Senator Chris Evans: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (1) The Department of Defence has spent $627,777 (GST inclusive) on media monitoring by Media Monitors. Defence Housing Australia has spent $20,532.07 (GST exclusive) on media monitoring by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news centre. (2) (a), (b) and (c) At 1 January 2011, the Defence Public Affairs Branch employed 65 civilians, 50 military personnel and four contractors. At 30 June 2011, the Communication and Media Branch employed 60 civilians, nine military personnel and four contractors. As at 30 June 2011, the Strategic Communication Branch employed 42 permanent military, 21 part-time military and five permanent civilian staff. Of that figure, three staff were employed in administrative/ logistics support roles (one permanent military, one part-time military and one permanent civilian). Within Strategic Communication Branch, 36 positions remain unfilled (four permanent military, 30 part-time military and two permanent civilian). As at 1 January 2011, outside of the Communication and Media Branch and the Strategic Communication Branch, there were 30 civilians, 12 military and three contractors who provided public affairs support as a part of their regular duties within the Defence groups and services. As at 30 June 2011, there were 36 civilians, nine military personnel and one contractor. Defence Public Affairs Branch Section Staffing as at 1 January 2011 Executive 1 x permanent BRIG, 1 x permanent COL, 1 x permanent MAJ, 1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent/part time EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 Defence Service Newspapers 1 x permanent EL2, 4 x permanent EL1, 1 x temporary EL1, 4 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent APS4-5, 1 x permanent/part-time APS4, 1 x permanent LCDR, 1 x permanent SGT, 1 x permanent CPL, 1 x LS Communication Advisers 7 x permanent EL1 Media Operations 1 x permanent EL2, 3 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x temporary APS6, 4 x permanent APS4/5 Defence Internet 1 x permanent EL1, 2 x contractors Video and Imagery Library 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent part-time APS4, 1 x permanent APS3-4, 1 x permanent WO2, 2 x contractors Leadership Communications 1 x permanent/part-time APS6 Military Public Affairs Preparedness, Plans and Training 1 x permanent APS6,1 x permanent MAJ, 1 x LT (Reserve), 1 x CAPT (Reserve) Research, Policy and Entertainment Media Liaison 1 x permanent EL2, 1x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 Regional Public Affairs 7 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent APS2 Military Headquarters Support 2 x permanent LTCOL, 2 x permanent MAJ, 7 x permanent CAPT, 2 x permanent LEUT, 1 x permanent FLTLT, 2 x permanent LEUT, 1 x permanent FLTLT, 1 x permanent LT 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit 1 x permanent MAJ, 1 x permanent LEUT, 2 x permanent FLTLT, 2 x permanent LT, 1 x WO2, 3 x permanent SGT, 1 x permanent PO, 7 x permanent CPL, 1 x permanent LS, 1 x permanent LAC, 1 x permanent AB, 1 x permanent APS4 Administrative Support 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent part-time APS4 Extended leave/ maternity leave/ temporary transfer to another group 3 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent part time EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent part-time APS6, 3 x permanent APS4-5 Key: BRIG: Brigadier, COL: Colonel, EL: Executive Level, APS: Australian Public Service, WO2: Warrant Officer Class 2, CPL: Corporal, LS: Leading Seaman, LTCOL: Lieutenant Colonel, MAJ: Major, WGCDR: Wing Commander, LEUT: Lieutenant (Navy), CAPT: Captain, FLTLT: Flight Lieutenant, LT: Lieutenant (Army), SGT: Sergeant, LCPL: Lance Corporal, AB: Able Seaman, PTE: Private, PO: Petty Officer. Communication and Media Branch Section Staffing as at 30 June 2011 Executive 1 x permanent SES Band 1, 1 x permanent/part-time EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 Defence News 1 x permanent EL2, 4 x permanent EL1, 1 x temporary EL1, 5 x permanent APS6, 1 x temporary APS6, 1 x permanent APS4-5, 1 x permanent APS4, 1 x permanent/part-time APS4, 1 x permanent LS, 1 x permanent SGT, 1 x permanent CPL, 1 x permanent LCPL, 1 x permanent AB, 1 x permanent LAC Media Operations 1 x permanent EL2, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 1 x temporary APS6, 5 x permanent APS4/5 Digital Media, Entertainment Media Liaison and Branding 1 x permanent EL2, 3 x permanent EL1, 4 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent/part-time APS6, 1 x permanent/part-time APS4, 1 x permanent WO2, 4 x contractors Services, Operations & Training 3 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent MAJ, 1 x permanent APS6 Regional Public Affairs, Communication Advisers & Support 1 x permanent EL2, 11 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent APS2 Leadership Communications 1 x permanent/part-time APS6 Temporary transfer to another work area or deployed 1 x permanent COL, 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent/part-time EL1 EL: Executive Level, APS: Australian Public Service, COL: Colonel, MAJ: Major, WO2: Warrant Officer Class 2, SGT: Sergeant, CPL: Corporal, LCPL: Lance Corporal, LAC: Leading Aircraftman, AB: Able Seaman Strategic Communication Branch Section Staffing as at 30 June 2011 Unfilled positions Executive 1 x permanent BRIG. Directorate Plans & Policy 2 x permanent EL1. 1 x permanent EL2. Directorate Operations 1 x permanent COL, 1 x permanent EL1. 1 x permanent LTCOL (E). Military Public Affairs Preparedness, Plans and Training 2 x part-time Reserve LTCOL, 4 x part time Reserve MAJ, 2 x permanent CAPT, 9 x part-time Reserve CAPT, 5 x part-time Reserve LT. 1 x permanent LTCOL (E), 2 x part-time Reserve LTCOL, 6 x part-time reserve MAJ, 15 x part-time Reserve CAPT, 1 x part-time Reserve LT, 2 x part-time Reserve SGT, 3 x part-time Reserve CPL. 1st Joint Public Affairs Unit 1 x permanent MAJ, 2 x permanent Reserve CFTS LEUT, 2 x permanent CAPT, 2 x permanent FLTLT, 4 x permanent LT, 2 x permanent WO2, 1 x permanent PO, 5 x permanent SGT, 1 x permanent LS, 7 x permanent CPL, 1 x permanent AB, 1 x permanent LAC. 1 x permanent CAPT. Military Headquarters Support 2 x permanent MAJ, 1 x permanent LEUT, 1 x permanent Reserve CFTS LEUT, 2 x permanent CAPT, 2 x permanent LT. Extended leave/Maternity leave/Temp transfer to another Group 1 x permanent EL1 (Directorate of Plans & Policy). Administrative / Logistic Support 1 x permanent WGCDR, 1 x part-time Reserve SGT, 1 x permanent APS4. 1 x permanent APS4, 1 x permanent PTE, 1 x part-time Reserve PTE. Key: BRIG: Brigadier, COL: Colonel, EL: Executive Level, APS: Australian Public Service, WO2: Warrant Officer Class 2, CPL: Corporal, LS: Leading Seaman, LTCOL: Lieutenant Colonel, MAJ: Major, WGCDR: Wing Commander, LEUT: Lieutenant (Navy), CAPT: Captain, FLTLT: Flight Lieutenant, LT: Lieutenant (Army), WO: Warrant Officer (Navy), SGT: Sergeant, LCPL: Lance Corporal, AB: Able Seaman, AC: Aircraftman, PTE: Private, PO: Petty Officer, CFTS: Continuous Full-time Service, E: or equivalent rank Employees in other groups and services who provided public affairs support as a part of their regular duties Service/Group Staffing as at 1 January 2011 Staffing as at 30 June 2011 Vice Chief of the Defence Force 5 x permanent EL1, 1x permanent MAJ, 1 x permanent APS 6, 1 x non-ongoing APS6, 1 x contractor 6 x permanent EL1, 2 x permanent APS 6 Army 2 x permanent APS6, 1 x permanent Major 3 x permanent APS 6 Navy 1 x permanent CMDR, 1 x permanent LCDR, 1 x permanent part-time LCDR, 4 x permanent LEUT, 3 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 1 x permanent CMDR 3 x permanent LEUT 1 x permanent PO 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent part time EL1, 2 x permanent APS6 Air Force 1 x permanent SQNLDR, 2 x permanent APS6, 2 x permanent FLTLT, 1 x permanent EL1 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS 4-5 (broadband), 1 x permanent APS 6, 3 x permanent FLTLT, 1 x permanent/part time FLTLT People Strategies and Policy 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6 Intelligence and Security 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS5, 1 x permanent APS4 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS5, 1 x permanent APS4 Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1 x permanent EL2, 2 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS6, 2 x contractor 1 x permanent EL2, 2 x permanent EL1, 2 x permanent APS6, 1 x contractor Defence Materiel Organisation 1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent EL1, 1 x permanent APS 6 1 x permanent EL2, 1 x permanent EL1, 2 x permanent APS 6 Defence Support 1 x permanent/part time EL1 1 x permanent/part time EL1 Capability Development Nil 1 x permanent EL1 Chief Finance Office Nil Nil Chief Information Office 1 x permanent EL1 2 x permanent EL1 Key: CMDR: Commander, LCDR: Lieutenant Commander, LEUT: Lieutenant (Navy), SQNLDR: Squadron Leader, FLTLT: Flight Lieutenant Between 1 January and 30 June 2011 Defence Housing Australia (DHA) had no staff members specifically responsible for the stated functions. DHA has a Marketing Communication Team, comprised of four staff members . The team is responsible for marketing communication and media campaigns to provide product and service information. There is relatively little day-to-day media interest in DHA ' s activities, so an incidental proportion of the team ' s time is involved in responding to media requests.