Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

(1)   Can a list be provided of all office locations for each department or agency within the Minister's portfolio, detailing:

  (a)    the department or agency;

  (b)    the location;

  (c)    the size;

  (d)    the number of staff at each location and their classification;

  (e)    if the office location is rented, the amount and breakdown of rent paid per square metre;

  (f)    if the location is owned by the department or agency, the:

     (i)   value, and

      (ii)   depreciation, of the building; and

  (g)    the type of functions and work undertaken.

(2) For each department and agency within the Minister's portfolio, can details be provided of all public relations, communications and media staff, listed by department or agency, including:

  (a)    the number of ongoing staff, specifying:

     (i)   their classification,

     (ii)   the type of work they undertake, and

     (iii)   their location;

  (b)    the number of non-ongoing staff, specifying:

     (i)   their classification,

     (ii)   the type of work they undertake, and

     (iii)   their location; and

  (c)    the number of contracted staff, specifying:

     (i)   their classification,

     (ii)   the type of work they undertake, and

     (iii)   their location.

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

The following table responds to question (1) (a-f) as related to the Department of Defence:

Notes:

The above information does not include office functions located on Defence bases, high security sites or premises of less than 500 square metres in area.

Outgoings may or may not be included in the Annual Rent amount. This will impact the ability to conduct a like for like comparison.

The information on staff levels and locations was derived by merging data from the Defence human resources system and the internal Defence telephone directory. It is not possible to match the two systems exactly as each stores details in slightly different formats.

(1) (g)

The work undertaken by Defence covers a broad range of disciplines and job types, including administration, procurement, logistics, research and development, planning, training, information communications technology and engineering. Work performed will also include Service-specific trades and employment categories and the broad range of unit-specific work undertaken by soldiers, sailors and airmen/airwomen. A mix of these work types will be performed at most Defence sites.

(2) (a) to (c) The majority of staff engaged in public affairs roles within the Department of Defence are located in the Communication and Media Branch and Strategic Communication Branch.

As at 31 December 2011 the Communication and Media Branch employed 58 civilians, nine military personnel and four contractors.

As at 31 December 2011 the Strategic Communication Branch employed 41 permanent military and 15 part-time military and five civilians.

In addition, as at 31 December 2011, outside of the Communication and Media and Strategic Communication Branches there were 44 civilians and 15 military staff who provided public affairs support as part of their regular duties within the Defence Groups and Services.

Further detail is provided in the following table. A key detailing the acronyms used is at the end of the table.

Communication and Media Branch

Strategic Communication Branch

Personnel outside of the Communication and Media Branch and the Strategic Communication Branch who provide public affairs support as a part of their regular duties within Groups and Services.

Key