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Senate Committees

Budget estimates 2005-06

20 June 2005

Membership of the Legislation Committee

Members
Senator Alan Eggleston, Chair (LP, WA)
Senator Kate Lundy, Deputy Chair (ALP, ACT)
Senator Andrew Bartlett (AD, QLD)
Senate Stephen Conroy (ALP, VIC)
Senator Santo Santoro (LP, QLD)
Senator Tsebin Tchen (LP, VIC)

Substitute Members
Senator John Cherry (AD, QLD) to replace Senator Bartlett for matters relating to the Communications portfolio
Senator Brian Greig (AD, WA) to replace Senator Bartlett for matters relating to the Information Technology portfolio
Senator Aden Ridgeway (AD, NSW) to replace Senator Bartlett for matters relating to the Arts portfolio
Senator Connie Fierravanti-Wells (LP, NSW) to replace Senator Santoro for the consideration of the 2005-06 budget estimates on 25 and 26 May 2005

Participating Members
Senator the Hon Eric Abetz (LP, TAS)
Senator Lyn Allison (AD, QLD)
Senator the Hon Nick Bolkus (ALP, SA)
Senator the Hon Ron Boswell (NPA, QLD)
Senator Bob Brown (AG, TAS)
Senator George Campbell (ALP, NSW)
Senator Kim Carr (ALP, VIC)
Senator Grant Chapman (LP, SA)
Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck (LP, TAS)
Senator the Hon Helen Coonan (LP, NSW)
Senator Trish Crossin (ALP, (NT)
Senator Christopher Evans (ALP, WA)
Senator the Hon John Faulkner (ALP, NSW)
Senator Alan Ferguson (LP, SA)
Senator Jeannie Ferris (LP, SA)
Senator Brian Harradine (Ind, TAS)
Senator the Hon Bill Heffernan (LP, NSW)
Senator John Hogg (ALP, QLD)
Senator Gary Humphries (LP, ACT)
Senator Susan Knowles (LP, WA)
Senator Ross Lightfoot (LP, WA)
Senator Joseph Ludwig (ALP, QLD)
Senator Julian McGauran (NPA, VIC)
Senator Jan McLucas (ALP, QLD)
Senator Brett Mason (LP, QLD)
Senator Claire Moore (ALP, QLD)
Senator Kerry Nettle (AG, NSW)
Senator Kerry O'Brien (ALP, TAS)
Senator Robert Ray (ALP, VIC)
Senator John Watson (LP, TAS)
Senator Penny Wong (ALP, SA)

Committee Secretariat
Ms Louise Gell, Secretary
Ms Jacquie Hawkins, Research 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

Membership of the Committee

Report to the Senate
      Introduction
      Hearings
      Questions on notice – date for response
      Portfolio specific issues
            Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio
            Environment and Heritage portfolio
      Matters arising during the inquiry
          Late return of responses to questions on notice
          Comprehensiveness of Budget Estimates process
      Acknowledgements

Appendix 1 – Public hearing agenda

Appendix 2 – Documents tabled at estimates hearings

Introduction

1.1 On 10 May 2005 the Senate referred the following documents to legislation committees for examination and report:

particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2006;
particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2006;
particulars of certain proposed supplementary expenditure for the year ending 30 June 2005;
particulars of proposed supplementary expenditure for the year ending 30 June 2005.[1]

1.2 The Committee was required to report to the Senate on 20 June 2005.[2]

Hearings

1.3 The Committee conducted public hearings on the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio on 23, 24, and 25 May 2005 and on the Environment and Heritage portfolio on 26 May 2005. The agenda is at Appendix 1.

1.4 Links to the transcripts of the public hearings and to responses and additional information are available on the Internet at:

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/ecita_ctte/estimates/bud_0506/index.htm

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

Questions on notice – date for response

1.6 In accordance with Standing Order 26(9)(a), the Committee has fixed Friday, 5 August 2005 as the date for written answers or additional information to be provided in response to questions placed on notice.

Portfolio specific issues

Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio

1.7 On the first day of its examination of the 2005-2006 Budget Estimates, the Committee examined the broadcasting, information technology, copyright and information economy areas of the portfolio.

1.8 The Committee welcomed Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Senator the Hon Eric Abetz, Special Minister of State, substituted for the Minister on Tuesday afternoon.

1.9 During its examination of estimates, the Committee raised a variety of issues which are noted below. The page numbers beside each issue refer to the proof transcript for Monday, 23 May 2005.

Outcome 3 – Development of services and provision of a regulatory environment which encourages a sustainable and effective communications sector for the benefit of all Australians and an internationally competitive information economy and Information and Communications Technology industry

Broadcasting issues

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Questioning of the ABC lasted from 9.00 am to 2.45 pm and covered a wide range of issues:

allegations of bias, compliance of staff with ABC editorial policies and guidelines and with the news style guide (pp. 5-14, 60-67)
explanation of two line items, 'employees' and 'suppliers' under the heading 'Expense', in Table 5.1 in the Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS) (pp. 14-15)
claims for psychological injuries (pp. 15-16)
budget for occupation health and safety training (pp.16-18)
Corpsych report on ABC employee assistance program (pp. 18-20)
statistics on the incidence of sick leave at the ABC (p. 20)
bullying in the workplace and courses provided to staff on the issue (pp. 20-25)
complaints of bullying in the Victorian newsroom (pp. 25-27, 30)
psychological injuries claims from Western Australian staff (p. 28)
misconduct charge against a Hobart staff member (pp. 31-34)
budget overrun by Radio National (pp. 36-37)
processes for staff selection (pp. 37-38)
review of resource allocation matters in the TV area (pp. 38-39)
staff redundancies procedures (pp. 39-40)
changes to the Independent Complaints Review Panel (pp. 41-43)
proposed review of the adequacy of the ABC's use of funding (pp. 43-44)
production of local drama (pp. 44-47)
conversion to digital television (pp. 47-48)
the effect of genre restriction on digital programming (pp. 48-49)
quality of the ABC's digital transmission service (pp. 49-51)
appointment of head of strategy and development (pp. 51-53)
transition to digital radio (pp. 53-54)
service provided by ABC Asia Pacific television (pp. 54-56)
fraud control strategy (pp. 56-57)
expansion of the News Radio network (pp. 58-60)

Special Broadcasting Service Corporation

extension of SBS services beyond capital cities (pp. 68-69)
broadcasting of Timor Sea Justice Campaign commercials (pp. 69-71)
Managing Director's attendance at political party fundraisers (pp. 72-77)
transition to digital radio (pp. 77-78)
redundancies in the subtitling department (p. 80)

Australian Broadcasting Authority

the duty of confidentiality of ABA board members including disclosures in former ABA Chairman Professor David Flint's recently published book (pp. 81-86)
compliance of regional licensees (pp. 88-90)
merging of the ABA and ACA to form the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) (pp. 90-92)
role of the ABA in complaints about free to air networks refusing to screen commercials (pp. 92-94)

DCITA Output 3.2—Policy advice and program management which promote accessible high quality broadcasting services

funding provided to NetAlert for the CyberSafe Program (pp. 95-97)
Television Black Spots Program (pp. 97-101)
figures for the take up of digital television (pp. 101-103, 112)
digital broadcasting review (p. 104)
possible changes to the media ownership laws (pp. 104-111)
switch off of analog television (pp. 111-112)
appointments to the ABC board (pp. 112-115)
disclosures in former ABA Chairman Professor Flint's book Malice in Media Land (pp.115-116, 117-124)
introduction of digital radio (pp.116-117)

Information and communications technology issues

DCITA Output 3.3—Policy advice and program management that assist the development of the Information and Communications Technology Industry

government's financial support of National ICT Australia Ltd (NICTA) and its accountability measures (pp. 124-125)
resignation of the NICTA CEO and Chair (pp. 126-133)
current status of the department's IT outsourcing contract (pp. 134-135)

Copyright issues

DCITA Output 3.4—Policy advice on intellectual property issues which supports the objectives of the portfolio, including encouraging the growth of the information economy, the production of content and the promotion of reasonable access to research and cultural materials

transfer of copyright policy issues to Attorney-General's portfolio (p. 136)

Information economy

DCITA Output 3.5—Strategic advice, activities and representation relating to Australia's development as an information economy, nationally and internationally

transfer of the Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) to the Department of Finance (pp. 136-137)
improving small to medium enterprise (SME) access to government ICT procurement business (pp. 137-147)

1.10 The Committee continued its examination of this portfolio on its second day of hearings, looking at the communications area. The page numbers refer to the proof transcript for Tuesday, 24 May 2005.

Telecommunications issues

Australia Post

medical services provided to employees (pp. 4-7)
revocation of right of entry permit of union official (pp. 7-9)
termination of employment of Mr Trevor Grenfell and legal proceedings (pp. 9-16)
circumstances of voluntary redundancy package offered to Ms Ousley (pp. 16-19)
cost of legal services in last financial year and selection of providers (p. 19)
implementation of the junk mail policy (pp. 21-22)
installation of screen in licensed post offices (LPOs) by Multimedia International Services (pp. 22-31)

Telstra

Questioning of Telstra took up most of the day (11.30 am to 6.00 pm) and covered a wide range of issues, particularly those relevant to the References Committee's current inquiry into the telecommunications regulatory regime, and the proposed sale of Telstra, T3:

employees' entitlements to payments for redundancy and other terminations (pp. 32-35)
circumstances surrounding the redundancy and re-engagement as a consultant of Mr John Short, former national general manager of government affairs (pp. 35-49)
media monitoring (p. 37)
ministerial responsibility for the possible sale of Telstra, the respective roles of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in the T3 process (pp. 42-43, 85-86)
acceptable usage policy for BigPond services (pp. 49, 53-55)
provision of CDMA mobile service in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (pp. 49-51)
litigation concerning the over-build of the HFC network (pp. 51, 52-53)
Telstra share price (pp. 51-52)
process for distributing dividends to shareholders (pp. 56-58)
visit of Telstra representatives, Mr McGauchie and Ms McKenzie, to the UK (pp. 59-60)
costs of back haul transmission (pp. 60-66, 70-72)
uptake of broadband services (pp. 67-70)
charges for transferring from Telstra DSLAMS to competitor DSLAMs (pp. 72-73)
Telstra's foreign subsidiaries (p. 74)
technical processes involved in redirecting BigPond customers to www.caseydonovan.com.au (pp. 75-77)
supply of White Pages directories in Sydney and Melbourne (pp. 77-78)
staffing of Telstra customer service call centres (p. 79)
customer complaints about Telstra services (pp. 79-83, 87-94)
structural versus operational separation (pp. 84-87)
HiBIS (Higher Bandwidth Incentive Scheme) program (pp. 94-95)

Australian Communications Authority

compliance with industry codes by carriers installing mobile phone towers (pp. 95-96)
availability of regional spectrum for wireless broadband (pp. 96-98)

DCITA Output 3.1—Policy advice and program management which encourages competitively priced and reasonably accessible telecommunications and postal services

consideration of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) report on Telstra's retail price controls (pp. 98-100)
appointment processes for a chair for the newly-formed ACMA (pp. 100-102)
department's review of telecommunications regulation (p. 102)
review of the HiBIS program (pp. 102-117)
recipients of Coordinated Communications Infrastructure Fund (CCIF) grants (pp. 118, 121-123)
demand aggregation program (pp. 118-121)
status of programs listed under administered expenses – BARN, the local government fund, regional mobile phones fund, National Communications Fund, TAPRIC and the NTN fund (pp. 123-139)

Arts and Sport issues

1.11 On Wednesday, the Committee concluded its examination of the portfolio with its examination of the arts and sports outcomes. The page numbers refer to the proof transcript for 25 May 2005.

1.12 The Committee welcomed Senator the Hon Rod Kemp, Minister for the Arts and Sport.

Outcome 1—Development of a rich and stimulating cultural sector for all Australians

The first half of the day was spent questioning the Australian Council, with other arts agencies questioned in the afternoon. Issues canvassed included:

Australia Council

McRae report on the Sydney Dance Company (pp. 5-7, 12-28)
financial status of major performing companies (pp. 7-12)
funding for orchestras (pp. 29-30, 32-35, 47-48)
effect of the efficiency dividend (pp. 30-31)
restructure of the Community Cultural Development Board (pp. 36-38)
triennium funding for small and medium-sized companies (pp. 38-42)
funding of the Melba Foundation and the appointment of ex minister Richard Alston to the board (pp. 42-47)

Australian Film Commission

local content on pay television (pp. 49-51)
collection access policies (pp. 51-52)
role and cost of the PALM Consulting Group (pp. 53-54)

Australian National Maritime Museum

costs and funding for the preservation and display of HM Bark Endeavour (pp. 54-56)
effect of the efficiency dividend (p. 60)

National Archives of Australia

weekend opening hours of the Archives facilities (p. 61)
effect of the efficiency dividend (p. 61)

National Gallery of Australia

budget for proposed new works, costs to date and timetable for completion (pp. 62-65)
staffing arrangements (pp. 66-68)
effect of the efficiency dividend (p. 68)
engagement of Mr Ken Begg as a media consultant (pp. 69-71)
acquisition of paintings from the Fosters collection (p. 71)
offer of acquisition of the Brown collection (pp. 71-72)

National Library of Australia

effect of the efficiency dividend (pp. 72-73)
resources available for the digitisation program (pp. 73-74)
redevelopment of the Kinetica system (p. 74)
update on the interactive AskNow! Service (p. 75)
progress report on construction of new storage facility (p. 75)

Australian Film Finance Corporation

beneficiaries of the 12.5 per cent tax offset for TV production (p. 76)
marketing of Australian films (p. 77)

National Museum of Australia

current exhibition strategy (pp. 77-79)
funding for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program (pp. 79-80)
remuneration for council members (p. 80)
reappointment of Mr Barnett to the Museum Council (pp. 80-82)

DCITA Output 1.1—Policy advice, program management and agency support which promotes access to and excellence in Australia’s cultural activities and preservation and development of our cultural collections

Orchestra Victoria (pp. 83-88)
effect on TV production of the 12.5 per cent tax offset program (pp. 88-89)
rejection of requests to bundle TV productions (pp. 89-90)
levels of international touring by Australian major arts companies (pp. 90-91)
review of the Cultural Ministers Council (p. 91)
provision of indigenous services (pp. 91-92)

DCITA Output 1.2 – Preservation of and access to Old Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery and their respective collections

Representatives from Old Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery were not called before the Committee and no questions were asked of the department.

Outcome 2—Development of a stronger and internationally competitive Australian sports sector and encouragement of greater participation in sport by all Australians

The final four hours of questioning were devoted to the sports portfolio, with particular emphasis on drug testing of athletes and the allocation of funding for recreational projects funded under the Making Australia stronger: delivering our commitments program announced during the previous election period.

Australian Sports Commission (ASC)

Australian Sports Drug Agency (ASDA)

DCITA Output 2.1—Policy advice, program management and agency support in relation to sports, anti-doping and industry development measures which support the Australian sports sector

Areas of inquiry included:

procedures for random searches of Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) facilities (pp. 93-98)
role of ASDA personnel in development of search procedures (p. 96)
compliance of national sporting organisations with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code (p. 98)
ramifications of not complying with the code (pp. 98-100)
delisting of caffeine from WADA banned list (pp. 101-102)
use of caffeine as a performance enhancing substance and ethical issues (pp. 102-114)
funding for recreational projects under the Making Australia stronger: delivering our commitments program (pp. 114-127)
tax ruling affecting elite athletes (pp. 127-131)
delivery of the Elite Athlete Friendly University Network to universities (pp. 131-132)
status of the targeted sports programs (pp. 133-138)
after hours school sports program (pp. 138-139)
funding of the Northern Territory Australian Football League (AFLNT) for its AFL Kickstart program (p.140)

Environment and Heritage portfolio

1.13 Having concluded its examination of the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio, the Committee called officers from the Environment and Heritage portfolio on the fourth day of hearings.

1.14 The Committee welcomed Senator the Hon Ian Campbell, Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

1.15 The Committee noted that two agencies, the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) and the National Oceans Office (NOO), have been integrated into the department as a result of a restructure after the 2004 election. Matters related to the AGO are now dealt with by the Industry, Communities and Energy Division and the International, Land and Analysis Division, while matters related to the NOO are dealt with by the Marine Division.

1.16 Questions were first asked of the department on a general basis, including:

meaning of the term 'sustainable continent' (p. 4)
red gum forests (p. 4)

The Committee then moved to specific items on the agenda.

Outcome 2—Australia’s interests in Antarctica are advanced

Antarctic Division

Australia-Antarctic air link (pp. 8-12)
listing of Antarctica as a World Heritage site (pp. 12-13)
impact of global warming on the Antarctic (pp. 13-14)
whaling by the Japanese (pp. 14-21, 29-30)
Australian territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (pp. 21-22)
actions which may trigger procedures under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (the EPBC Act) (pp. 23-25)
representation at the International Whaling Committee (IWC) meeting in June (pp. 26-29)

Outcome 1—The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

appropriations for the Authority (pp. 30-32)
current staffing levels (pp. 32-33)
review of the Authority resulting from the Uhrig review (pp. 34-37, 40)
restructure assistance package (pp. 43-46)

Supervising Scientist Division

review of the Office of the Supervising Scientist (OSS) (p.47)
rehabilitation plan for the Ranger and Nabarlek sites (pp. 48-49)
implementation of recommendations made after incidents at the Ranger mine (pp. 49-51)
timing of a government response to the Senate inquiry into regulation of uranium mines (pp. 51-52)
yellowcake spill incident (pp. 52-53)

Bureau of Meteorology

upgrade of radar network and severe weather warning system (pp. 53-58)
development of a tsunami warning system (pp. 58-60)

Director of National Parks and Parks Australia Division

release of the Hanson Stanley report (p. 61)
visitor numbers to Kakadu post park fee abolition (pp. 62-65)
Kakadu promotion campaign (pp. 65-66)

Department of the Environment and Heritage

Corporate Strategies Division

performance pay (p. 67)
integration of the Australian Greenhouse Office into the department (p. 67)
update on the COAG Indigenous coordination trial in the ACT (pp. 68-70)

Approvals and Wildlife Division

nomination of the Tasmanian devil on the rare and endangered species list (pp. 70-71)
effects of logging in Tasmania on already listed endangered species (pp. 71-74, 75-77)
funding of biodiversity hot spots program (pp. 78-82)
import of Asian elephants to Australia (p. 83)
Nathan Dam proposal (pp. 84-85)

Heritage Division

emergency listing under the EPBC Act of heritage alpine grazing lands in Victoria, which the Minister had referred that same day to his department (pp. 85-90)
nomination of Gallipoli on the National Heritage List, including the Prime Minister's involvement in discussions with Turkey. This followed up questioning on the same issue earlier in the week by the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee (pp. 90-97)
current status of the National Heritage List, including the need for a future legislative amendment to allow for the transfer of World Heritage Listings (pp. 97-104)
funding for and functions of the Australian Heritage Council (pp. 104-105)
heritage listing of Recherche Bay (p. 106)
funding for the Daintree (pp. 122-126)

Policy Coordination and Environment Protection Division

funding of the Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility (pp. 106-107)
grants to voluntary environment and heritage organisations (pp. 107-114)

Industry, Communities and Energy Division and International, Land and Analysis Division

staffing of the AGO prior to integration (p. 115)
current staffing levels (p. 116)
extension of the Photovoltaic Rebate Program (pp. 117-119)
greenhouse emissions and projections (pp. 119-120)
effect of land clearing controls on the achievement of Kyoto protocol targets by 2012 (pp. 120-121)
Productivity Commission inquiry into energy efficiency (pp. 121-122)

Land, Water and Coasts Division

the department's role in the National Water Initiative (pp. 126-128)
EPBC Act referrals in relation to the Ramsar wetlands (p. 129)

National Resource Management Programmes Division

community water grants (pp. 127-128)

Marine Division

integration of the National Oceans Office (NOO) into the department (p. 130)
funding changes after the integration (p. 131)

Matters arising during the inquiry

Late return of responses to questions on notice

1.17 The Committee has repeatedly expressed its concern in previous reports about past failures to provide responses in a timely manner and its expectation that responses to questions on notice should be provided to it by the due date.

1.18 On 10 May 2005 the Committee wrote to Senator the Hon Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, noting that a number of questions remained unanswered from her portfolio. The Committee raised the issue at the commencement of this round of hearings, indicating there were still three answers outstanding from the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio.

1.19 In setting 5 August 2005 as the deadline for answers to questions on notice from the current round of hearings, the Committee believes that it is allowing ample opportunity for answers to be carefully considered and submitted in a timely manner.

Comprehensiveness of Budget Estimates process

1.20 The Committee has held the longstanding view that all Government agencies should expect to have to account for their activities at Budget estimates. The Senate has also frequently stated its view that there are no areas in connection with the expenditure of public funds where any person has a discretion to withhold details or explanations from the Parliament or its committees unless the Parliament has expressly provided otherwise.

1.21 During this round of Estimates, several agencies (the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust) were listed on the program but were not called for examination. However, as the Chair noted,[3] the Committee expects that all agencies will be available for the main round of Budget Estimates, unlike Supplementary Estimates where senators nominate agencies they wish to examine.

1.22 In the lead-up to last year's Budget Estimates, the Committee's attention was drawn to the existence of several government companies under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 – all in the CITA portfolio - only some of which were being included in the Committee's program.

1.23 Accordingly, in the interests of comprehensiveness and transparency, the Committee resolved to list all government companies in the program under the relevant departmental outcome. It was left to the discretion of officials to determine whether company representatives needed to attend the hearings in person or whether departmental officers were sufficiently knowledgeable to respond to the Committee's inquiries on their behalf.

1.24 The Committee continued this practice for this Budget round. While not all government companies were the subject of questioning on this occasion, the Committee believes that, by including all relevant government agencies in the hearing program, senators are made aware of the opportunity to be able to hold them to account for their activities at least once a year.[4]

Acknowledgements

The Committee thanks Senators Coonan, Kemp, Campbell and Abetz, and officers from portfolio departments and agencies, for their assistance during this Budget Estimates process.

Senator Alan Eggleston
Chairman

Appendix 1

The Senate

BUSINESS OF COMMITTEES

This document is issued as a guide to Senators

Business listed is subject to change

It should be noted that times allocated for the consideration of outcomes, items and agencies within portfolios are indicative only.

Senators, staff and departments should liaise with secretariats on the progress of portfolios during the estimates process.

SENATE ENVIRONMENT, COMMUNICATIONS, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND THE ARTS LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Public Hearings:          Budget Estimates 2005–2006
                                     Monday, 23 to Thursday, 26 May 2005
                                     and, if required, Friday, 27 May
                                     Committee Room 2S3
                                     Parliament House
                                      Canberra ACT

To be televised on Channel 12 and broadcast on Radio 91.1

http://webcast.aph.gov.au

AGENDA

MONDAY, 23 May 2005

	Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
	Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
	Outcome 3—Development of services and provision of a regulatory environment which encourages a sustainable and effective communications sector for the benefit of all Australians and an internationally competitive information economy and Information and Communications Technology industry
9.00am	Australian Broadcasting Corporation
	Special Broadcasting Service
	Australian Broadcasting Authority
	DCITA Output 3.2—Policy advice and program management which promote accessible high quality broadcasting services (including matters related to NetAlert Limited)

	DCITA Corporate Services
	DCITA Output 3.3—Policy advice and program management that assist the development of the Information and Communications Technology Industry (including matters related to National ICT Australia (NICTA))

	DCITA Output 3.4—Policy advice on intellectual property issues which supports the objectives of the portfolio, including encouraging the growth of the information economy, the production of content and the promotion of reasonable access to research and cultural materials

	DCITA Output 3.5—Strategic advice, activities and representation relating to Australia's development as an information economy, nationally and internationally

11.00pm	Adjournment

TUESDAY, 24 MAY 2005
	Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
	Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
	Outcome 3—Development of services and provision of a regulatory environment which encourages a sustainable and effective communications sector for the benefit of all Australians and an internationally competitive information economy and Information and Communications Technology industry
9.00am	*Any matters not completed the previous day*
then	Australia Post
	Telstra
	Australian Communications Authority
	DCITA Output 3.1—Policy advice and program management which encourages competitively priced and reasonably accessible telecommunications and postal services

11.00pm	Adjournment

WEDNESDAY, 25 MAY 2005
	Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
	Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
9.00am	*Any matters not completed the previous day*
then	Outcome 1—Development of a rich and stimulating cultural sector for all Australians
	Australia Council
	Australian Film Commission
	Australian Film, Television and Radio School
	Australian National Maritime Museum
	National Archives of Australia
	National Gallery of Australia
	National Library of Australia
	National Museum of Australia
	DCITA Output 1.1—Policy advice, program management and agency support which promotes excellence in, preservation and maintenance of, and access to Australia’s cultural activities, cultural collections and Indigenous languages (including matters related to the Australia Business Arts Foundation Limited; Bundanon Trust; Film Australia Limited and Film Finance Corporation Australia Limited)

	DCITA Output 1.2—Preservation of and access to Old Parliament House and the National Portrait Gallery and their respective collections

	Outcome 2—Development of a stronger and internationally competitive Australian sports sector and encouragement of greater participation in sport by all Australians
	Australian Sports Commission
	Australian Sports Drug Agency
	DCITA Output 2.1—Policy advice, program management and agency support in relation to sports, anti-doping and industry development measures which support the Australian sports sector.

11.00pm	Adjournment

THURSDAY, 26 MAY 2005
9.00am	Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts *Any matters not completed the previous day*
then	Environment and Heritage Portfolio
	Department of Environment and Heritage
	Outcome 2—Australia’s interests in Antarctica are advanced
	Australian Antarctic Division

	Outcome 1—The environment, especially those aspects that are matters of national environmental significance, is protected and conserved
	Supervising Scientist Division
	Bureau of Meteorology
	Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
	Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
	Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator
	Director of National Parks and Parks Australia Division
	Department of the Environment and Heritage Approvals and Wildlife Division Corporate Strategies Division Heritage Division Industry, Communities and Energy Division (incorporates Australian Greenhouse Office) International, Land and Analysis Division (incorporates Australian Greenhouse Office) Land, Water and Coasts Division Marine Division (incorporates National Oceans Office) Natural Resource Management Programmes Division Policy Coordination and Environment Protection Division

11.00pm	Adjournment

Appendix 2 - Documents tabled

Monday, 23 May 2005

Australian Broadcasting Authority

Mr Balding tabled an extract from ABC editorial policies concerning labelling of groups and individuals.

Tuesday, 24 May 2005

Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts: output 3.2

Ms McNally tabled revised responses to qons 140-145 in relation to HiBIS.

Mr Badger tabled three media releases:

056/04, 19 May 2005, Broadband broker funding for rural and regional communities
031/05, 6 April 2005, Broadband funding for rural and remote Western Australia
47/04, 20 April 2004, Broadband boost for rural and remote Australia.

Wednesday, 25 May 2005

Australia Council

The Minister tabled an Australia Council media statement dated 18.5.2005, Ref 11/05 entitled Australia Council commitment to Sydney Dance Company.

Senator Carr tabled a copy of a Report on Sydney Dance Company (the McRae Report).

Australian Sports Commission

Mr Peters, CEO, tabled a chart Targeted Sports Participation Growth Program, Status of Membership Performance: 30 April 2005.

Thursday, 26 May 2005

Senator Brown tabled an extract from a letter from the Australian Prime Minister to the Prime Minister of Japan concerning commercial whaling.

Department of the Environment and Heritage (Policy Coordination and Environment Protection Division)

Mr Keeffe tabled a document, GVEHO 2005 Guide, Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations.

For further information, contact:

Estimates Officer
Senate Standing Committees on Environment, Communications and the Arts
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia

Phone: +61 2 6277 3526

Fax: +61 2 6277 5818

Email: ecita.sen@aph.gov.au

Phone:	+61 2 6277 3526
Fax:	+61 2 6277 5818
Email:	ecita.sen@aph.gov.au