Outcome:	1	Question No:	52	
Output:	-	
Division/Agency:	GBRMPA	
Topic:	GBRMPA Administration	
Hansard Page ECA:	Written Question on Notice	

Senator Birmingham asked:
(a)	Did GBRMPA seek an exemption from the application of the one-off two per cent efficiency dividend?
(b)	If so, why did GBRMPA feel it needed to apply for this exemption, to whom did it apply and was the exemption granted?
(c)	If the efficiency dividend applies, how will GBRMPA manage the funding cut and what, if any, programs will be cut to accommodate it?  Can GBRMPA outline the source [e.g. the Minister, the Department of Finance and Deregulation] of any suggested savings measures? 
(d)	Is GBRMPA budgeting for an operating loss and, if so, is it because of the application of the efficiency dividend?
(e)	Has GBRMPA 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?  
(f)	What is the total number of permanent staff employed on a:
(i)  full-time basis?
(ii) part-time basis?
(iii) part-time equivalent basis?
(g)	How many employees are employed on contract and what is the average length of their employment period?
(h)	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?
(i)	How many officers are employed at executive level and SES level?
(j)	How many permanent staff have been recruited since 26 November 2007?  What level are these staff?
(k)	How many temporary positions exist or have been created since 26 November?
(l)	Since 26 November, how many employees have been employed on contract and what is the average length of their employment period?
(m)	Does GBRMPA monitor the media?
(n)	How much has been spent on media monitoring to date this year?
(o)	Is any information provided to the Minister?
(p)	How many employees are engaged in positions responsible for public affairs, media management, liaison with the media and media monitoring?
(q)	What are the APS classifications of these positions?
(r)	What is the current operating budget for these media-related sections?
(s)	What appointments have been made by the Government (through Executive Council, Cabinet and Ministers) to Statutory Authorities, Executive Agencies and Advisory Boards?
(t)	What are the respective appointees’ credentials?
(u)	How many vacancies remain to be filled by Ministerial (including Cabinet and Executive Council) appointments?
(v)	How long have the positions been vacant?
(w)	What grants which have been approved by Ministers from within their portfolio?
(x)	Has the GBRMPA received any advice on how to respond to freedom of information (FOI) requests?
(y)	How many FOI requests has the GBRMPA received?
(z)	How many have been granted or denied?
(aa)	How many conclusive certificates have been issued in relation to FOI requests?

Answer/s:
(a)	No.
(b)	Not applicable.
(c)	The Chairman of the GBRMPA provided the following response at Senate Standing Committee on the Environment, Communications and the Arts Budget Estimates Hearing on 28 May 2008 (Hansard ECA, page 71)
	“As I said at what would have been the additional estimates in March, that figure for next year is $488,000 from a total budget over $40 million. So it is something we anticipate managing through just administrative savings and operations. I am not anticipating any radical changes in terms of our function and delivery. I am not anticipating any changes in staff numbers.”
	The GBRMPA has not received any external advice about any suggested savings measures.
(d)	The GBRMPA has not budgeted for an operating loss in 2008-09.
(e)	No.
(f)	(i) 162 staff are employed on a full-time basis
	(ii) 16 staff are employed on a part-time basis
	(iii) Not applicable.
(g)	42 staff are employed on a contract. Average length of their employment is 17.5 months. 
(h)	As at June 2008

Classification	Base	Top	Perf Point	
 	 $	$ 	$ 	
GAPS 1	29,310	40,866	41,631	
GAPS 2	41,796	46,121	46,984	
GAPS 3	47,316	50,904	51,856	
GAPS 4	52,496	56,821	57,885	
GAPS 5	58,314	62,817	63,992	
GAPS 6	64,328	71,848	73,192	
 	 	 	 	
GEL 1	80,424	86,526	88,146	
GEL 2	94,189	109,261	111,305	
 	 	 	 	
SES	160,952	169,455	 	

(i)	As at June 2008

	Executive Level 1 - 	40
	Executive Level 2 - 	17
	SES level		2

(j)	12 permanent staff have been recruited in the period 26 November 2007 to June 2008 at the following levels:

Classification	Nos recruited	
GAPS 2	1	
GAPS 3	3	
GAPS 4	2	
GAPS 5	1	
GAPS 6	1	
GEL1	3	
GEL2	1	

(k)	Four (4) temporary positions have been created in the period 26 November 2007 to June 2008.
(l)	In the period from 26 November 2007 to June 2008 23 employees have been employed on contract. Average length of service for these non-ongoing employees is 12.6 months.
(m)	Yes.
(n)	$32,329 has been spent in the 2007-08 financial year to the end of May 2008 on media monitoring and receipt of transcripts.
(o)	Yes
(p)	Six (6) staff have positions whose responsibilities include public affairs, media management, media liaison and media monitoring as a part of their overall communications and education role.
(q)	1 @ EL2, 1 @ EL1, 4 @ APS5,
(r)	The 2007-08 budget of $752,447 for Communication Activities includes advertising of the need for compliance with the Great Barrier Reef Zoning Plan, maintenance and development of the GBRMPA website and communications on critical issues for management of the Marine Park.
(s)	One part-time member appointed to the Marine Park Authority 
(t)	One of the part-time members of the Authority shall be a person appointed on the nomination of the Queensland Government. The appointee is the Director-General of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet
(u)	Two (2) positions of Member of the Authority are currently vacant. 
(v)	Since July 2007
(w)	None.
(x)	No.
(y)	Nil.
(z)	One (1) request has been granted. That request was received before 
	26 November 2007.
(aa)	Nil.