NDIA Board - Parliamentary Inquiry Submissions

Question

Senator STEELE-JOHN: Mr Fearnley, you've been chair of the board since 2022, when you began your tenure. In that time, has the agency ever come to the board for authorisation of a submission before making- Mr Fearnley: No. It has not been the practice of the agency for the last four years. Senator STEELE-JOHN: Putting aside authorisation, have they come to the board for consultation on a submission before making a submission? Mr Fearnley: I would have to take that on notice. Senator STEELE-JOHN: Could you take on notice whether that has occurred in your tenure? Mr Fearnley: Yes. Senator STEELE-JOHN: I know it might take you a little bit longer to find, but could you go back to the beginning of the creation of the board and see whether your records identify whether submissions to parliamentary inquiries-either singular submissions or contributions to joint submissions-have ever come to the board for either authorisation or consultation before being submitted? Mr Fearnley: We may not be able to get back to you today, but we will take this on notice. Senator STEELE-JOHN: That's very much an on notice question.

Answer

Please see attached answer.

Documents

• Question with answer (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
• NDIA SQ26-000150.pdf (opens in a new tab)