Senate Notice Paper Question Nos 2083 & 2084
Schedule Number: 300218 & 300219
Publication Date: 16 September 2009
Hansard: Pages 6800-2

Defence: Media Monitoring

Senator: Johnston

Senator Johnston asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 13 August 2009:

For the period 1 January to 30 June 2009:

  1. For the period 1 January to 30 June 2009, for each agency within the responsibility of the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary, how much was spent on media monitoring;
  2. As at 30 June 2009: (a) how many staff were employed in public relations and/or the media in the department or each agency within the responsibility of the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary; (b) what were the position levels of these staff; and (c) how many of these staff were: (i) permanent, (ii) temporary, and (iii) contractors.

Senator Faulkner - The answer to the honourable senator’s question is as follows:

  1. $262, 517.43 (GST exclusive)
  2. (a), (b) and (c)    The Defence Public Affairs Branch employs 71 civilians, four contractors and 53 military employees.

    Responsibility Staffing
    Executive 1 x permanent BRIG, 1 x permanent COL
    1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent APS4
    Defence Service Newspapers 1 x permanent WO2, 1 x permanent SGT, 3 x permanent CPL, 1 x permanent LS, 1 x permanent CPL, 4 x permanent EL1, 1 x temporary EL1, 3 x permanent APS6, 2 x temporary APS6, 1 x permanent APS4-5, 1 x permanent/part-time APS4
    Communication Advisors 8 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent LTCOL
    Media Engagement 1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent EL1,
    1 x permanent APS6, 6 x permanent APS4/5
    Defence Internet 1 x permanent EL1, 2 x contractors
    Video and Imagery Library 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent APS4, 2 x contractors
    Internal Communications 1 x permanent EL2, 2 x permanent EL1, 5 x permanent APS6
    Military Public Affairs Preparedness, Plans and Training 1 x permanent LTCOL, 1 x permanent MAJ,
    1 x permanent CAPT, 1 x permanent APS6
    Research, Policy and Entertainment Media Liaison 1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent APS6
    Regional Public Affairs 7 x permanent EL1, 1 x temporary EL1,
    1 x permanent APS6, 3 x permanent APS2
    Military Headquarters Support 1 x permanent LTCOL, 6 x permanent MAJ,
    1 x permanent SQNLDR, 3 x permanent CAPT,
    1 x permanent LEUT,
    Joint Public Affairs Unit covering photographers and reporters 1 x permanent MAJ, 5 x permanent CAPT,
    2 x permanent LEUT, 2 x permanent FLTLT,
    3 x permanent WO2, 5 x permanent SGT,
    1 x permanent PO, 6 x permanent CPL,
    1 x permanent LS,1 x permanent AB, 1 x permanent AC,
    1 x permanent APS4
    Administration Support 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent APS5,
    2 x permanent APS4
    Secondment/ Leave 1 x permanent EL2, 4 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
    Key: BRIG: Brigadier, COL: Colonel, EL: Executive Level, APS: Australian Public Service, WO2: Warrant Officer Class 2, CPL: Corporal, LS: Leading Seaman, LTCOL: Lieutenant Colonel, MAJ: Major, WGCDR: Wing Commander, LEUT: Lieutenant (Navy), CAPT: Captain, FLTLT: Flight Lieutenant, LT: Lieutenant (Army), WO: Warrant Officer (Navy), SGT: Sergeant, AB: Able Seaman, AC: Aircraftman, PTE: Private, PO: Petty Officer.

    Outside of the Branch there are a further 38 Defence employees who provide public affairs support as a part of their duties.

    Service/Group Staffing
    Vice Chief of the Defence Force 3 x permanent EL1, 2 x permanent APS6
    Army 1 x temporary EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
    Navy 2 x permanent CMDR, 1 x permanent LCDR, 4 x permanent LEUT, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
    Air Force 1 x permanent WGCDR, 1 x permanent SQNLDR, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x temporary FLGOFF, 1 x temporary FLTLT,
    People Strategies and Policy Group 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
    Chief Information Office 1 x permanent EL2
    Intelligence and Security 1 x permanent EL1
    Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1 x permanent EL2, 4 x permanent EL1, 3 x permanent APS6
    Defence Materiel Organisation 1 x permanent EL1, 1x permanent APS6

    Key: CMDR: Commander, LCDR: Lieutenant Commander, LEUT: Lieutenant (Navy), WGCDR: Wing Commander, SQNLDR: Squadron Leader, FLTLT: Flight Lieutenant, FLGOFF: Flying Officer.

    Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has no specific staff members responsible for the stated functions. DHA has a Marketing Communication Team, comprised of five staff members. The team is responsible for marketing communication campaigns to provide product and service information.  There is relatively little day to day media interest in DHA’s activities, so an incidental proportion of the team’s time is involved in responding to media requests.


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