Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, upon notice, on 8 November 2011:

With reference to the answer to question no. 64 taken on notice during the 2011-12 Budget estimates hearings of the Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee:

(1) Given that the response noted that the media unit consists of 24.3 full-time equivalent staff, of which eight are in the 24 hour, 7 day per week Media Team (24/7 Media Team), can an explanation be provided as to the business requirement to keep such a large media unit.

(2) What sort of tasks are expected of the 24/7 Media Team.

(3) Is there a shift-work allowance for the 24/7 Media Team; if so: (a) can a description be provided as to how it operates; and (b) how much is paid annually in shift allowances.

(4) How many people are 'on call' outside hours at any particular time.

(5) How much of the Communications and Media Unit's workload is:

(a) devoted to dealing with various issues i.e. irregular maritime arrivals, drug hauls at borders etc; and (b) spent on 'positive promotion' of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and how much is spent on 'crisis management'.