Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Sport, upon notice, on 16 January 2012:

(1)   Since 24 November 2007, on how many occasions has responsibility for the Sport portfolio been transferred between departments, and what was the total cost of each transfer.

(2)   What is the anticipated cost to transfer the Sport portfolio from within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport, and will this cost be met from existing departmental resources.

(3)   How many public servants will be required to work from a new office location as result of the transfer in (2), and what is the anticipated total cost to relocate the staff.

(4)   Is the transfer of the portfolio expected to deliver demonstrable improvements in productivity.

(5)   What is the purpose of this transfer of the Sport portfolio.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1): Since 24 November 2007, the Sport Portfolio has transferred three times: from the Department of Communication, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA) to the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) on 3 December 2007; from DoHA to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) on 14 December 2010; and lastly, from PM&C to the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport (DRALGAS) on 14 December 2011.

The Office for Sport does not have records of the costs associated with its transfer between departments.

(2): There are no estimates of the costs associated with the current transfer of the sport portfolio. Any additional costs will be met from existing departmental resources.

(3): As at 30 January 2012, two staff members in the Office for Sport have been required to physically relocate as a result of the move from PM&C to DRALGAS. The total cost was $3,630 including GST.

(4) The Office for Sport will continue to deliver against its performance indicator of delivering improved opportunities for community participation in sport and recreation, and excellence in high-performance athletes, including through investment in sport infrastructure and events, research and international cooperation.

(5)These new arrangements will ensure there is an appropriate focus on the arts and sport in regional as well as non-regional Australia, while also recognising the strong linkages with local government in the delivery of community sports.