Questions On Notice

Questions on Notice
Senators may, at any time, address written questions on notice to ministers and other senators. As soon as practicable, questions are forwarded to the appropriate ministers’ offices and to the relevant departments where replies are drafted for consideration by the minister. When a reply is approved by the minister it is delivered to the senator who asked the question and both question and reply are printed in Hansard.

Questions without Notice
Question time in the Senate is scheduled to begin at 2.00 p.m. on each sitting day and usually continues for an hour. The President asks if there are any questions without notice and senators wishing to ask questions rise in their places. After the question has been asked the President calls on the appropriate minister to answer.

Public information on wounded soldiers

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 21st December 2011, 2:17pm
in

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
(QUESTION No. 1466)


Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence-


(1) What is the government's policy on the disclosure of details to the public and media regarding soldiers wounded in Afghanistan.

National Rental Affordability Scheme incentives

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 21st December 2011, 1:40pm
in

MINISTER FOR SUSTAINABILITY, ENVIRONMENT, WATER, POPULATION AND COMMUNITIES


Senate Question No. 1226
Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, in writing, on 20 September 2011:
With reference to the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS):

(1)For Round 1, 2 and 3 can a table be provided listing the total number and percentage of NRAS incentives that were awarded but could not be accepted, disaggregating cash and tax deduction grants.

Mandatory residential disclosure scheme delays

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Tuesday 13th December 2011, 6:59pm
in

Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
(Question No. 1223)
Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, upon notice, on 20 September 2011:
With reference to the mandatory residential disclosure scheme:

(1) What is the current status of the phase-in of mandatory disclosure of residential building energy, greenhouse and water performance at the time of sale or lease, (the 'mandatory disclosure scheme') as agreed to by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in April 2009.

Charitable and not for profit housing organisations' treatment by the ATO

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 2nd December 2011, 8:55pm
in

TREASURY - SENATE QUESTION ON NOTICE
Notice Given: 21 October 2011 (Question No. 1222)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 21 October 2011-

With reference to the High Court of Australia ruling handed down on 3 December 2008, Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v Word Investments Limited [2008] HCA55, and the taxation treatment of not-for-profit or charitable housing organisations:

(1) Since the ‘Word' decision which determined that surpluses generated by a charitable organisation were exempt from taxation if they were put back into the charity, have any issues been raised by the department in relation to charitable housing organisations.

WikiLeaks Questions to the Attorney General

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 2nd December 2011, 5:10pm
in

2 December 2011

To: The Attorney General

 

1. Has the Attorney General ascertained whether there are any charges by the US government against Mr. Julian Assange, including under the US Espionage Act or other statutes.

Wikileaks Questions to Kevin Rudd

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Friday 2nd December 2011, 5:01pm
in

Date: 2 December 2011


Senator: Ludlam


To Ask: the Minister for Foriegn Affairs 


Given the Minister's responsibility for the protection of consular and legal rights of all Australian citizens overseas and given answers provided to question on notice 1282 regarding Mr. Julian Assange
1. On what dates have consular officers 'been in regular touch with his lawyers'.

Proposed changes to the way the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will count Australian Homelessness

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Wednesday 23rd November 2011, 8:43pm
in

TREASURY SENATE QUESTION
Notice Given: 15 June 2011
(Question No. 686)


Senator Ludlam: To ask the Minister representing the Treasurer-With reference to the proposed changes to the way the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) will conduct the homelessness count in the 2011 Census:


(1) Why did the ABS undertake a methodological review of Counting the Homeless 2006.


Answer:
Please refer to the ABS' Discussion Paper, Methodological Review of Counting the Homeless, 2006

Resourcing for housing within FACHSIA

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Monday 21st November 2011, 9:32pm
in

QUESTION NO: 1225

DATE ASKED: 20 September 2011



Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, upon notice on 20 September 2011:


With reference to current resources and the housing area:
(1) What is the current level of full-time equivalent (FTEs) positions in the department.
(2) What is the current level of FTEs in the department's housing area.
(3) Are there any intentions to reduce this number by the end of 2011.
(4) Can an organisational chart be provided of the department that illustrates the current arrangements for the housing unit.
(5) Is the Minister intending to revise the organisational chart in relation to housing resources; if so, how and for what reasons.

Question regarding consular and legal support extended to Julian Assange

Question | Spokesperson Scott Ludlam
Thursday 10th November 2011, 2:30pm
in

 

SENATE

Mr Julian Assange

(Question No. l282)

Senator Ludlam asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs,

upon notice, on 21 October 2011 :

Given the Minister's responsibility for the protection of consular and legal rights of

all Australian citizens overseas:

(1) Has the Government maintained communication with Mr Julian Assange and extended consular and legal support while he adheres to bail conditions that include the surrendering of his passport, house arrest, electronic tagging, observation of curfews and daily reporting to police; if so, through what channels, and when and what services have been received.

Inflationary impact of the First Home Owners Scheme

Question
Friday 4th November 2011, 4:55pm
in

Question No. 1224

Senator Ludlam to ask the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice, on 21 October 2011-With reference to the answers to question no BET 267 and BET 268 taken on notice during the 2011-12 Budget estimates hearings of the Economics Legislation Committee in June 2011:

(1) Has the department ever analysed the effect on house prices or the inflationary impact of the First Home Owner Scheme using informal modelling.
(2) Has the department ever provided any briefings, research or modelling on the effect of the First Home Owner Grant Scheme or the First Home Owners Boost Scheme.
(3) On what basis was the comment made that the first home owners grant ‘had a small influence on house prices' in the Australian Financial Review article ‘First home grant doubt' on 25 August 2011.
(4) How does the Treasurer define ‘a small influence' and can he quantify that statement.
(5) To what extent has the ‘small influence' neutralised the assistance the grant provides to home buyers, that is, has it translated to an increase in house prices similar to or greater than the grant itself.
(6) Has the department provided any advice to the Government about the impact of housing demand subsidies more generally.
(7) Can details be provided on whether a Council of Australian Governments agreement currently exists for states and territories to investigate the effectiveness of first home owner schemes; if so, when are these reports due and will this information be public.

Senator Wong: The Treasurer has provided the following answer to the Honourable Senator's question:

The First Home Owners Scheme was brought in on 1 July 2000 to assist First Home Buyers in purchasing their first home.