Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 6 September 2011:

With reference to the answer to question on notice no. 846 which refers to the 'structure of staff within an office' and not whether any 'direction or advice' was offered, can the following information be provided: Has the Caucus Communications Team or anyone in the Caucus Communications Team offered any direction or advice to ministers on how to structure their media staff: if so:

  (a)   who offered direction or advice and to which Ministers; and

  (b)   what advice was given.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Special Minister of State has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(a) and (b) Direction and advice surrounding the employment of media staff are matters for the employing Ministers and their Chiefs of Staff.