Information Provided to Parliament
Routinely Requested Information
Indexed List of Departmental Files (Harradine Report)
Every six months, the Department of Defence is required to prepare a response to the Senate Continuing Order for Indexed List of Departmental or Agency Files (known more often as "the Harradine Report", as the order was instigated by then Senator Harradine in 1996).
This order requires that an indexed list of all corporate files, created in the central offices of all Federal Government agencies, be published to the Internet, so it is accessible to the public and can assist with Freedom of Information requests.
Defence Contracts Reporting
Australian Government agencies are subject to a number of specific requirements, which support internal and external scrutiny of tendering and contracting processes. These include the requirement to:
- publish details of agency agreements, Commonwealth contracts and standing offers with an estimated liability of $10,000 or more on AusTender; and
- report contracts valued at $100,000 or more and identify confidentiality requirements in accordance with the Senate Order on Department and Agency Contracts. The lists of the Defence and Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) contracts are published on the DMO website.
Grants Reporting
Under the Australian Government grant reporting guidelines Defence is required to list details of grants provided by the agency no later than 7 working days after the funding agreement is signed by both parties. Details must remain on the website for at least two years from the date of the signed funding agreement.
Questions on Notice
In the Australian system of government, the Ministers who together administer the Executive branch of government are responsible, that is answerable or accountable, to the Parliament for their actions. In keeping with this concept of responsible government, Ministers may be called on to explain their administrative actions. There are several parliamentary mechanisms for achieving ministerial accountability, one of which is the asking of questions.
The links below provide direct access to Defence ministers replies to Questions on Notice:
House of Representatives
- 43rd Parliament (28 September 2010 - )
- 42nd Parliament (12 February 2008 - 27 September 2010 )
- 41st Parliament (16 November 2004 - 11 February 2008)
- 40th Parliament (12 February 2002 - 15 November 2004)
Senate
- 43rd Parliament (28 September 2010 - )
- 42nd Parliament (12 February 2008 - 27 September 2010)
- 41st Parliament (16 November 2004 - 11 February 2008)
- 40th Parliament (12 February 2002 - 15 November 2004)
Parliamentary Committees
A parliamentary committee is a group of Members or Senators (or both in the case of joint committees) appointed by one or both Houses of Parliament to undertake certain specified tasks. They have both government and non-government Members on them and have considerable powers to undertake work on behalf of the Parliament.
- Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee (Estimates)
- Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (Review of Defence Annual Report)
- House of Representatives Committees
- Senate Committees
Hansard
Hansard is the name given to the edited transcripts of debates in the Senate, House of Representatives, Federation Chamber and parliamentary committees. They are published shortly after the chamber or committee proceedings have concluded.