Senator Robert Ray asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 23 August 1999:

(1) How many Guests of Government were there in the 1998-99 financial year.

(2) In each instance, who were they.

(3) What was the total cost to the Commonwealth.

Senator Hill (Environment and Heritage) —The Prime Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Note: The answers to parts (1) and (2) are given in terms of the principal only and not the accompanying party, some of whom, including spouses, were also accorded guest of government status.

(1) The total number of Guests of Government for the 1998-99 financial year was 48.

(2) In each instance they were:

Foreign Royalty:

HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, Crown Prince of Thailand

Heads of State:

HE Mary McAleese, President of Ireland

HE Mr Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President of Italy

HE Dr Arpad Goncz, President of Hungary

Heads of Government:

HE Mr Mart Siimann, Prime Minister of Estonia

Hon Bill Skate CMG MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Major-General the Hon Sitiveni L Rabuka, MP OBE (Mil), Prime Minister of Fiji

HE Mr Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of Singapore

HE Mr Phan Van Khai, Prime Minister of Vietnam

Ministers:

HE Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thailand

Hon Jonetani Kaukimoce MP, Minister for Youth, Employment Opportunities and Sports, Fiji

Mr W Noel Levi CBE, Secretary General, South Pacific Forum

AUSMIN

Hon Dr Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State, USA

Hon William S Cohen, Secretary of Defense, USA

General Henry H Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, USA

Admiral Joseph W Prueher USN, Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Command, USA

HE Sheikh Fahim Al-Qasimi, Minister of Economy and Commerce, United Arab Emirates

HE Mr Wei Jianxing, Member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, Member of the Secretariat CPC Central Committee, China

HE Dato' Seri Haji Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abd Razak, Minister for Education, Malaysia

HE Mr Masahiko Koumura, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Japan

Mr Niels Helveg Petersen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Mr Alec Erwin MP, Minister of Trade and Industry, South Africa

Eleventh Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum (Papua New Guinea Ministers)

The Honourable Roy Yaki MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Rt Hon Sir Rabbie Namaliu KCMG MP, Minister for Petroleum and Gas

The Honourable Peter Waieng MP, Minister for Defence

The Honourable Ian Ling-Stuckey MP—Minister for Commerce and Industry

The Honourable Thomas Pelika MP—Minister for Correction Institution Services and Police

The Honourable Sam Akoitai MP—Minister for Bouganville Affairs

The Honourable Vincent Auali MP—Minister for Transport

The Honourable Kala Swokin CBE MP—Minister for Civil Aviation

The Honourable Dibara Yagabo MP—Minister for Provincial and Local Government Affairs

The Honourable Peter Peipul MP—Minister for Public Service

The Honourable Yauwe Riyong MP—Minister for Works

The Honourable William Ebonosi MP Vice Minister for Treasury

Hon Lakshman Kadirgamar PC MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka

HE Dr Tran Xuan Gia, Minister of Planning and Investment, Vietnam

HE Mr Adi Sasono, Minister for Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, Indonesia

HE Mr Kaoru Yosano, Minister for International Trade and Industry, Japan

HE Mr Bao Xuding, Vice Chairman, State Development Planning Commission, China

HE Dato Leo Moggie, Minister for Energy, Communications and Multimedia, Malaysia

HE Mr Suwat Liptapanlop, Minister for Industry, Thailand

HE Mr Park Tae-Young, Minister for Commerce, Industry and Energy, Korea

HE Mr Said Ben Mustapha, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tunisia

Hon Orlando S Mercado, Minister for Defence, Philippines

HRH Prince `Ulukalala Lavaka, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Tonga

Others:

HE Mr Noboru Taheshita, Former Prime Minister, Japan

Hon Fidel Valdez Ramos, Former President, Philippines

Mr Mikhail Gorbachev, Former President, USSR

(3) The total cost to the Commonwealth was $1,737,475.29