David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 21 March 2011:

(1) For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010, for each agency within the responsibility of the Minister, how much was spent on media monitoring.

(2) As at 1 July and 31 December 2010:

(a) how many staff, uniformed and civilian, full-time and part-time, were employed in public relations and/or the media in the department or each agency within the responsibility of the Minister;

(b) what were the position levels of these staff; and

(c) how many of these staff were: (i) permanent, (ii) temporary, or (iii) contractors.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) Department of Defence $280,705 (GST inclusive), Defence Housing Australia $17,445 (GST exclusive).

(2) (a) At 1 July 2010 the Defence Public Affairs Branch employed 65 civilians, four contractors and 49 military employees. At 31 December 2010 the Defence Public Affairs Branch employed 46 military, 65 civilian's employees and 4 contractors.

Outside of the Public Affairs Branch on 1 July 2010 there were a further 46 Defence employees who provided public affairs or media support as a part of their regular duties, on 31 December 2010 this figure was 41 Defence employees and 3 contractors.

(2) (b) and (c) The following table details the position levels and employment status of staff:

At 1 July and 31 December 2010 Defence Housing Australia (DHA) had no specific staff members responsible for the stated functions. DHA has a Marketing Communication Team, comprised of four staff members. The team is responsible for marketing communication and media campaigns to provide product and service information. There is relatively little day to day media interest in DHA's activities, so an incidental proportion of the team's time is involved in responding to media requests.