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External Scrutiny

Sections:

Parliamentary Committees

Defence interacted with a number of parliamentary committees throughout 2004-05. This section reports on the status of inquiries or other action by parliamentary committees in relation to Defence as at 30 June 2005.

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. 398, March 2004 - Review of Auditor-General's Reports, 2002-2003, Fourth Quarter

The Government response was tabled on 24 November 2004.

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

The Government response was tabled on 19 January 2005.

Review of Auditor-General's Reports 2004-05, First and Second Quarters

Defence officials attended public hearings on 16 March, 28 April, 12 May and 27 June 2005 at which the committee considered Auditor-General's Report No. 5 Management of the Standard Defence Supply System Upgrade and No. 21 Audits of Financial Statements of Australian Government Entities for the Period Ended 30 June 2004.

Defence responded to a total of 25 questions on notice resulting from these hearings. Responses to two questions, one each arising from the 28 April and 12 May hearings, had not been lodged with the committee as at 30 June 2005.

Public Works
Report No. 5/2005, March 2005 - Defence Science and Technology Organisation Ordnance Breakdown Facility, Port Wakefield, South Australia.

This project was considered by the committee at a public hearing on 21 April 2005 and approved by the Parliament on 1 June 2005. See Chapter Two - Approved Major Capital Facilities Projects for further details.

Joint Standing Committees

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with the Republic of Korea

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 26 May 2005.

Report No. 122 - Review of the Defence Annual Report 2002-03

The Government response was tabled on 19 April 2005.

Review of the Defence Annual Report 2003-04

Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 11 March 2005. Responses to seven questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 21 April 2005.

Inquiry into Australia's Maritime Strategy

The report was tabled on 21 June 2004. A response to the report is currently being considered by the Government.

Inquiry into Australia's Defence Relations with the United States

The inquiry resumed on 2 December 2004. Defence provided a second submission to the committee in May 2005.

Inquiry into Human Rights and Good Governance Education in the Asia Pacific Region

The report was tabled on 24 June 2004. Defence input to the Government response was provided to AusAID on 1 October 2004.

Inquiry into Australia's Relations with Indonesia

The report was tabled on 31 May 2004.

Visits by and Private Briefings to the Defence Sub-Committee

The Chief of the Defence Force provided a private briefing to the committee in relation to the Al Muthanna Task Group on 15 March 2005.

The Chief of Army provided a private a briefing to the committee in relation to protective clothing on 11 May 2005.

Defence officials provided a private briefing to the committee in relation to complex warfighting on 21 June 2005.

Electoral Matters
Inquiry into the Conduct of the 2004 Federal Election and Matters Related Thereto

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 4 April 2005.

Treaties
Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment

Defence officials attended a public hearing on 10 August 2004.

Report 66 - Review of treaties tabled 7 December 2004 (4), 15 March and 11 May 2005

The treaty was tabled on 11 May 2005. Defence witnesses attended a public hearing on 20 June 2005.

Senate Standing Committees

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
2004-05 Budget Estimates Hearing 31 May, 1 June and 17 June 2004

Defence responded to a total of 52 questions arising from the hearings. Responses to questions 1-28 and W1-W7 were lodged with the committee on 16 June 2004. Responses to questions 29-42 and W8-W10 were lodged with the committee on 18 November 2004.

2004-05 Budget Estimates Supplementary Hearing December 2004

Defence responded to 49 written questions in lieu of a supplementary hearing, which were lodged with the committee on 15 February 2005.

2004-05 Additional Estimates Hearing 16 and 18 February 2005

Responses to 13 questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 19 April 2005.

2005-06 Budget Estimates Hearing 30-31 May 2005

Responses to 32 questions arising from the hearing were lodged with the committee on 5 August 2005.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee

Inquiry into Australia's Relationship with China

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 17 March 2005.

Inquiry into Duties of Australian Personnel in Iraq (ISG Inquiry)

One public hearing was held on 29 March 2005. As at 30 June 2005, the committee's report had not been tabled.

Inquiry into the Effectiveness of Australia's Military Justice System

The report was tabled on 16 June 2005. As at 30 June 2005, a Government response addressing 40 recommendations was being prepared. See Chapter One: Year In Review by the Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force and Chapter Three - Effectiveness of Investigations and Complaints Handling for further information.

Current health preparation arrangements for the deployment of Australian Defence Forces overseas

The report was tabled on 12 August 2004. A response to the report is currently being considered by the Government.

Inquiry into Security Threats to Australians in South-East Asia

The Government response was tabled on 2 December 2004.

Senate Select Committee
Inquiry into Public Statements Concerning a Certain Maritime Incident

A Defence official attended a public hearing on 1 September 2004. The report was tabled on 9 December 2004

House Standing Committees

Standing Committee on Science and Innovation
Inquiry into pathways to technological innovation

Defence lodged a submission with the committee on 5 May 2005.

Parliamentary Joint Committee on ASIO, ASIS and DSD
Review of the Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2005

Defence officials provided a briefing to the committee on the proposed changes to the

Intelligence Services Act 2001 and associated pieces of legislation on 16 June 2005. The Committee is to review the Intelligence Services Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 and will table its report in 2005-06.

Review of handling procedures for classified documents

Defence contributed to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet coordinated Government response during 2004-05. Tabling is to occur in 2005-06.
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