Outcome:	4	Question No:	157	
Output:	4.1	
Division/Agency:	Australia Council	
Topic:	West Australia Symphony Orchestra	
Hansard Page ECITA:	105 (29 May) 	

Senator Kemp asked:
Are there any outstanding workplace relations issues in orchestras at present? Let me pursue that. Is there currently a continuing problem in WASO? The view has been put to me that the call-out time for the WASO is—if I remember correctly, it was described as—fewer hours than apply elsewhere in Australia. Can anyone shed any light on that for me?

Answer:
The current call counts (rehearsals and performances within the musicians’ Enterprise Bargaining Agreements) for the orchestras are as follows:

Orchestra	Musician Call caps	
The Queensland Orchestra	315 calls per year	
Sydney Symphony Orchestra	300 calls per year plus 50 hours non playing time	
Melbourne Symphony Orchestra	340 calls per year	
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra	340 calls per year	
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra	320 calls per year	
West Australian Symphony Orchestra	315 calls per year	

Calls are for 3 hours (including calls which are part there-of).

Outcome:	4	Question No:	158	
Output:	4.1	
Division/Agency:	Australia Council	
Topic:	Orchestra SOMA	
Hansard Page ECITA:	105 (29 May) 	

Senator Kemp asked:
I was under the impression that that matter had been fixed up. But I notice that SOMA continues to go around seeking more money for orchestras. Is that correct?

Answer:

Yes.

Outcome:	4	Question No:	163	
Output:	4.1	
Division/Agency:	Australia Council	
Topic:	Australia Council - Administration	
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice 	

Senator Birmingham asked:
(a)	Has the Australia Council made in the last six months any request, in accordance with the Financial Management and Accountability Act, for Regulation 10 Authority from the Finance Minister?  If so, why was this authority sought?  
(b)	What is the total number of permanent staff employed on a:
(i) full-time basis?
(ii) part-time basis?
(iii) part-time equivalent basis? 
(c)	How many employees are employed on contract and what is the average length of their employment period?
(d)	What are the base and top level salaries of: 
(i) APS level 1 to 6 officers?
(ii) Executive level officers?
(iii) Senior Executive Services officer?
(iv) Equivalent officers employed?
(e)	How many officers are employed at executive level and SES level?
(f)	How many permanent staff have been recruited since 26 November 2007?  What level are these staff?
(g)	How many temporary positions exist or have been created since 26 November?
(h)	Since 26 November, how many employees have been employed on contract and what is the average length of their employment period?
(i)	Does the Australia Council monitor the media? 
(j)	How much has been spent on media monitoring to date this year? 
(k)	Is any information provided to the Minister? 
(l)	How many employees are engaged in positions responsible for public affairs, media management, liaison with the media and media monitoring? 
(m)	What are the APS classifications of these positions? 
(n)	What is the current operating budget for these media-related sections?
(o)	What appointments have been made by the Government (through Executive Council, Cabinet and Ministers) to Statutory Authorities, Executive Agencies and Advisory Boards?
(p)	What are the respective appointees’ credentials?
(q)	How many vacancies remain to be filled by Ministerial (including Cabinet and Executive Council) appointments?
(r)	How long have the positions been vacant?	
(s)	What grants which have been approved by Ministers from within their portfolio?
(t)	Has the Australia Council received any advice on how to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests?
(u)	How many FOI requests has the Australia Council received?
(v)	How many have been granted or denied?
(w)	How many conclusive certificates have been issued in relation to FOI requests?

Answers:

(a)	Not applicable – The Australia Council is regulated under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies ACT 1997 not the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
(b)	(i)  124
(ii) 22
(iii)There is no part-time equivalent staffing number. The number of full-time equivalent staff is 138.3
(c)	There are 48 employees under Individual Enterprise Agreements (Common Law Contracts). The average length of employment period is 2.5 years.
(d)	(i) Not applicable
(ii) Not applicable
(iii) Not applicable
(iv) Not applicable 

The Australia Council is not covered by the APS Act.
All employees other than the CEO are employed under Section 41 of the Australia Council Act 1975. There is no APS equivalent. The CEO is employed under Section 19 of the Australia Council Act 1975, with remuneration set under the Principal Executive Officer scheme by the Remuneration Tribunal.
(e)	 Executive Level: Not applicable SES: Not applicable 
(f)	Two, both employees are Band 2 entry level (under the Australia Council Act 1975).
(g)	 26 existing. 0 created.
(h)	Three. The average length of employment period is 2.3 years
(i)	Yes.
(j)	$53,000.
(k)	No media monitoring service is provided to the Minister by the Australia Council.
(l)	Four.
(m)	There are no APS classifications for these positions. They are employed under Section 41 of the Australia Council Act 1975 and the employment relationship is reflected through the Australia Council’s Certified Agreement 2006 - 2009 (CA). They are placed in Band 3 of that agreement or are employed through an Individual Employment Agreement (common law contract) which is linked to the CA. 
(n)	$718, 000 per annum (excluding salaries).
(o) – (r) Please refer to the response to question number 17 asked of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

(s)	Not applicable – the Minister does not approve grants made by the Australia Council.
(t)	No.
(u)	One.
(v)	One was granted in full.   
(w)	None.