Senator Bob Carr: The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question: (a) Defence is committed to providing Members and Senators information and briefings on a broad range of Defence issues. The table below lists the briefings provided to the Shadow Minister since September 2010, including briefings provided to Committees of which he is a member, as well as future scheduled briefings. It does not include information on other Public Hearings (including Senate Estimates) or visits to Defence Establishments. Name of briefing Date briefing provided Committee Meeting with Commander Joint Health Command to discuss health issues and treatment of a former member of the ADF. 14 September 2010 Not Applicable Private Briefing (in the lead-up to Estimates) 22 February 2011 Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's Legislation Committee Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) 1 March 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (JSCFADT) Asia-Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence 22 March 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Defence Department's Fairness and Resolution Branch 14 June 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Submarine Project – Part 1 21 June 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Submarine Project – Part 2 5 July 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Joint Strike Fighter 16 August 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Chief of Defence Force 17 August 2011 JSCFADT Counter Insurgency 23 August 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Army's Adaptive Campaigning Concept 13 September 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Wounded Soldier Care 20 September 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Private Briefing (in the lead-up to Estimates) 11 October 2011 Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's Legislation Committee Chief of Army 11 October 2011 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Army Projects – Land 121 and Land 400 12 October 2011 JSCFADT Chief of Air Force 2 November 2011 JSCFADT Chief of Navy 23 November 2011 JSCFADT Private Briefing (in the lead-up to Estimates) 8 February 2012 Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade's Legislation Committee Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) Capability 13 March 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Joint Strike Fighter (Classified Briefing) 19 June 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Future Submarine Capability (Classified Briefing) 19 June 2012 JSCFADT Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) Capability 26 June 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Employment of Women in the ADF 14 August 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Air 8000 Phase 2 (Caribou Replacement) 21 August 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Reserve Capability 11 September 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Force Protection of ADF Members and Improvised Explosive Devices (Classified Briefing) 18 September 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT Ethnic and Indigenous Recruiting 27 November 2012 Defence Sub-Committee of the JSCFADT (b) The Defence portfolio receives a large number of Questions on Notice from both Houses of Parliament and Committees, including pursuant to Committee hearings. Many of these questions relate to complex, highly technical national security issues which require significant effort to address. It is important that responses to these questions provide correct information. Accordingly, it is important to take the necessary time to ensure the answers are correct. In relation to the House of Representatives, in 2012 the Government has responded to 31 Questions on Notice relating to the Defence portfolio as at 15 October. In relation to the Senate, in 2012 the Government has responded to 298 Questions on Notice relating to the Defence portfolio as at 15 October. In relation to Questions from Committees or arising from Committee hearings, Defence took on notice 49 questions on the day and 222 questions in writing from Senators following the 2012 Budget Estimates hearings in May, for a total of 271 questions. In total, these 271 questions compromised 569 sub questions. Of the 271 Questions on Notice: 134 questions related to Capability; 68 questions related to Finance; 27 Questions related to personnel matters; 8 Questions related Ministerial matters; and the remaining 34 questions related to various subject including Operations, Media monitoring, Reviews and Board Appointments. As at 16 October, responses to all 271 questions have been provided to the Committee, in advance of the forthcoming Supplementary Budget Estimates hearings. Of the 271 questions, the majority, 262, were lodged by 5 October. The 271 Questions on Notice from the May Budget Estimates hearings was an increase from February's Additional Estimates hearing where Defence received 219 Questions on Notice.