Outcome:	4	Question No:	166	
Output:	4.1	
Division/Agency:	Film Australia Ltd	
Topic:	FAL Administration	
Hansard Page ECITA:	Written Question on Notice 	

Senator Birmingham asked:
(a)	Has Film Australia 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 officers?
(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 Film Australia 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 Film Australia received any advice on how to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests?
(u)	How many FOI requests has Film Australia received?
(v)	How many have been granted or denied?
(w)	How many conclusive certificates have been issued in relation to FOI requests?

Answers:

Note:  From 1 July 2008 Film Australia’s functions are carried out by Screen Australia and the National Film and Sound Archive.  The answers refer to Film Australia as at 30 June 2008.

(a)	Not applicable – Film Australia is regulated under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 not the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
(b)	(i)	full-time basis - 35
(ii)	part-time basis - 13
(iii)	part-time equivalent basis - 8.14
	
(c)	9 with an average of 6.76 years
(d)	Film Australia staff are not employed under the Public Service Act and Film Australia does not use public service equivalent classifications.
(e)	N/A
(f)	Nil
(g)	1 exists and none created
(h) 	Nil
(i)	Yes 
(j) 	$8,694
(k)	Film Australia provides the Minister and Department with critical feedback on Film Australia productions in its annual National Interest Program report.  This is a requirement of their funding agreement. 
(l) 	3  
(m)	N/A.  Film Australia staff are not employed under the Public Service Act and Film Australia does not use public service equivalent classifications.
(n) 	Direct Promotion Costs for National Interest Program and History $232,608
Staff Costs  					$163,382
Operating Expenses  				  $61,894
Total 			 $457,884
(o)	Please refer to the response to question number 17 asked of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
(p)	N/A
(q)	N/A
(r)	N/A
(s)	N/A – the Minister does not approve grants made by Film Australia.
(t)	Film Australia is not subject to the FOI Act
(u)	N/A
(v)	N/A
(w)	N/A