The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The total number of staff employed by the Department is 961.

(2) The total number of staff with a disability currently employed by the Department is 25. Note that this represents 2.6% of employees as identifying as having a disability.

(3) The Department has a Workplace Diversity and Equity Strategy for 2011-2015 that is committed to achieving a target of 3% of employees as identifying as having a disability.

(4) The Department does not have specific retention strategies for people with a disability.

(5) The Department's 2011-2015 Workplace Diversity and Equity Strategy is the underpinning policy framework for developing plans for people with a disability.

(6) By 2015, the Department is committed to achieving a 3% target of employees identifying as having a disability.

(7) Under the Department's Workplace Diversity and Equity Strategy for 2011-2015, existing measures will be reviewed and new initiatives will be developed to support staff with a disability.

(8) The Department's 2011-2015 Workplace Diversity and Equity Strategy is the underpinning policy framework for developing plans for people with a disability.