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

asked the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, upon notice, on 14 March 2012:

With reference to the engagement of legal services by Australia Post:

(1) How much did Australia Post spend on legal services from external law firms in the 2010/11 financial year, broken down by firm.

(2) Has Australia Post reduced staff numbers in its internal legal divisions; if so, can details be provided as to which staff members were cut, such as whether they were administrative staff or solicitors.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) Around $5,428,862 in 2010/11. Details about individual services and costs are commercial-in-confidence.

(2) During 2010/11, the internal legal services group was restructured and incorporated into the Governance and Assurance Unit. There was no net reduction in the number of solicitors or administrative staff.