Annual Report 2003-04

External Scrutiny

Parliamentary Committees

Defence interacted with a number of parliamentary committees throughout 2003-04. This segment reports on the status of inquiries or other action by parliamentary committees in relation to Defence. The information below is correct as at 30 June 2004.

Information on the parliamentary reports, inquiries and hearings detailed below can be accessed through the Australian Parliament House website at: http://www.aph.gov.au.

Joint Statutory Committees

Public Accounts and Audit

Report No. 396, September 2003 - Review of Auditor-General's Reports, 2002-2003, First, Second and Third Quarters

This report considered Australian National Audit Office Report No. 3, 2002-03: Facilities Management on HMAS Cerberus.

Defence responses to two of the report's recommendations were lodged with the committee on 26 February 2004.

Report No. 398, March 2004 - Review of Auditor-General's Reports, 2002-2003, Fourth Quarter

This report considered Australian National Audit Office Report No. 51, 2002-03: Defence Housing and Relocation Services.

Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 15 September 2003. Responses to two recommendations relating to Defence are due to be completed by September 2004.

Report No. 399, March 2004 - Management and Integrity of Electronic Information in the Commonwealth

Defence officers provided a briefing to the committee on 30 July 2003. Defence witnesses attended a hearing related to the theft of Custom's computers on 17 October 2003. Defence lodged a submission to the committee on 20 October 2003.

Report No. 400, June 2004 - Review of Aviation Security in Australia

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 30 July 2003. Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 4 September 2003. Defence lodged further submissions with the committee on 4 March and 18 June 2004.

Public Works

Report No. 6/2003, August 2003 - Provision of Facilities for Collocation and Re-equipping of the 1^st Aviation Regiment at Robertson Barracks, Darwin, Northern Territory

This project was considered by the committee at a public hearing on 8 July 2003 and approved by Parliament on 20 August 2003. Construction commenced in May 2004 and completion is expected by the end of 2005.

Report No. 7/2003, August 2003 - Perimeter Security Fence, RAAF Base Tindal, Katherine, Northern Territory

This project was considered by the committee at a public hearing on 9 July 2003 and approved by Parliament on 8 September 2003. Construction commenced in July 2004 and completion is expected by mid-2005.

Report No. 11/2003, October 2003 - RAAF Base Richmond Reinvestment Project, Richmond, New South Wales

This project was considered by the committee at a public hearing on 12 September 2003 and approved by Parliament on 15 October 2003. Construction commenced in June 2004 and completion is expected by the end of 2005.

Report No. 1/2004, May 2004 - Site Remediation and Construction of Infrastructure for the Defence Site at Randwick, New South Wales

This project was considered by the committee at a public hearing on 12 March 2004 and approved by Parliament on 2 June 2004. Initial construction work commenced in April 2004 and completion is expected by the end of 2005.

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Joint Standing Committees

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Visit to Australian Forces Deployed to the International Coalition Against Terrorism

The Government response was tabled on 9 October 2003.

Inquiry into Australia's Maritime Strategy

The report was tabled on 21 June 2004. A Government response addressing four recommendations made by the committee is currently being prepared.

Review of Australia's Relations with Indonesia

The report was tabled on 21 June 2004. Defence provided input to the Government response which is being coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Inquiry into Australia's Defence Relations with the United States

A Defence submission was lodged with the committee on 17 February 2004. Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 26 March 2004. Following a request from the committee, a copy of the Statements of Principles for Enhanced Cooperation in Matters of Defence Equipment and Industry was provided on 2 April 2004. Committee members visited the Pine Gap facility on 21 July 2004.

Report of the 2003 New Zealand Parliamentary Committee Exchange 6-11 April 2003

Defence provided input to the Government response that was tabled on 16 October 2003.

Review of the Defence Annual Report 2001-02

The Government response was tabled on 11 March 2004.

Review of the Defence Annual Report 2002-03

Defence witnesses appeared at a public hearing on 15 December 2003. Responses to 17 questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 23 February 2004. Defence witnesses attended a further hearing relating to aspects of F-111 retirement on 4 June 2004. Responses to four questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee in August 2004. A further Defence submission was lodged with the committee on 16 June 2004.

Visits by and Private Briefings to the Defence Sub-Committee

The sub-committee visited RAAF Williamtown, Darwin establishments, East Timor and RAAF Tindal in July 2003.

Defence Service Chiefs provided private briefings on 7 and 14 October, 25 November and 2 December 2003.

On 9 March 2004, as a result of the inquiry into the Defence Annual Report 2001-02, a Defence officer provided a private briefing to the committee on the Army Sustainment Model.

The Chief of the Air Force provided a private briefing to the committee in relation to the Joint Strike Fighter program on 23 March 2004. A submission was also provided to the committee at the Review of the Defence Annual Report 2002-03 hearing on 4 June 2004.

The Defence sub-committee members attended the General Conference of the Council for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific held in Jakarta in December 2003.

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Senate Standing Committees

Finance and Public Administration References Committee

Inquiry into the Administrative Review Within the Area of Veteran and Military Compensation and Income Support

Defence declined to provide a submission to the inquiry. The Minister for Defence wrote to the committee on 18 September 2003 advising that the Department of Veterans' Affairs submission, lodged on 4 September 2003, was fully supported by Defence. A Defence witness appeared at the public hearing on Friday 26 September 2003.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

2003-04 Budget Estimates Hearing 4-5 June 2003

Responses to 58 questions taken on notice at the hearing were lodged with the committee on 30 July 2003. A copy of the trilateral agreement on the treatment of prisoners of war in Iraq was provided on 5 November 2003.

2003-04 Budget Supplementary Hearing on 5 November 2003

Responses to 40 questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee in February 2004.

2003-04 Additional Estimates Hearing on 18 February 2004

Responses to 57 questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 16 April 2004.

2004-05 Budget Estimates Hearing on 31 May - 1 June and 17 June 2004 Hearings

Responses to 35 questions arising from the 31 May and 1 June hearings were lodged with the committee on 16 June 2004. Responses to a further 17 questions arising from the 17 June hearing had not been lodged as at 30 June 2004.

Inquiry into the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Bill 2003 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2003

Defence witnesses attended a hearing on 25 February 2004. Defence lodged a submission on 22 March 2004.

Scrutiny of Bills

Defence provided input to the Department of Veterans' Affairs response (tabled on 24 March 2004) to the committee in regard to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee's Inquiry into the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Bill 2003 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2003.

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Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee

Inquiry into Materiel Acquisition and Management in the Department of Defence

The Government response was tabled on 9 October 2003.

Security Threats to Australians in South-East Asia

Defence witnesses appeared at a hearing on 20 June 2003. Responses to three questions taken on notice at the hearing were lodged with the committee on 25 July 2003. Defence witnesses appeared at a hearing on 28 November 2003. Mr Richard Smith, the Secretary of Defence, also appeared at this hearing in a personal capacity as former Ambassador to Indonesia. Defence witnesses attended a further hearing on 28 May 2004. Responses to 27 questions arising from that hearing were lodged with the committee on 15 July 2004.

Inquiry into the Current Health Preparation Arrangements for the Deployment of Australian Defence Forces Overseas

Defence lodged a submission on 14 January 2004. Responses to 14 questions arising from a hearing on 26 February 2004 were lodged with the committee on 31 May 2004.

Inquiry into the Effectiveness of Australia's Military Justice System

A Defence submission was lodged on 23 February 2003. The Chief of the Defence Force and the Service Chiefs attended a hearing on 1 March 2004. Responses to ten questions arising from the hearing were lodged on 29 April 2004. Defence witnesses attended a further hearing on 21 June 2004. Responses to four questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 30 July 2004.

Legal and Constitutional References Committee

Inquiry into Australian Expatriates

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 27 February 2004.

Regulations and Ordinances Committee

Defence Determination 2003/9, Section 58 of the Defence Act 1903 - Education Assistance

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 11 July 2003.

Defence (Inquiry) Amendment Regulations 2003 (No. 1), Statutory Rules 2003 No. 311

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 8 March 2004.

Amendments to the Defence (Inquiry) Regulations 1985

A Defence response was lodged with the committee on 8 March 2004.

Explosives Areas Regulations 2003

A Defence response was lodged with the committee on 26 March 2004.

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House Standing Committees

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Committee

Inquiry into Capacity Building in Indigenous Communities

Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 10 September 2003.

Transport and Regional Services Committee

Inquiry into the Privatisation of Regional and Infrastructure and Government Business Enterprises

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 1 December 2003.

House Select Committee

Inquiry into the Recent Australian Bushfires

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 6 June 2003. A Defence witness appeared at a public hearing on 15 July 2003. A response to the one question arising from the hearing was lodged with the committee on 15 August 2003.

Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD

Inquiry into Intelligence on Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction

Defence witnesses attended hearings on 24 September and 16 October 2003. Defence officers from the Iraq Survey Group provided a briefing to the committee on 16 October 2003. The report was tabled on 1 March 2004.

Private Review of Agency Security Arrangements

Defence provided a response to the committee on 12 August 2003. The report was tabled on 13 October 2003.

Review of the Administration and Expenditure of ASIO, ASIS and DSD

A statement of the Defence Signals Directorate's financial information for 2002-03 was provided to the committee on 9 March 2004. A Defence witness attended a hearing on 6 May 2004. Responses to five questions arising from the hearing and a further submission were lodged with the committee on 8 June 2004.

Inquiry into the Intelligence Services Amendment Bill 2003

A Defence officer attended a private hearing on 27 October 2003 at the committee's request.

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