Mr Martin Ferguson asked the Minister representing the Special Minister of State, upon notice, on 19 February 2004:

For each of the last ten financial years, what was the total expenditure on (a) scheduled air fares, and (b) Comcar for travel undertaken by (i) former parliamentarians, (ii) former Governors-General, (iii) former Prime Ministers, (iv) other Life Gold Pass holders, (v) severance travel beneficiaries, and (vi) widows of eligible former parliamentarians.

Mr Abbott (Minister for Health and Ageing) —The Special Minister of State has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

(a) (i) Details of expenditure for former parliamentarians are included in the costs provided below in (iii) former Prime Ministers, (iv) other Life Gold Pass holders and (v) severance travellers.

(ii) The Hon Bill Hayden travels under his Life Gold Pass Holder entitlement and Finance meets the costs of his use of scheduled services. Mr Hayden's costs are included in the total expenditure provided in the response to (a) (iv) The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet meets any other travel costs for former Governors-General.

(iii)

1993-94 Data for expenditure prior to 1 July 1994 is not available

1994-95 $52,948.00

1995-96 $46,433.00

1996-97 $78,039.43

1997-98 $74,693.60

1998-99 $58,997.15

1999-00 $53,210.20

2000-01 $160,121.311

2001-02 $54,004.46

2002-03 $38,573.47

(iv)

1993-94 Data for expenditure prior to 1 July 1994 is not available

1994-95 $720,525.05

1995-96 $839,595.80

1996-97 $901,993.98

1997-98 $773,082.87

1998-99 $1,006,782.50

1999-00 $1,034,522.15

2000-01 $1,065,922.48

2001-02 $1,001,078.88

2002-03 $910,733.37

(v)

1993-94 Data for expenditure prior to 1 July 1994 is not available

1994-95 $206,073.50

1995-96 $320,904.40

1996-97 $435,084.52

1997-98 $355,590.60

1998-99 $468,018.00

1999-00 $253,733.09

2000-01 $132,187.69

2001-02 $130,012.16

2002-03 $120,065.52

(vi)

1993-94 Data for expenditure prior to 1 July 1994 is not available

1994-95 $39,096.00

1995-96 $30,746.60

1996-97 $34,076.63

1997-98 $15,477.60

1998-99 $15,029.80

1999-00 $17,660.85

2000-01 $23,294.45

2001-02 $12,934.01

2002-03 $26,001.85

(b) (i) Details of expenditure for former parliamentarians are included in the costs provided below in (iii) former Prime Ministers, (iv) other Life Gold Pass holders and (v) severance travellers.

(ii) The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has responsibility for this expenditure.

(iii)

1993-94 $122,828.00

1994-95 $254,769.00

1995-96 $267,041.00

1996-97 $368,554.00

1997-98 $147,985.00

1998-99 $124,927.00

1999-00 $43,163.00

2000-01 $45,064.00

2001-02 $32,241.00

2002-03 $20,927.00

(iv)

1993-94 $50,526.00

1994-95 $78,526.00

1995-96 $136,467.00

1996-97 $124,584.00

1997-98 $145,412.00

1998-99 $183,008.00

1999-00 $198,114.00

2000-01 $212,443.00

2001-02 $184,155.00

2002-03 $36,008.00

(v) There is no entitlement to COMCAR services for severance travellers.

(vi)

1993-94 to 2001-02 $0.00

2002-03 $3,769.00

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1 Includes an amount of $96,086.40 for overseas airfares.