Questions to all departments and agencies (131)

Question

1. Since 1 January 2026, has the Department/Agency been provided with advice or a direction on a minimum turnaround time for consideration of briefs by the Minister? If so, when was this advice provided to the Department? Please provide the minimum turnaround requirement. If there has been a change in a previously set minimum turnaround requirement, please provide: the previous turnaround requirement; and the date the change was requested. 2. Since 1 January 2026, has the Department provided any hospitality in Ministers' offices? Please specify the date, itemised cost, purpose, and attendees for the hospitality. Since 1 January 2026 have there been any amendments to the Department's policy on providing hospitality in the Ministers offices? If so, please provide a copy of the policy and a reference for the amendment. 3. How many Departmental Liaison Officers have been allocated to each Minister in the portfolio? Please provide a list that outlines the level of the member of the department, the Minister they have been allocated to, and the time they have been allocated to the Minister. Please denote any change in this allocation since 1 January 2026. 4. How many staff have been provided to Ministers offices not in a capacity as a Departmental Liaison Officer? Please provide a list that outlines the level of the member of the department, the Minister they have been allocated to, and the time they have been allocated to the Minister. Please denote any change in this allocation since 1 January 2026. 5. How many meetings has the Secretary/agency head had with the Ministers in their portfolio since 1 January 2026? Please provide a list with the number of meetings by Minister, and the date of the first meeting with each Minister. 6. How many meetings has the Secretary/agency head had with any Ministers not in their portfolio since 1 January 2026? Please provide a list with the number of meetings by Minister, and the date of the first meeting with each Minister. 7. How many briefs has the Department/agency provided to each Minister in its portfolio? Please provide a list with the number of briefs for each Minister, and the date of the first provided brief. How many briefs have been returned to the Department for redraft since 1 January 2026? Please provide a list with the number of briefs for each Minister, and the dates of the return of briefs to the Department. 8. How many New Policy Proposals has the Department/agency provided to each Minister in its portfolio since 1 January 2026? Please provide a list with the number of New Policy Proposals by Minister, and the date of the first provided New Policy Proposal. 9. Please provide the amount of paper the Department/agency sources from Australian producers and from overseas producers. Please provide the amount in dollar value on a financial year basis for the last five financial years. 10. Please provide a list of all the Commonwealth inter-departmental committees of which the Department/agency has membership. Please specify where there are changes to the list since 1 January 2026. 11. Please provide a list of all the Commonwealth taskforces of which the Department/agency has membership. Please specify where there are changes to the list since 1 January 2026. 12. In relation to the measure in the 2022-23 October Budget, Savings from External Labour, and Savings from Advertising, Travel and Legal Expenses and the subsequent 2024-25 Budget measure, Savings from External Labour - extension: a. What was the value of savings that the Department/agency was requested to deliver for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 years, in aggregate and broken down across those years? b. Has the Department/agency identified the savings they will make across the following areas to achieve this cut: i. External labour hire ii. Consultancy iii. Advertising campaigns iv. Travel v. Legal expenses c. Can the Department/agency provide a breakdown of the funding reductions they have made in totality, and in each of the above areas, and what they relate to? d. Has the Department/agency been informed of the cut that will be made to their funding in the next financial year, or the rest of the forward estimates? e. Can the Department/agency confirm the total new number of contracts (ongoing and terminating) and total cost of these contracts issued on AusTender since 30 June 2022 which relate to the following areas: i. External labour hire ii. Consultancy iii. Advertising campaigns iv. Travel v. Legal expenses f. Please provide a breakdown of the value of contracts across each area, and identify the categories on AusTender which are used to determine the Departments identification of the contracts. g. Is the Department/agency on track to meet the saving target? h. Has the Department/agency sought an exemption or alternation from/to the savings target? i. If so, why and was it approved? 13. In relation to expenditure on any functions or official receptions etc hosted by the Department or agencies in the portfolio in financial year 2025/26 to date, please provide the following: a. List of functions; b. List of attendees; c. Function venue; d. Itemised list of costs (GST inclusive); e. Details of any food served; f. Details of any wines or champagnes served including brand and vintage; and g. Details of any entertainment provided. 14. In relation to any functions or official receptions hosted by Ministers or Assistant Ministers in the portfolio in financial year 2025/26 to date, please provide the following: a. List of functions; b. List of attendees; c. Function venue; d. Itemised list of costs (GST inclusive); e. Details of any food served; f. Details of any wines or champagnes served including brand and vintage; and g. Details of any entertainment provided. 15. Were the furniture, fixtures or fittings of the Secretary's/agency head's office, or the offices of any Deputy Secretaries/executive leadership team members, upgraded in financial year 2025/26 to date? Please provide an itemised list of costs (GST inclusive). Please provide photographs of the works conducted. 16. Please provide an itemised list of the Secretary's/agency head's travel for financial year 2025/26 to date, including costs of flights and accommodation. 17. Please provide an itemised list of each Deputy Secretary's/agency head's travel for financial year 2025/26 to date, including costs of flights and accommodation. 18. Were the facilities of any of the Departments/agency premises upgraded in financial year 2025/26 to date, for example, staff room refurbishments, kitchen refurbishments, bathroom refurbishments, the purchase of any new fridges, coffee machines, or other kitchen equipment? Please provide a detailed description of the relevant facilities upgraded together with an itemised list of costs (GST inclusive). Please provide photographs of the upgraded facilities. 19. What was the total cost of staff travel for departmental/agency employees in financial year 2025/26 to date? 20. What was the Department's/agency's total expenditure on media monitoring services in financial yea 2025/26 to date? 21. What was the Department's/agency's total expenditure on advertising and information campaigns in financial year 2025/26 to date? Please provide an itemised list of the campaigns, their purpose, and their expected costs. 22. What was the Department's/agency's total expenditure on promotional merchandise in financial year 2025/26 to date? Please provide an itemised list of the merchandise purchased with costs. Please provide examples and photographs of the merchandise purchased. 23. In relation to departmental use of credit cards: a. How many credit cards are currently on issue for department or agency staff? What was the value of the largest reported purchase on a credit card in financial year 2025-26 to date and what was it for? b. How much interest was paid on amounts outstanding from credit cards in financial year 2025-26 to date? c. How much was paid in late fees on amounts outstanding from credit cards in financial year 2025-26 to date? d. What was the largest amount outstanding on a single card at the end of a payment period in financial year 2025-26 to date? e. How many credit cards were reported as lost or stolen in financial year 2025-26 to date and what was the cost of their replacement? f. How many credit card purchases were deemed to be illegitimate or contrary to department or agency policy in financial year 2025-26 to date? g. What was the total value of those purchases? h. How many purchases were asked to be repaid on that basis in financial year 2025-26 to date and what was the total value thereof? Were all those amounts actually repaid? i. If no, how many were not repaid, and what was the total value thereof? j. What was the largest purchase that was deemed illegitimate or contrary to department or agency policy and asked to be repaid in financial year 2025-26 to date? What that amount actually repaid, in full? If no, what amount was left unpaid? k. Are any credit cards currently on issue connected to rewards schemes? Do staff receive any personal benefit as a result of those reward schemes? l. Please provide a copy of the department or agency's staff credit card policy. m. Please denote any changes to this policy that have been made since 1 January 2026. 24. In relation to department/agency: a. In the current financial year to date, how many matters have been referred to Comcare? Of those claims referred to Comcare, redacting confidential information, advise in which division the claimant works or worked and the circumstances surrounding the claim. c. What has the Department/agency learned from past Comcare claims? d. Of those employees who submitted a Comcare claim, how many returned to work after a period of absence? 25. In relation to the department/agency: a. In the current financial year to date, how many matters have been referred to the Fair Work Commission? b. Of those matters referred to either, please provide a comprehensive account of the circumstances, redacting confidential information, including in which division the employee is or was employed, the nature of the complaint and the nature of the determination of the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman and/or conciliator. 26. Please provide a list of the number of reviews that the department/agency is currently conducting. Please provide: a. the name of the review; b. the purpose of the review; c. the name or names of the reviewer(s); d. the remuneration for each of the reviewer(s); e. the budgeted cost of the review; f. the amount spent to date; and g. the date the review is due to be completed. 27. Please provide a list of the number of reviews that the department/agency has completed since 1 January 2026. Please provide a. the name of the review; b. the purpose of the review; c. the name or names of the reviewer(s); d. the remuneration for each of the reviewer(s); e. the budgeted cost of the review; f. the amount spent; g. the date the review was due to be completed; h. the date the review was completed; i. the date the review was provided to the Department; j. the date the review was provided to the Minister; and k. the date the review was provided to the Minister's office. 28.Please provide a list of the number of internal reviews that the department/agency has completed since 1 January 2026. Please provide a. the name of the review; b. the purpose of the review; c. the name or names of the reviewer(s); d. the remuneration for each of the reviewer(s); e. the budgeted cost of the review; f. the amount spent; g. the date the review was due to be completed; h. the date the review was completed; i. if the Minister or their office was made aware of the review. 29. Please provide a list of the interdepartmental committees that the department/agency participates in or provides representation to. Please provide: a. the name of the interdepartmental committee; b. a list of the membership; c. the date it was established; and d. its purpose. 30. How many new entities (including advisory boards and agencies) have been created within the portfolio since 1 January 2026? Please list each entity, its purpose, and the date it was created. 31. How many new entities (including advisory boards and agencies) have been wound up, amalgamated, ceased, disbanded, or reconstituted as new bodies since 1 January 2026? Please list each entity, its purpose, and the date it was wound up, amalgamated, ceased, or disbanded. 32. Since 1 January 2026 has the department / agency ever received a request from a portfolio minister's office seeking data or information separated out by electorate? a. Please provide a list of all requests, including any timeframe provided for a response, whether a response was provided, and the context of the request if provided. b. Please provide a copy of all responses to the request. 33. Please provide the number of current ASL allocated to the department/agency as at 1 January 2026. Please provide: a. Total number of ASL; b. Total number of FTE by APS classification; c. the number of ASL allocated to each outcome for which the department/agency is responsible; d. the number of FTE, by classification, allocated to each outcome for which the department/agency is responsible; and e. The number of FTE positions that are not currently filled, broken down by classification. 34. Has the department/agency provided any Minister's office with market research conducted in relation to a Commonwealth Information and Advertising Campaign? Please provide a list of the Ministers and the date on which they were provided the research. 35. How many freedom of information applications has the department/agency received since April 2026? Please provide a breakdown of the number including; a. the number of applications withdrawn; b. the number of applications refused under section 34 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982; c. the number of applications refused under section 24 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982; d. the number of applications refused under section 24A of the Freedom of Information Act 1982; e. the number of applications subject to internal review; f. the number of applications subject to review by the OAIC; g. the number of applications subject to review by the AAT; h. the number of applications subject to review by the Federal Court; and i. the number of applications where the original decision has been overturned. 36. How many freedom of information applications have been received by the Minister's office since 1 April 2026? Please provide a breakdown including: a. the number of applications by Minister, b. the number of applications that are yet to be decided; c. the number of applications refused; and d. the number of applications overdue, including the number of days overdue. 37. For the portfolio, please provide a list of the ten largest estimate variations in the most recent financial year. 38. For the portfolio, please provide a list of the ten largest movements of funds in the most recent financial year, including a profile of the forward estimates for the impact of the movement. 39. a. How many staff have a flexible work arrangement in place that enables them to work from home? Please provide a breakdown including; i. The proportion of staff who work from home one day a week? ii. The proportion of staff who work from home two days a week? iii. The proportion of staff who work from home three days a week? iv.The proportion of staff who work from home four days a week? v. The proportion of staff who work from home five days a week? b. What is the annual cost of renting out office space for employees? c. Please provide a copy of the department/agency's work from home policy. 40. a. Does the department/agency allow for the use of ChatGPT, CoPilot, Claude, or other Ai services on the internal network? If so, what risk management and governance mechanisms are in place to protect government data? b. Please provide the department/agency policy on use of artificial intelligence. 41. Has the department/agency purchased a subscription for staff to an AI service? If so: 1. How many staff have access to this subscription; 2. Was the subscription purchased through a whole-of-government procurement arrangement; and Would this purchase meet the requirements for the Governments proposed changes to procurement in Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Building Cooperative Workplaces No. 1) Bill 2026? 42. Has the Department/agency engaged any external companies or individuals to provide training or advice to officials on the preparation for Senate Estimates? 43. Has the Department/agency been provided with direction or instruction from the Minister's office on how to answer questions at Senate Estimates? 44. Has the Department/agency conducted any market research or research relating to a communications campaign? Has that research been provided to a Minister's office? Did the Minister's office provide any input on the development of the research? 45. Has the Secretary/Agency Head provided a conflict of interest declaration? Has this declaration been updated since they took their position? 46. Please provide a list of dates the Secretary/Agency head took leave since 1 July 2025, and which officer of the Department/Agency acted for the Secretary during this time. 47. As at 1 April 2026, how many positions are currently vacant within the department/agency? Please provide a list of the positions by APS level. 48. How many positions within the Department/Agency have been filled without advertising externally to the public since 1 January 2026? 49. As at 1 January 2026, how many positions within the Department/Agency have staff in acting positions where the acting arrangement has been longer than 90 days? Please provide a list of these positions by APS level. 50. As at 1 January 2026, how many positions within the Department/Agency have been vacant for longer than 90 days? Please provide a list of these positions by APS level. 51. Please provide a list by APS level of the number of staff with working from home arrangements of three or more days per week. 52. Please provide as a number and as a percentage the amount of staff who have working from home arrangements within the ACT. 53. As at 1 April 2026, please provide a list of the office space leased by the Department/Agency, with addresses and the accommodation capacity. 54. As at 1 April 2026 what is the number of years of service of the longest continuing serving member of the Department/Agency? 55. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff within the Department/Agency have put in place agreements to work on Australia Day Public Holiday? 56. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff within the Department/Agency have put in place agreements to work on Anzac Day Public Holiday? 57. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff within the Department/Agency have put in place agreements to work on The King's Birthday Public Holiday? 58. Since 1 January 2026 how much has the Department/Agency spent on the provision of professional development training for staff from external providers? 59. Please provide an annual expenditure breakdown of the general expenses the Department/agency has for general property maintenance costs from 2018 until 2026. Please include gardening, utility bills, cleaning, building renovations, updates and repairs in the breakdown. 60. Please provide a list of the contracts the Department/Agency has for gardening, cleaning and building maintenance. 61. Since 1 January 2026 how many times in the current financial year has the Department/Agency made a request for additional funding for operational expenditure? 62. Since 1 January 2026, how many staff within the Department/Agency have participated in courses, programmes or activities operated by the APS Academy? 63. Does the Department/Agency adjust the quality of their responses to Questions on Notice based on the number of Questions on Notice received? 64. Since1 January 2026, how many staff in the Department/Agency are allocated to the processing of Freedom of Information applications? 65. Since 1 January 2026 has the Department/Agency provided advice to the Minister in relation to the delivery of election commitments? 66. Is the Department/Agency tracking the implementation of relevant election commitments made by the Government at the 2025 election? 67.Since 1 January 2026, has the Department/Agency engaged any social media influencers to assist in any promotional or communications campaigns? Please provide a list of the individuals engaged. 68. Since 1 January 2026 has the Department/Agency engaged any external speakers to address staff? Please provide a list and the amount paid to the speaker. 69. Since 1 January 2026, has the Department/Agency held any organised external retreats for staff? Please provide a list including the number of staff who attended, the location of the retreat and the cost incurred by the Department/Agency. 70. Since 1 January 2026, how many briefs has the Department/Agency provided to the Minister on potential overseas Ministerial visits? 71. Since 1 January 2026, how many official international visits have been taken by staff? 72. Since 1 January 2026, how many staff of the Department/Agency have undertaken security clearance processes, or renewed security clearances? 73. Since 1 January 2026, how many staff of the Department/Agency who have undertaken security clearance processes, or renewed security clearances, who are yet to receive their clearance? Of these staff, how many have been waiting for clearances for over 6 months? Of these staff, how many have been waiting for clearances for over 12 months? 74. As at 1 April 2026, what is the current turnover rate for staff within the Department/Agency? 75. Please provide a copy of the index of Senate Estimates briefs that were prepared for the Department/Agency for the Senate Estimates hearings held 25 May to 5 June 2026. 76. Please provide a list of the questions on notice from the previous Senate Estimates hearings outlining the following: 1. the number of the Question on Notice; 2. the Senator who asked the Question on Notice; 3. the date the draft response to the Question on Notice was provided to the Minister's office; 4. the date the Minister's office provided approval for the Question on Notice to be tabled; 5. the date the Question on Notice was provided to the Committee; and 6. whether the draft response was different to the tabled response. 77. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff work in the communications / media team of the Department/ agency? Please provide a breakdown of positions by APS level. 78. Noting that the Clerk of the Senate has advised the Senate that preventing information bring provided to the Senate or its committees, or dissuading the provision of information from witnesses that has been sought and is available may be a contempt of the Senate, since 1 January 2026, on what dates has the department/agency received any guidance from the Prime Minister's Office or the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in relation to answering questions on notice? Who made the contact with the department/agency? How was the communication made? Did the department/agency provide a copy to the department/agency's Ministerial office? Did the department/agency receive a copy from the department/agency's Ministerial office? Did the department/agency use the document in order to respond to questions asked at Senate Estimates? 79. Noting that the Clerk of the Senate has advised the Senate that preventing information bring provided to the Senate or its committees, or dissuading the provision of information from witnesses that has been sought and is available may be a contempt of the Senate, has the department/agency sought advice from the Australian Public Service Commission in relation to the use of centralised guidance for answering questions from the Parliament, in particular where the department/agency could provide the information? 80. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff in the department/agency are responsible for the management of the responses to Senate Estimates Questions on Notice? Please provide a breakdown of the number by APS level. 81. Since 1 January 2026, how many SES members of the department/agency have left the department/agency? 82. Since 1 January 2026, how many APS members of the department/agency have left the department/agency? 83. As at 1 January 2026 how many work stations/desks/terminals does the department/agency provide for staff? 84. As at 1 April 2026, how many staff of the department/agency had approved work from home arrangements in cities where the department/agency does not hold any office space? 85. On what date did the department/agency provide briefing material to the relevant Ministerial office to prepare for Senate Estimates held between 25 May to 5 June 2026? 86. Did the department/agency meet with any Minister or staff of any Minister in order to prepare for Senate Estimates held between 25 May to 5 June 2026? 87. Since 1 January 2026, has the department/agency sought any variation to a determination issued by the Remuneration Tribunal? If so, on what date(s) were variations sought? 88. Since 1 January 2026 has any portfolio Minister sought any variation to a determination issues by the Remuneration Tribunal? If so, on what date(s) were variations sought? 89. Since 1 January 2026, has the Remuneration Tribunal altered any determination in respect of an officer or employee of the department/agency? If so, on what date(s)? 90. Since 1 January 2026, has the department/agency appeared in any proceeding before the Fair Work Commission? If so, on what date(s)? 91. Since 1 January 2026, has the department/agency been the subject of any claim under the Scheme for Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration? If so, how many claims has the department/agency been the subject of? 92. Is the department/agency aware that questions asked at Senate Estimates and questions asked in writing following the Senate Estimates hearing are to be treated in the same manner? 93. Under the Legal Services Directions, how does the department/agency consider reasonable prospects of success for an appeal? Would the department/agency use a third party lawyer, that is separate to the first case, to do a sense check prior to launching an appeal? 94. Has the department/agency had or will have any staff attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), or associated events outside of Australia? Please provide: 1. The number of staff, broken down by APS classification; 2. The expected cost of travel, broken down by the cost of flights and accommodation; 3. The first date of travel for department/agency staff; and 4. The last date of travel for department/agency staff. 95. Has any Minister or Assistant Minister of the department/agency been approved to attend or has attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), or associated events outside of Australia? Please provide a list of which Ministers or Assistant Ministers have been approved to attend or have attended. 96. How many SES positions have an acting arrangement as at 1 April 2026? Please name the position, the length of time the acting arrangement has been in place, and the responsibilities of the position. 97. Has the department/agency provided any voluntary redundancies since 1 January 2026? Please provide the number of voluntary redundancies. 98. Has the department/agency requested external legal advice since 1 January 2026, relating to employment of its staff? Please provide the number of matters the department/agency has sought this advice for. 99.Has the department/agency had to comply with any directions issued by a court since 1 January 2026? Please provide a copy of the court order. 100. Please provide the date on which the department or agency's secretary, chief executive officer, or director will complete their appointment. Where the date is not provided in a legislative instrument or there is an ongoing contract, please provide the date on which the contract was signed. 101. Please provide a list of the Contract Notice identification numbers for contracts where the department/agency has entered into an agreement with a provider that is not currently on a Commonwealth procurement panel since 1 January 2026. 102. Since 1 January 2026, on how many occasions has the Department or Agency provided a brief to a Minister seeking approval or providing advice on international travel for the Minister? Please provide the date on which the brief was provided, and the proposed date of travel. 103. Does the Department or Agency book flights for official Ministerial visits on behalf of Ministers or their staff? If so, what corporate travel agency is used? Please provide the tender number for the current contract. 104. What legacy systems is your department or agency still using for finance, HR, payroll or other core business functions? 105. Has your department or agency approved a plan and timetable for replacement or upgrade of those legacy systems? 106. What funding, if any, has been set aside for this work over the forward estimates for replacement or upgrade of those legacy systems? 107. Are there any risks if those legacy systems are not replaced on time? If so, what are the biggest risks? 108. Does your department or agency have the internal staff, capability, and funding needed to both maintain legacy systems and deliver the transition to new ones? 109. Has your department or agency assessed whether its legacy systems are making it harder to meet current security requirements? 110. Does the department or agency consider itself operationally ready to scale AI? 111. [no question asked] 112. If not, why and is it due to constraints such as fragmented data, legacy systems, poor integration and or technical debt? 113. What does your department or agency need to do before AI can be used safely at scale? 114. What level of cyber security risk does your department or agency currently face? 115. Is your department or agency currently meeting the required Essential Eight maturity level? 116. If not, are legacy systems preventing your department or agency from meeting the required Essential Eight maturity level? 117. Does your agency or department have any residual, unmanaged cyber risks? 118. On 15 December 2025, version 2.0 of the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (the policy) came into effect. A series of new requirements for most Commonwealth agencies and departments was imposed. Does the agency/department understand that it has obligations under the policy? If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one. 119. On 15 December 2025, version 2.0 of the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (the policy) came into effect. A series of new requirements for most Commonwealth agencies and departments was imposed. In response to a question on notice asked during SBE25-26 with portfolio question number F292, DTA advised that "[a]gencies must update their [AI transparency] statement at least once a year, or sooner if there is a significant change to the agency's approach to AI or new factors that materially impact the existing statement's accuracy...If an agency has not updated its transparency statement since February 2025, it will need to do so in February 2026." Given this, has the agency/department updated their AI transparency statement since it was published? If this was updated, what date/s did the agency/department update their AI transparency statement? If the agency/department did not update their AI transparency statement within the 12 month window as required, why not? Was the agency/department aware of this requirement? If not, why was the agency/department unaware of this requirement? If the agency/department believes it is captured by one of the exemptions specified by the policy, please identify which one. 120. On 15 December 2025, version 2.0 of the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (the policy) came into effect. A series of new requirements for most Commonwealth agencies and departments was imposed. The policy specifies that the agency/department must develop a strategic position on AI adoption by 15 June 2026 to emphasise how AI opportunities can be identified and embraced by the agency/department. 1. Did the agency/department develop a strategic position on AI adoption by 15 June 2026? a. If not, why d

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