authority (Interstate)

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Interstate)

Telstra (Interstate)

Department

Information Technology

Department

Outcome 2 - A competitive and sustainable advantage in the global information economy (NTN)

Output 2.1 ID, BITS

Output 2.2 OGO

Output 2.3 NOIE

Corporate Services

Close - 11pm

Appendix 2 - NGA Correspondence

LETTER FROM DR KENNEDY, NATIONAL GALLERY OF AUSTRALIA, DATED 22 FEBRUARY 2001

22 February 2001
Senator Alan Eggleston
Chairman
Environment, Communications,Information Technology and Arts Legislation Committee
Parliament House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
Fax: 62775818

At the Committee hearing today (22 February) Senator Schacht commented upon advice contained in a report received by the National Gallery in May 1999 and expressed the view that the response provided to a May 2000 Committee hearing was inadequate. A check of the hansard record of the hearing of 25 May 2000 revealed that the Gallery did advise the Committee of the very concerns mentioned today by Senator Schacht.

I attach a copy of ECITA 260 SENATE - Legislation Thursday 25 May 2000, and draw to your attention comments made by Mr Rees as follows:

'Reading from the precis ... comprehensive planning.'

The Gallery did draw this report to the attention of the Committee at the hearing of 25 May 2000 and did not as has been proposed inadequately advise the Committee on this issue - I would be grateful if you were able to set the record straight and ensure any report of the Committee's activities accurately reflect the facts.

Yours sincerely

Dr Brian Kennedy
Director

GPO Box 1150 Canberra
ACT 2601 Australia
Telephone 61 2 6240 6400
Facsimile 61 2 6240 6426
www.nga.gov.au

cc Senator the Hon Richard Alston, Minister for CITA
Mr Neville Stevens, Secretary, DCITA
Senator the Hon Chris Schacht

ECITA 260 SENATE - Legislation Thursday, 25 May 2000

Dr Kennedy-Taking the spirit of your question, which is motivated, I am sure, by concern for public health, the National Gallery of Australia will, in the light of this report and of your questions, continue to re-view, as recommended in the report, what it is actually doing to make sure that our plant is to the highest lev-els. If that includes having to examine all plant and that is the advice, then that is what we will do. That is a very expensive process, and the management of a system continuously requires due care. Indeed, Mr Broad-bent has referred, for example, to periodic attention being normal and addressed on an as-needs basis for cer-tain things. Other things require full examination. When a complaint is made, which is a serious complaint, even by an anonymous informant, that spurs into action very seriously and immediately a full examination of that area. That has happened. The continuous examination of the full plant will be ongoing.

Senator LUNDY-Dr Kennedy, what is your process for acting on complaints that you receive in relation to occupational health and safety matters at the Gallery?

Dr Kennedy-To have them investigated by the competent parties within the Gallery.

Senator LUNDY-What is your process for initiating that action? Which officer is responsible; do you call in Comcare straight away?

Dr Kennedy-No. The competent officer in the Gallery gets the material relevant to that person. In this particular case, the competent officer is Mr Rees, who will have the people who look after our system and know it very well indeed who are also cited in the report-Mr Sitauti and Mr Cox-conduct investigations. They know the system very well. They have lived with it for a long time and have worked in the Gallery for a long time.

Senator LUNDY-Going back to 4.4(b), this reference to the Bligh Voller Nield building audit, can you supply that full report, including the recommendations, to the committee?

Mr Rees-Yes.

Senator LUNDY-Can you tell me if there are any recommendations to either that report or to the 1995 report that have not been acted on completely or finalised at this point?

Mr Rees-Yes.

Senator LUNDY-There are some?

Mr Rees-Yes, but they relate to issues that can be addressed only by a full analysis of the problem and a comprehensive program of works worth $1 million plus. They are not overnight issues.

Senator LUNDY-Do any of those outstanding problems relate to the airconditioning system or the wa-ter-cooling towers?

Mr Rees-Reading from the precis, it seems that there is insufficient fresh air supplied to public galleries, that smoke exhausts and shaft pressurisation seem to require some co-compliance, that service tunnel ex-hausts are inadequate, that water overspray is causing some rotting fabric and that airborne gases can be eliminated by installing carbon filters. That is what the report will reveal, and those issues require strategic planning and comprehensive programming.

Senator LUNDY-So you are still addressing those?

Mr Rees-Yes.

Senator LUNDY-Tell me if I am wrong, but it seems that the photographic evidence supplied and the problems that you have just outlined indicate that there is actually some relationship between the issues in this complaint and the activities that have been raised in the report that the gallery is still acting on?

Mr Rees-Yes.

Senator LUNDY-And I think that, Dr Kennedy, makes it very clear that not only are you aware of those issues but you are acting on them, and that this Comcare investigation has identified an ongoing presence of the problems that you are trying to address.

Dr Kennedy-I do not accept that, Senator.

Senator LUNDY-Read the Hansard. Is there a resource problem in acting on those recommendations? What is your building services budget looking like last year and this year, and is that constraining your ability to act on the recommendations from the 1999 report?

Dr Kennedy-As you know, since my time here I have made it a priority to try to address the issues con-cerning the building which are generational lifecycle issues-effectively a generation; 20 to 25 years-re-quiring the continuous renewal of very expensive plant and machinery. We have had boiler replacement which we notified to this committee two years ago. We have ongoing major plant which requires us to budget

Senate Committees

Additional Estimates 2000-2001 Report

Table of contents

Committee membership

Report to the Senate

Introduction

Hearings

General Comments

Questions on notice - date for response

Recommendations of the Procedure Committee

Staff approaching the table

Portfolio Specific Issues

Environment and Heritage portfolio

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA)

National Oceans Office (NOO)

Environment Australia (EA)

Policy Coordination Division

Strategic Development Division

Approvals and Legislation Division

Australian and World Heritage Division

Environment Quality Division

Natural Heritage Division

Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO)

Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio

Arts

Australia Council

Australian Film Commission

Australian Film Finance Corporation

Outcome 1 - A rich and stimulating cultural environment

Output 1.1 Playing Australia

Output 1.1 Symphony Australia

Output 1.3 National Portrait Gallery

National Australia Day Council

Output 1.4 National Museum

National Gallery of Australia (NGA)

Communications

Australian Broadcasting Authority

Australian Communications Authority

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Telstra

Information Technology

Outcome2 - A competitive and sustainable advantage in the global information economy

National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE)

Acknowledgements

Appendix 1 - Public hearing agendas

Appendix 2 - NGA Correspondence