Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 4 October 2012:

Senator Bernardi: In regard to each department and agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and each Commonwealth authority under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 within the Minister's portfolio:

(1) Is information collected from stakeholders and the broader community; if so:

a. What forms or other methods are used to collect information;

b. How many of these forms are:

  i. paper-based,

  ii. electronic-based; and

  iii. both;

c. Do these forms request an estimate of the time taken to complete, if not, why not;

d. Is data collected on how long it takes to complete each form; if so, can this data be provided.

(2) For each proposed regulatory initiative since August 2010:

a. how many stakeholder consultations have been conducted; and

b. have there been any complaints from stakeholders about the consultation process; if so, from whom.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

Responses are outlined below from the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and agencies under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and Commonwealth authorities under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997. In relation to part (2) of the question this is only applicable to the Department, and the Australian Communications and Media Authority, with regulatory responsibilities.

Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy

(1) Yes.

(a-b) The Department of Broadband Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) collects information from stakeholders and the broader community in relation to a broad range of matters. Details of the Department's programs and links to its funding programs/consultations and submissions are available via the Department's Information Publication Scheme on its website http://www.dbcde.gov.au/about_us/information_publication_scheme_ips

The Department also provides its Personal Information Digest to the Australian Information Commissioner each year (as required under the Privacy Act 1988), listing personal information holdings.

(c-d) Where forms (online/paper) are used to collect information, the forms do not request an estimate of time taken to complete. Forms are designed to only collect the data necessary, for example, to enable an assessment of a grant application. In the main, data is not collected on how long it takes to complete forms. However, it is noted that the Digital Switchover Taskforce collects information via the Digital Tracker telephone survey. Verbal responses to this survey are entered into a computer system and respondents are advised of the approximate duration of the survey (less than 15 minutes depending on the length of the respondent's answers).

(2)

(a-b) Details relating to Regulatory initiatives since 2010 are outlined in the Department's Regulatory Plans 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, all available on the Department's website at http://www.dbcde.gov.au/about_us/reporting_requirements_and_reviews/departmental_regulatory_plan/archived_departmental_annual_regulatory_plans

Consultation opportunities are identified for planned regulatory activities in the Regulatory Plan. The Department complies with the Australian Government's regulatory impact analysis requirements administered by the Office of Best Practice Regulation. No formal complaints are on record with our central complaints manager as having been lodged about any consultation processes relating to regulatory initiatives. However, it is sometimes the case that there may be dissatisfaction with the consultation process expressed as part of the stakeholder's submission to a review or inquiry. These are dealt with as part of the review or inquiry process.

Australian Communications and Media Authority

(1) Yes. Information is collected in multiple ways and in multiple forms. Much of the information the ACMA receives is provided voluntarily by citizens, consumers, industry groups, industry participants and so on.

(a) Where the ACMA seeks to collect information a form is often provided for that purpose. The ACMA website provides a comprehensive online list of forms which can be downloaded or completed on-line (www.acma.gov.au).

(b) As per above, these forms are provided online:

  i. All forms are available for download

  ii. A number of these forms are able to be completed and submitted online

  iii. All forms, since all of the electronic forms may be downloaded and printed.

(c) No. There is no such requirement for Commonwealth Government forms, however, the ACMA sometimes collects information on time taken to complete specific forms, such as through industry surveys or on the forms themselves, e.g. where a form is being released for the first time to meet a requirement of new legislation.

(d) No.

(2)

(a) The ACMA engages in full consultation in relation to all significant regulatory initiatives which it proposes, in line with legislative obligations contained in the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 and in the various pieces of legislation administered by the ACMA, and as required by the Australian Government's regulatory impact analysis requirements administered by the Office of Best Practice Regulation. Each such regulatory initiative therefore involves at least one consultation process. Within that consultation process there may be a large number of elements of various forms, tailored to the nature of the issue under consideration. Those elements of the consultation process may include one or more discussion papers, conferences, public hearings, one-on-one meetings with particular stakeholders, seminars, webinars, research activities and so on.

(b) It is sometimes the case that some persons may be dissatisfied with the process or outcomes of a consultation. Responses to consultation in relation to regulatory proposals are addressed in Regulation Impact Statements (RISs). These are prepared to inform decisions that are likely to have a regulatory impact on business or the not-for-profit sector that is not of a minor or machinery nature and do not substantially alter existing arrangements. Each RIS is a publicly available document which is available from the Department of Finance and Deregulation's website (www.ris.finance.gov.au).

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

(1) The ABC collects information from the community for a range of purposes related to the performance of its Charter obligations. The ABC collects personal information (within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988), and information about stakeholder and community attitudes (for instance, comments and feedback). The ABC assumes that the question is not directed at information that is collected for content purposes, for instance, by a journalist in the preparation of program material.

Details of the manner in which personal information is collected by the ABC is set out in the ABC Privacy Policy.

(a-b) The ways in which the ABC collects information from stakeholders and the community include the following:

(c) Any forms that require completion do not require an estimate of the time taken to complete as this information is not required for our purposes.

(d) Not applicable.

Special Broadcasting Service

(1)

(a-b) SBS provides the following information in its Personal Information Digest to the Australian Information Commissioner each year (as required under the Privacy Act 1988).

The 'classes' of information SBS collects relevant to this query are as follows:

The purpose of these records is to record and process feedback from internal and external stakeholders on the selection criteria for the SBS Radio schedule review.

The purpose of these records is to record and process public feedback in relation to SBS Radio content.

The purpose of these records is to process and respond to audience comments and requests for information.

The purpose of these records is to maintain a register of SBS viewers, listeners and website users for the purpose of market research.

In respect of information the SBS collect from stakeholders (refer to the SBS Personal Information Digest for more information).

(c) No. Not relevant as SBS does not collect information on a consistent and ongoing basis.

(d) Not applicable.

Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency

(1) The Telecommunications Universal Service Management Agency (TUSMA) was recently established on 1 July 2012. Since its establishment, no information has been collected from stakeholders and the broader community.

Australia Post

(1) Australia Post regularly seeks information and feedback from key stakeholder groups via surveys and customer channel modelling. Where appropriate, Australia Post obtains independent advice to ensure the length of time required to complete such surveys/modelling is appropriate.