Questions & Answers Paper No. 38
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583 PROOF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS No. 38 WEDNESDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 2011 (The Questions and Answers Paper published for the first sitting day in each week will contain, by number and title, all unanswered questions, together with questions to which answers have been received on the previous sitting and any new questions. On subsequent days, new questions are printed, as are questions to which answers were received the previous day. Consequently the full text of any question will be printed only twice: when notice is given; and, when answered.) Notice given on date shown 584 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 38— Wednesday 7 September 2011 Publication of Questions Answer to be lodged by Q & A No. 26 (Including Question Nos 0308 to 0325) 07 September 2011 Q & A No. 27 (Including Question Nos 0326 to 0364) 08 September 2011 Q & A No. 28 (Including Question Nos 0365 to 0374) 09 September 2011 Q & A No. 29 (Including Question Nos 0375 to 0417) 13 September 2011 Q & A No. 30 (Including Question Nos 0418 to 0446) 14 September 2011 Q & A No. 31 (Including Question Nos 0447 to 0488) 15 September 2011 Q & A No. 32 (Including Question Nos 0489 to 0527) 16 September 2011 Q & A No. 33 (Including Question Nos 0528 to 0567) 27 September 2011 Q & A No. 34 (Including Question Nos 0568 to 0584) 28 September 2011 Q & A No. 35 (Including Question Nos 0585 to 0586) 29 September 2011 Q & A No. 36 (Including Question Nos 0587 to 0603) 30 September 2011 Q & A No. 37 (Including Question Nos 0604 to 0609) 11 October 2011 Q & A No. 38 (Including Question Nos 0610 to 0683) 12 October 2011 585 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 38— Wednesday 7 September 2011 3 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 26) *315 HEALTH, MEDICAL RESEARCH—CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HUME—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Minister for Health, and Minister for Medical Research— (1) Has the Minister for Health and Minister for Medical Research's office received any correspondence, written or electronic, from the Federal Member for Hume, Alby Schultz since 26 March 2011? (2) If so, (a) What was the date of receipt for each item of correspondence? (b) When was the response sent for each item of correspondence? (c) Can copies of each item of correspondence and the response be provided? Answer— (1) Yes. The Minister's Public Office email was included on the cc. line of an email sent by the Member for Hume. (2) (a) The email was received on 21 June 2011 (b) and (c) No response was sent. *321 JUSTICE—ESCAPES FROM CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES—Mr Shoebridge asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Attorney General, and Minister for Justice— (1) How many escapes have there been from correctional facilities in the following years: (a) 2007? (b) 2008? (c) 2009? (d) 2010? (e) 2011 to date? (2) How many of these escapes, by year, were from: (a) Private prisons? (b) Publicly owned prisons? (c) During prisoner transfer? (d) In other circumstances? Answer— I am advised: (1) (a) 12 in 2007. (b) 10 in 2008. (c) 13 in 2009. (d) 17 in 2010. (e) 20 in 2011 (to 10 August). (2) (a) Nil in 2007, 2008 and 2009. 1 in 2010. 3 in 2011 (to 10 August). (b) 6 in 2007. 8 in 2008. 586 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 38— Wednesday 7 September 2011 10 in 2009. 4 in 2010. 13 in 2011 (to 10 August). (c) 1 in 2007. Nil in 2008. 3 in 2009. 2 in 2010. 1 in 2011 (to 10 August). (d) 5 in 2007. 2 in 2008. Nil in 2009. 10 in 2010. 3 in 2011 (to 10 August). *323 ROADS AND PORTS—NEWCASTLE PORT EXPANSION—Ms Faehrmann asked the Minister for Roads and Ports— (1) When will the Draft Strategic Development Plan for the Newcastle port be released? (2) What opportunities will there be for public submissions on the Draft Strategic Development Plan? (3) What infrastructure projects or improvements is the Government considering, to address the increased traffic that will result from the expansion of the Newcastle port? (4) What action will the Government be taking to minimise the following impacts on the residents of Newcastle: (a) Increased noise and vibration? (b) Particulate matter, specifically PM2.5? (c) Traffic? (d) Light pollution? Answer— I am advised: (1) The Newcastle Port Corporation (NPC) is currently working to finalise its Strategic Development Plan for the Port of Newcastle and it will be released in due course. (2) A draft of the Strategic Development Plan will be made available for public consultation, once it is finalised and approved. (3) and (4) Requirements to adequately mitigate the environmental impact of port developments and ensure the proposed developments are adequately serviced by infrastructure will be contained in the development consents issued by the Department of Planning. 4 AUGUST 2011 (Paper No. 27) *336 CITIZENSHIP AND COMMUNITIES—FEASIBILITY STUDIES, AUDITS, TASKFORCES AND REVIEWS—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Minister for Citizenship and Communities, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs— (1) How many feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews are currently being undertaken across the Citizenship and Communities portfolio? 587 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 38— Wednesday 7 September 2011 (2) In relation to each study or audit: (a) What are the terms of reference or details of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (b) Who is conducting the study, audit, taskforce or review? (c) Is the study, audit, taskforce or review was publicly advertised seeking expressions of interest or competitive tenders? (d) Is there a contract in place detailing terms of engagement for the study, audit, taskforce or review? (e) What is the timeline of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (f) What are the costs involved in each study, audit, taskforce or review? Answer— I am advised as with previous NSW Governments, the Government undertakes feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews to inform government decision making. A number of feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews are currently being undertaken across the NSW Government. *339 ARTS—FEASIBILITY STUDIES, AUDITS, TASKFORCES AND REVIEWS—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Hunter, and Vice-President of the Executive Council representing the Minister for Tourism Major Events Hospitality and Racing, and Minister for the Arts— (1) How many feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews are currently being undertaken across the Arts portfolio? (2) In relation to each study or audit: (a) What are the terms of reference or details of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (b) Who is conducting the study, audit, taskforce or review? (c) Is the study, audit, taskforce or review was publicly advertised seeking expressions of interest or competitive tenders? (d) Is there a contract in place detailing terms of engagement for the study, audit, taskforce or review? (e) What is the timeline of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (f) What are the costs involved in each study, audit, taskforce or review? Answer— As with previous NSW Governments, the Government undertakes feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews to inform government decision making. A number of feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews are currently being undertaken across the NSW Government. *350 PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE—FEASIBILITY STUDIES, AUDITS, TASKFORCES AND REVIEWS—Mr Veitch asked the Minister for Finance and Services, and Minister for the Illawarra representing the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Infrastructure NSW— (1) How many feasibility studies, audits, taskforces and reviews are currently being undertaken across the Planning and Infrastructure portfolio? (2) In relation to each study or audit: (a) What are the terms of reference or details of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (b) Who is conducting the study, audit, taskforce or review? (c) Is the study, audit, taskforce or review was publicly advertised seeking expressions of interest or competitive tenders? (d) Is there a contract in place detailing terms of engagement for the study, audit, taskforce or review? (e) What is the timeline of each study, audit, taskforce or review? (f) What are the costs involved in each study, audit, taskforce or review? Answer— 588 Legislative Council Questions and Answers No. 38— Wednesday 7 September 2011 This response includes the Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DP&I), the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) and the Central Coast Regional Development Corporation (CCRDC). Studies, audits, taskforces and reviews undertaken by other organisations using grant funding from these government bodies have been excluded.The Audit Office of NSW is currently auditing the accounts of government agencies. As this is a standard administrative procedure that is not commissioned by DP&I it is not detailed in this return.Question 2(c) relates to the recruitment of external consultants⁄experts to conduct reviews. External consultants⁄contractors are appointed in accordance with the DP&I Procurement Policy. This Policy seeks to promote fair and effective competition and be appropriate to the size and nature of the goods or services sought. The procurement requirements of this Policy for different contract values are summarised in Table 1.Table 1: DP&I Procurement Policy – Value and Procurement Method Value (including GST) Procurement Method Up to $3,000 No quotation required if the price or rate is considered reasonable and consistent with normal market rates for items of a like nature.