1998-99 Budget – Lockup Arrangements

The Treasurer will deliver the 1998-99 Budget at 7.30 pm AEST on Tuesday 12 May 1998. The Treasurer has indicated that the usual lockup arrangements will again be available for media organisations and will be centralised in Canberra, based in the main Committee Room area in Parliament House. The lockup will commence at 1.30 pm AEST and conclude when the Treasurer commences his Speech.

As usual, security considerations are paramount in the lockup arrangements. To obtain entry to the lockup, media representatives must sign and have witnessed by a Treasury official the necessary ‘Form of Undertaking’. Attendees will be required to produce proof of their bona fides as an employee of a media organisation prior to signing the Undertaking and thereupon will gain entry to the lockup. A copy of the Undertaking format is attached for information.

Any breach in the letter and spirit of the Undertaking and in the use of the lockup facility will be regarded most seriously. Your particular attention is drawn to the fact that breaches of the terms of the Undertaking may be in contravention of section 79(3) of the Crimes Act 1914, a copy of which is also attached.

Note also that an important requirement of the Form of Undertaking stipulates that Budget information is not to be broadcast by radio and television stations prior to the Treasurer conveying it to Parliament.

As in past years, arrangements may be made for secure landlines to group headquarters of approved organisations for SUB-EDITING PURPOSES ONLY. Entry to these sub-lockups is restricted to sub-editorial staff only – JOURNALISTS ARE NOT PERMITTED. These arrangements involve the establishment of a secure area on the news organisations’ premises which is supervised by Commonwealth staff for the duration of the Canberra lockup. Any communication between the Canberra lockup and the sub-lockups will require security encryption – absolutely no transmission will take place without encryption.

As usual, participating organisations will bear the full cost of the arrangements.

The Budget Speech and other major documents (including the Budget Overview and Economic Outlook) will be electronically available at the lockup. The electronic version can be saved on disk in any available format. Prior arrangements are to be made with Treasury as shown below.

would you please provide:

, (Director, Liaison Treasury) on tel. (02) 6263 3736 or fax (02) 6263 2992 with:

a full list of the organisation’s employees’ names and positions seeking access;

any special equipment or power needs; and

any requirement for electronic versions of the Budget.

(Facilities Manager, Voice Comms. Treasury) on (02)6263 3863 or (02)6263 2914 (fax)

A plan of the Committee Rooms with designated space allocation will be displayed in the Press Gallery several days before the lockup. Due to the limited space available in Parliament House, organisations should restrict their representation to minimum, essential employees only.

Please be advised that all lockups will be conducted in a non-smoking environment.

Parliament House regulations also do not permit the bringing of alcohol into the lockup area.

You are reminded of the terms and conditions for entry to the Budget lockups. We particularly remind prospective attendees that:

.

Storage facilities for such equipment will be available at the lockup entrance. There will be no contact outside the lockup other than with the use of approved secure communication links. As mentioned above, any breach of the undertaking will be regarded most seriously.

Copies of the Budget and associated documents will be on sale at all Government Book Shops at 7.30 pm (EST) on Tuesday 12 May 1998. Information will also be on the Internet (www.treasury.gov.au) at 7.30 pm.

Any general questions relating to the lockups should be directed to Peter Coan or Rolf Bandte at Treasury on (02)6263 3736 or(02)6263 2794, respectively.

22 April 1998

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