Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 37
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Ministerial meetings
Proof Hansard Page: 71
Senator McCARTHY asked:
Senator McCARTHY: So, if we have a look at Armidale and Tenterfield. How many ministerial meetings have been held in the Armidale ministerial office?
Mr Quinlivan: I would have to take that on notice. I have been to Armidale from time to time, as is normal in meeting with ministers in their electorates, and I know members of staff have also been to Armidale. We have also had meetings in Sydney and so on, which is normal practice. As to the number, I can endeavour to give you an estimate of that, but it is not something that we would necessarily keep a record of.
Answer:
The department does not have access to the Deputy Prime Minister’s diary.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 38
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Armidale office
Proof Hansard Page: 71
Senator McCARTHY asked:
Senator McCARTHY: So, how many ministerial staffers work in the Armidale office?
Mr Quinlivan: I would have to refer that to the minister.
Senator McCARTHY: Minister?
Mr Quinlivan: It is not an issue for the department, of course.
Senator Ruston: We would have to ask the minister about that. I have no idea where his staff base locations are.
Senator McCARTHY: Can you take that on notice?
Senator Ruston: I am happy to take that up with the minister.
Senator McCARTHY: Do the staffers travel with the minister to Canberra during sitting weeks?
Senator Ruston: I will take that on notice, but it is general practice for ministerial staffers to travel with their minister or be located in Canberra during sitting weeks. I will take that on notice as well.
Senator McCARTHY: How often does the minister work in the Armidale office?
Mr Quinlivan: These are questions for the minister.
Senator Ruston: You can put those questions on notice and I will attempt to—
Senator McCARTHY: I will read them out.
Senator Ruston: So, you want to know how many staff there are for his Armidale office and whether they travel during sitting weeks to Canberra?
Question Number: 38 (continued)
Answer:
Three ministerial staff are based in the Armidale office.
Ministerial staff travel is administered by the Department of Finance.
The department does not have access to the Deputy Prime Minister’s diary.
2 Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 39
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Tenterfield office
Proof Hansard Page: 71
Senator McCARTHY asked:
Senator McCARTHY: How many staff members work in the Tenterfield office?
Senator Ruston: You are referring to ministerial?
Senator McCARTHY: Yes. How often does the minister work in the Tenterfield office?
Answer:
No ministerial staff are based in the Tenterfield office.
The department does not have access to the Deputy Prime Minister’s diary.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 40
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Unscheduled absences
Proof Hansard Page: 72
Senator MCCARTHY asked:
Senator McCARTHY: You say you have the highest levels of unscheduled absences.
Mr Quinlivan: I am not sure that we are actually the highest, but we are very close to it.
Senator McCARTHY: Can you provide statistics on that?
Mr Quinlivan: Yes, we certainly can. In fact, we have probably got them here.
Mr Smalley: We have in front of us our own personal leave statistics, but we do not have comparators with other agencies.
Senator McCARTHY: Can you provide that?
Mr Smalley: Yes, we certainly can.
Mr Quinlivan: They are published and publicly available.
Answer:
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resource’s average unscheduled absence rate for 2015-16 was 14.9 days per full-time equivalent employee, compared to the APS average of 11.5 days and large agency average of 12.1 days. The unscheduled absence rate includes sick, carer’s and miscellaneous leave, but excludes compensation and unauthorised leave.
Requests for the personal leave rates of other agencies should be directed to those agencies or to the Australian Public Service Commission. Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 41
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Ministerial offices
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator STERLE asked:
1. How many portfolio related meetings have been held in the Armidale Ministerial office?
a. With Industry bodies, including representative bodies such as the National Farmers’ Federation
2. How many portfolio related meetings have been held in the Sydney Commonwealth Offices?
Answer:
The department does not have access to the Deputy Prime Minister’s diary.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 42
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Ministerial functions
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
In relation to any functions or official receptions hosted by Ministers or Assistant Ministers in the portfolio since 1 October 2016, can the following please be provided:
• List of functions;
• List of attendees including departmental officials and members of the Minister’s family or personal staff;
• Function venue;
• Itemised list of costs (GST inclusive);
• Details of any food served;
• Details of any wines or champagnes served including brand and vintage; and
• Details of any entertainment provided.
Answer:
Please see details at Attachments A and B.
ATTACHMENT A
Date Purpose of Function List of attendees Details of food Details of Details of any Itemised list of Function venue including served wines/champagne entertainment costs (GST departmental s served including provided inclusive) officials and brand and vintage) staff/family of the Minister or Assistant Ministers 6 October Agricultural Stamford Grand Attachment B One hour canape • Bay of Stones Nil Food - $1250.00 2016 Industry Glenelg, South package. Sauvignon Blanc Beverages - $800.00 Advisory Council Australia • Bay of Stones Shiraz networking • Bay of Stones function Sparking • draught beer • light beer • soft drinks 6 October AIAC members Esca Restaurant Attachment B • Sparkling white – Nil Food - $1027.50 2016 dinner Glenelg, South The Lane Lois blanc Beverages - $735.00 Australia de blanc • White wine Hewitson Lulu Sauvignon Blanc • Red wine Mitolo ‘Jester’ Shiraz • Selection of local beers, including beer on tap • Soft drink and juices 7 October AIAC meeting Stamford Grand Attachment B • Morning tea Nil Nil Food - $308.00 2016 Glenelg, South • Lunch Beverages - $225.00 Australia AV - $725.53 12 November Industry dinner Lost Heaven The Hon Luke Hartsuyker 3 course set Wine - Pikes Riesling Nil Meals - $526.00 2016 – industry Restaurant, MP menu. Alcohol - $176.00 familiarisation in Beijing Jennifer Cahill, Advisor ATTACHMENT A
the margins of Paul McNamara, Minister Other drinks - the China Food Counsellor Agriculture $150.00 Security and Benjamin Mitchell, Food Safety Counsellor Agriculture Summit Adam Balcerak, Counsellor Agriculture Matt Brent, Trade Commissioner Nick Coyle, Chamber of Commerce Nick Hunt, Harvest Road Group Michael Boddington, Asian Agribusiness Tony Qui, JD.com 19 January Welcome Adelaide Oval, Assistant Minister Ruston Canapes. • Dunes and green Nil Food $7 280.00 2017 reception for Cathedral room, Jim Burston – Adviser Sparkling Beverages – delegates Adelaide, (Chardonnay Pinot $5 460.00 attending the 5th Australia No official attendance was Noir) AV/Microphone - Meeting of the taken for the welcome • Yalumba Y Series $495.00 Commission of reception. A full list of Pinot Grigio the South Pacific delegates and secretariat • Yalumba Y Series Regional staff for the SPRMO Cabernet Fisheries meeting can be found at Sauvignon Management the following link. Organisation. Hahn Super dry, Hahn https://www.sprfmo.int/ass Premium Light, ets/01-Commission- Toohey’s 5 Seeds Crisp 2017/ANNEXES/COMM Cider and soft drinks 5-Report-ANNEX-2-List- of-Participants-p10-17.pdf
All SPRFMO delegates, secretariat staff and partners were invited to attend. The event was catered for 130 people. ATTACHMENT A
20 January Industry dinner Aigner The Hon. Barnaby Joyce Three course set Tyrrell’s Wines, Vat 1 Nil Food and non- 2017 held in the Restaurant, MP menu. Sémillon 2009, Hunter alocholic drinks – margins on the Berlin Simon Price, Senior Valley $1 017.00 G20 Agriculture Adviser Ministers’ Jake Smith, Media Tyrrell’s Wines, Vat 9 Wine provided by meeting Adviser Shiraz 2009, Hunter Australian Embassy Daryl Quinlivan, Secretary Valley DAWR Lynette Wood, Australian Kreglinger sparkling Ambassador to Germany wine Nicola Hinder, Agriculture counsellor Josh Anderson, MLA Frank Albers, Albers Meat Udo Albers, Albers Meat Liz Murphy, Meat Traders Association Knudt Buhl, Danish Bacon and Meat Council Jochem Versloot, Jan Zandbergen Worldwide meats
ATTACHMENT B
6 October 2016 6 October 2016 7 October 2016 AIAC networking function attendees AIAC dinner attendees AIAC meeting attendees AIAC members AIAC members AIAC members Andrew Inglis Andrew Inglis Andrew Inglis Hamish McLaren Hamish McLaren Hamish McLaren Dean Wormald Dean Wormald Dean Wormald Susan Bower Susan Bower Susan Bower Stuart Richey Stuart Richey Stuart Richey Kevin Sorgiovanni Kevin Sorgiovanni Kevin Sorgiovanni Luke Bowen Luke Bowen Luke Bowen David Moon David Moon David Moon Eliza Brown Eliza Brown Eliza Brown Perin Davey Perin Davey Perin Davey
Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Deputy Prime Minister’s Office The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair) The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair) The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP (Chair) Richard Hyett Richard Hyett Richard Hyett Rebecca Johnson Rebecca Johnson Rebecca Johnson Jake Smith
Departmental Staff Departmental Staff Departmental Staff Daryl Quinlivan Daryl Quinlivan Daryl Quinlivan Melissa Brown Invited Guests Bronwyn Edwards (secretariat) Senator the Hon. Anne Ruston Abbey Irby (secretariat) Konstantinos Poulos David Ridgeway Matt Williams MP Duncan McFetridge MP
ATTACHMENT B
Mehdi Doroudi Will Zacharin Kathy Ophel Keller Gavin Begg Mike Keller Wendy Umberger Mark Hutchinson Leah Grantham Hagen Stehr Jonas Woolford Justin Phillips Simon Clark Trudi McGowan Brian Smedley Rob Kerin Wade Dabinett Darren Arney Geoff Power Andrew Curtis John Hunt Andrew Curtis Andrew Johnson Susie Green Trevor Radford Angelo Demasi Jordan Brooke- Barnett John Crosby Con Sciacca Warren Randall
ATTACHMENT B
Graham Tapley Mr Simon Clark
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 43
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Vacancies
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
Please provide a list of all statutory, board and legislated office vacancies and other significant appointments vacancies within the portfolio, including length of time vacant and current acting arrangements.
Answer:
As at 6 February 2017, the following vacancies existed for statutory, board and legislated office vacancies for the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolio.
Body Position/s Period vacant Acting arrangement/s
Australian Grape and Wine Authority Four members From 30/11/2016 Nil Selection Committee
Grains Research and Development One presiding From 06/01/2017 Nil Corporation Selection Committee member
Lake Eyre Basin Community Advisory One member From 06/11/2016 Nil Committee One member From 23/08/2015 Nil
One member From 24/10/2012 Nil
One member From 22/11/2013 Nil
Lake Eyre Basin Scientific Advisory One member From 06/11/2016 Nil Panel
Rural Industries Research and One presiding From 01/01/2017 Nil Development Corporation member
Vacancy details are regularly published on the Department and Water Resources website at http://www.agriculture.gov.au/about/who-we-are/portfolio-agencies/appointments-report Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 44
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Media and public relations
Proof Hansard Page: written
Senator BILYK asked:
1. How much has the Department spent on media monitoring since 1 October 2016 (GST inclusive)? Can a list of all Contract Notice IDs for the Austender website in relation to media monitoring contracts please be provided?
2. How many media or public relations advisers are employed in the Department? At what APS level (eg EL2, APS5) is each staff member employed? Can an organisational chart for the relevant area of the Department please be provided? What was the total cost of employing relevant staff in calendar year 2016 (please provide a global figure)?
Answer:
1. Between 1 October, 2016, to 28 February, 2017 the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has spent $85,446.80 (GST incl) on media monitoring.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has one Contract Notice ID for the Austender website in relation to media monitoring contracts: CN3289020.
2. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources employs 22 media and public relations officers (21.6 FTE). Media officers perform a range of services to support the department and portfolio ministers including writing media release drafts, speeches, and media inquiry responses, as well as undertaking media monitoring and social media management and authoring for the department. Public relations officers develop communication strategies and implement these to ensure policy and programmes are communicated to the relevant audiences. They also ensure communication activities meet Australian Government communication guidelines. Public relations officers are not web publishers, graphic designers, editors or internal communication officers.
The cost of employing media and public affairs officers was approximately $2,645,400 (media $958,000 and public relations $1,687,400) in the 2016 calendar year. This value is an approximate cost as staffing levels vary through out a year and roles change to meet the business needs.
Question Number: 44 (continued)
The following media and public relations officers were employed by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources:
Classification level FTE
EL2 1 (media)
2 (public relations)
EL1 4 (media)
6.8 (public relations)
APS6 2 (media)
5.6 FTE (public relations)
APS5 1 (media)
2 (public relations)
Organisation chart:
Corporate Strategy & Governance Division
Parliamentary & Portfolio Design & Change Branch Business Branch
External Biosecurity Media & Social Media Communications Communications
EL2 x1 EL2 x1 EL2 x1
EL1 x 3 EL1 x 4 EL1 x 4
APS6 x 3 APS6 x 3 APS6 x 2
APS5 x 1 APS5 x 1 APS5 x 1
2 Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 45
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Advertising and information campaigns
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
1. How much has the Department spent on advertising and information campaigns since 1 October 2016 (GST inclusive)? Can a list of all Contract Notice IDs for the Austender website in relation to advertising and information campaign contracts please be provided?
2. How much did the Department spend on Facebook advertising or sponsored Facebook posts in calendar year 2016 (GST inclusive)?
3. How much did the Department spend on Google adwords advertising in calendar year 2016 (GST inclusive)?
Answer:
1. The department has not undertaken any advertising and information campaigns since 1 October 2016.
2. The department spent $12,294 GST inclusive on Facebook advertising and sponsored Facebook posts in calendar year 2016 to promote the department’s policies and programmes.
3. The department spent $3,000 GST inclusive on Google AdWords advertising in calendar year 2016 to promote the department’s policies and programmes.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 46
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Market research
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
1. How much did the Department spend on market research in calendar year 2016 (GST inclusive)?
2. Can a list of all market research contracts entered into please be provided, together with the Austender Contract Notice number?
3. What was the purpose of this market research? Did it relate to an advertising or information campaign? If so, which campaign?
Answer:
1. The department entered into market research contracts to the value of $662,504 inclusive of GST in calendar year 2016.
2. All market research contract details are available on the Austender website at www.tenders.gov.au and are listed in the department’s annual report for the 2015–16 financial year.
3. All contract details, including the purpose of market research, are available on the Austender website at www.tenders.gov.au and are listed in the department’s annual report for the 2015–16 financial year. The department did not undertake any advertising or information campaigns in calendar year 2016.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 47
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Consultancies
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
Please provide an itemised list of costs (GST inclusive) for spending in calendar year 2016 on external consultants/service providers in the following categories:
(i) social media
(ii) photography
(iii) graphic design
(iv) web design
(v) electronic communications
(vi) acting or public speaking training
(vii) ergonomics.
Answer:
Details of all spending on external consultants/service providers above $10,000 in calendar year 2016 are available on the Austender website at www.tenders.gov.au. The provision of itemised costs on external consultants/service valued below $10,000 would require an unreasonable diversion of resources.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 48
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Redundancies
Proof Hansard Page: written
Senator BILYK asked:
1. How many staff were made redundant in calendar year 2016?
2. How many were voluntary redundancies?
3. How many were forced redundancies?
4. What was the total cost of all redundancies (expressed as a single global figure)?
5. Have any staff made redundant in calendar year 2016 subsequently carried out work for the Department as a contractor? If so, please provide an itemised list of relevant contracts and related Austender Contract Notice numbers.
Answer:
1. 104
2. 104
3. 0
4. $5,107,715.08
5. No staff who took VR’s in 2016 are currently employed as contractors.
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
Additional Estimates February 2017
Agriculture and Water Resources
Question Number: 49
Division/Agency: Corporate Strategy and Governance Division
Topic: Armidale ministerial office
Proof Hansard Page: Written
Senator BILYK asked:
With reference to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources’ ministerial office in Armidale, since 2 July 2016:
1. How many times has the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources visited the Armidale office? 2. How many times have any other departmental staff visited the Armidale office (excluding Departmental Liaison Officers)? 3. How many times has the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources visited the Armidale office? 4. How many times has the Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister visited the Armidale office?
Answer:
For the period 2 July 2016 – 31 January 2017:
1. Nil.
2. Once.
3. Nil.
4. Nil.