(1)   In relation to all overseas travel where expenses were met by the Minister’s portfolios, for each of the financial years 2000-01 to 2004-05 to date what was the total cost of travel and related expenses in relation to: (a) the Minister; (b) the Minister’s family; and (c) the Minister’s staff.

(2)   In relation to all air charters engaged and paid for by the Minister and/or the Minister’s office and/or the department and its agencies, for each of the financial years 2000-01 to 2004-05 to date: (a) on how many occasions did the Minister or his/her office or department and/or agency charter aircraft, and in each case, what was the name of the charter company that provided the service and the related respective costs; and (b) what was the total cost.

DFAT

(1)   and (2) Ministerial travel costs are tabled biannually in Parliament. I consider that the preparation of further breakdown of this information would involve a significant diversion of resources and, in the circumstances, I do not consider that the additional work can be justified.

AusAID

(1) (a)   (b) (c) Nil.

(2)   Because of the underdeveloped nature of transport infrastructure in a number of countries where AusAID is present, air charters are used in the absence of other feasible transport options. The overwhelming majority of these charters are used for domestic travel within the country concerned in circumstances where surface or sea travel is not feasible for reasons such as security, time efficiency or the absence of transport infrastructure (eg trafficable roads). Such charters are funded as transport costs against the relevant country aid program or project and often through subcontracted arrangements. These small scale charters are not managed or recorded centrally, and given the scale of the usage, providing the information sought would require a disproportionate and unreasonable diversion of resources.

Austrade

(1)   No records relating to any of the questions.

(2)  

	2000-01	2001-02	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05
(a)	Nil	One charter - Freebird Aviation, Johannesburg, RSA	Nil	Nil	Nil
(b)	Nil	$A 40,772	Nil	Nil	Nil

ACIAR - Nil. EFIC - Nil. AJF - Nil.