Senator Faulkner asked the Minister representing the Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business, upon notice, on 21 July 1998:

(1) What was the total expenditure on conferences both: (a) in-house, that is, held within the department or agency; and (b) external, held by the department or agencies within the portfolio, on a month-by-month basis since March 1996.

(2) For conferences fully funded by the department and portfolio agencies, and costing in excess of $30,000; (a) where was the venue; (b) what was the reason for each conference; (c) how many participants registered; (d) were consultancy fees paid for the organisation of each conference; (e) to whom were the consultancy fees paid; and (f) what was the cost of each consultancy.

(3) For conferences part-sponsored or part-funded by the department and portfolio agencies and costing the Commonwealth in excess of $30,000: (a) what was the cost to the department or agency; (b) what was the proportion of Commonwealth funding as against the total cost of the conference; (c) what was the rationale for the sponsorship or part-funding; (d) what was the venue; (e) how many participants registered; (f) did the Commonwealth contribute to any consultant organising the conference; if so, who was the consultant; and (g) how much was the Commonwealth's contribution.

Senator Alston (Communications, Information Technology and the Arts) —The Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

1 (a) Nil.

1 (b) April 1996-$43,525

May 1996-$29,649

June 1996-$30,150

July 1996-$4,400

August 1996-$9,260.56

September 1996-$6,290.72

October 1996-$2,010

November 1996-$4,848.93

December 1996-$14,539 expenditure, revenue amounted to $16,045 shared between Australian National University and Attorney-General's Department and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA). AMSA's share of the profit was $502. AMSA was part of the Transport and Regional Development portfolio at this time.

February 1997-$33,900.35

April 1997-$42,135.65

May 1997-$1,087.25

August 1997-$11,100. The responsible sub-program was part of the Transport and Regional Development portfolio at this time.

September 1997-$3,908

October 1997-$66,607. The responsible sub-program was part of the Transport and Regional Development portfolio at this time.

November 1997-$3,292

February 1998-$9,842

March 1998-$36,556

May 1998-$950

June 1998-$37,700