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

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform, upon notice, on 2 April 2012:

With reference to the answer to Question no. 142, taken on notice during the 2011-12 Additional Estimates hearing of Senate Community Affairs Committee, and noting that the question was premised on 'the technical advice that the 2014 timeframe was not possible':

(1) Was this or similar advice received by the department; if so, when was that advice received.

(2) Was the advice shared at the Interdepartmental Committee meeting held on 8 July 2011.

(3) Which departments were represented at the Interdepartmental Committee.

(4) What were the alleged risks associated with meeting the implementation timeline of 2014 discussed at the Interdepartmental Committee.

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

The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Minister for Disability Reform have provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) As provided at the Additional Estimates hearing in February 2012, the Department indicated that advice of this nature was received in February 2011.

(2) As also provided at the Additional Estimates hearing in February 2012, advice regarding the difficulty of the implementation timeframe was discussed at the Interdepartmental Committee meeting on 8 July 2012.

(3) The departments represented at the Interdepartmental Committee meeting on 8 July 2012 were:

(4) There were discussions on the risks associated with the implementation timelines and in relation to the feasibility of venues complying with the legislation by 2014.