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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
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Answers to Questions

COUNCIL FOR THE AUSTRALIAN FEDERATION

76 Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (30 September 2008). What are the annual meeting costs of the Premier's Federation Council and how often does it meet?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change): I have been advised of the following information:

States and territories set up the Council for the Australian Federation (CAF) in 2006 as a way to work together to improve the delivery of key services and tackle vital issues such as climate change and water reform. All Premiers and Chief Ministers are members of the Council.

The position of chair of the Council rotates between jurisdictions on a yearly basis. Premier Rann was the inaugural chair of CAF from October 2006 until October 2007, when Premier Brumby assumed the position. Premier Bligh is the current chair.

CAF meetings have been held on the following dates and locations:

1. Melbourne, 13 October 2006

2. Sydney, 9 February 2007

3. Canberra, 12 April 2007

4. Adelaide, 21 February 2008

5. Canberra, 20 April 2008*

6. Sydney, 2 July 2008*

7. Perth, 1 October 2008*

8. Canberra, 28 November 2008

There have also been CAF teleconferences on the following dates:

1. 26 November 2007*

2. 3 December 2007*

3. 17 December 2007*

4. 17 March 2008*

5. 12 September 2008*

6. 30 September 2008*

7. 24 November 2008*

8. 27 November 2008*

Some of these meetings and teleconferences (those marked with an asterisk *) were held prior to meetings of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) to discuss issues relating to COAG.

The first CAF meeting in Melbourne, which South Australia chaired, cost $11,881.48 and included catering, IT hire and miscellaneous costs. Since that meeting, jurisdictions have adopted a practice whereby the host state or territory is responsible for meeting costs. When CAF met in Adelaide on 21 February 2008, South Australia was also hosting a meeting between CAF and a delegation from Canadian provinces. Costs for the CAF only meeting were limited to venue hire, which cost $1050.

Participation in face-to-face CAF meetings that address non-COAG matters usually requires expenditure on travel and accommodation for the Premier and a small number of advisers/officials.

Each State and Territory also contributes towards the CAF Secretariat, according to its Senate representation. In the 2006-07 financial year, SA contributed $109,508.08 (GST excluded). SA's contribution for the 2007-08 financial year is $243,800 (GST excluded).

These annual contributions fund CAF's policy and research work and the Secretariat's running costs.

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