Defence: Media Monitoring

Senator Johnston asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 11 January 2010:

For the period 1 July to 30 September 2009:

1. For the period 1 July to 30 September 2009, for each agency within the responsibility of the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary, how much was spent on media monitoring;
2. As at 30 September 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. Department of Defence $104,401.21 (GST inclusive), Defence Housing Australia $15,024.22 (GST exclusive)
2. (a), (b) and (c) The Defence Public Affairs Branch employs 67 civilians some of whom work on a part-time or job share basis while others may be on extended leave which equated to a full time employee count of 63. In addition four contractors and 53 military staff performed roles within the Branch. Please refer to the table below for a detailed breakdown.

   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, 1 x permanent EL2, 4 x permanent EL1, 3 x permanent APS6, 1 x temporary APS6, 1 x permanent APS4-5, 1 x permanent/part-time APS4
   Communication Advisors	1 x permanent EL2, 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, 1 x permanent APS4, 2 x contractors
   Internal Communications	1 x permanent EL2, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent /part-time EL1, 2 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent/part-time 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	5 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent/part-time EL1 (job-share), 1 x temporary/part-time EL1 (job-share), 2 x permanent APS6, 3 x permanent APS2
   Responsibility	Staffing
   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, 1 x permanent APS4
   Extended leave/Maternity leave	2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent APS4

   
   

   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 were a further 38 Defence employees who provided public affairs support as a part of their duties.
   

   Service/Group	Staffing
   Vice Chief of the Defence Force	4 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
   Army	1 x temporary EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
   Navy	1 x permanent CMDR, 1 x permanent LCDR, 1 x part-time LCDR, 3 x permanent LEUT, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6
   Air Force	1 x permanent SQNLDR, 2 x temporary FLTLT, 1 x permanent FLGOFF, 1 x permanent FLTLT, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x temporary FLGOFF.
   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 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) had no specific staff members responsible for the stated functions. DHA has a Marketing Communication Team, comprised of four staff members. The team is responsible for marketing communication and media 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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