With reference to the overseas travel by the Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services, Mr Michael Taylor, in May 2006:

(1)   On what date did Mr Taylor advise the Minister he intended to be absent during the May 2006 Senate Budget Estimates hearings.

(2)   On what date did the Minister approve Mr Taylor’s absence.

(3)   On what date did Mr Taylor depart Australia.

(4)   What date dose Mr Taylor return to Australia.

(5)   Can a detailed itinerary of Mr Taylor’s trip be provided; if not, why not.

(6)   For each meeting, when was Mr Taylor’s attendance confirmed with his hosts.

(7)   What was the total cost of airfares, disaggregated by sector.

(8)   In relation to accommodation:

(a)   What accommodation was used;

(b)   what nights did he stay at each hotel; and

(c)   what did each hotel cost.

(9)   What other expenses were incurred including:

(a)   gifts;

(b)   hospitality;

(c)   meals;

(d)   land transport;

(e)   travel insurance; and

(f)   other expenses not listed above.

(10)   What was the total cost of Mr Taylor’s overseas visit.

(a)   Which officers accompanied Mr Taylor on this trip, and for which periods; and

(b)   what was the total cost incurred in relation to the participation of each of these officers.

Mr Taylor undertook overseas travel on behalf of the Government from Saturday 20 May 2006 to Monday 29 May 2006 inclusive. The primary purpose of his visit was to facilitate preparations for Australia’s hosting of the APEC Transport Ministerial meeting to be held in Adelaide, South Australia in 2007. The travel coincided with the APEC Transportation Working Group Heads of Delegation meeting on Monday 20 May in Vietnam and was followed by meetings with senior transportation officials and departmental Heads in Beijing, Ottawa, Montreal and Washington. Whilst in Asia, Mr Taylor also held discussions with his Chinese counterparts in transport to progress the APEC meeting and Memorandum of Understandings on a range of transport issues. In North America, Mr Taylor progressed the APEC meeting and matters relating to air services, air safety and aviation security.

(1)   The Secretary, Mr Taylor advised the Minister verbally during the week commencing 27 March and subsequently formally wrote to the Minister on 10 May 2006.

(2)   The Minister verbally acknowledged Mr Taylor’s intentions to use the APEC Transportation Working Group to build support for Australia’s APEC 2007 meetings at the time of their discussion during the week commencing 27 March.

(3)   Saturday 20 May 2006

(4)   Monday 29 May 2006

(5)   Below is the itinerary of Mr Taylor’s official engagements: Hanoi: Sunday 21 May 2006 The Secretary held bilateral discussions on Sunday 21 May with: - Mr Zhang Xiaojie, Director, International Cooperation, General Administration of Civil Aviation (China); - Mr Chua Chong Kheng, Director, International Relations and Security Division (Singapore delegation); - Mr Kevin Sample, APEC Transportation Lead Shepherd, Department of Transport (USA); - Ms Arlene Turner, Transport Canada (Canada). Hanoi: Monday 22 May 2006 Mr Taylor addressed the APEC Transportation Working Group plenary meeting, presenting on behalf of the Australian Government and specifically outlined the Australian Government’s proposals for the APEC 2007 Transportation Ministerial meeting. He also held a bilateral meeting with Mr Shinji Nitta, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (Japan). China: Tuesday 23 May 2006 Mr Taylor met separately with and held discussions with the following people in China: - Mr PENG Kaizhou, Vice Minister, Ministry of Railways; - Mr WENG Mengyong, Vice Minister, Ministry for Communications; and - Mr YANG Guoqing, Vice Minister for General Administration of Civil Aviation of China. Mr Taylor also had discussions with: - Mr WENG Mengyong, Vice Minister, Ministry for Communications; - Mr JU Chengzhi, Director General, Department of International Cooperation, Minister of Communications Ottawa: Wednesday 24 May 2006 Mr Taylor met and held discussions with the following people in Ottawa: - Mr Jacques Duchesneau, President and CEO and Mr Mark Duncan, Chief Operating Officer, Canadian Air Trasnport Security Authority; - Mr Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada - Captain Merlin R Preuss, Director General Civil Aviation; and - Brigita Gravitas, Director General, Air Policy, Transport Canada Mr Taylor also held discussions at a meeting hosted by HE Bill Fisher, Australian High Commissioner. Attendees included: - Mr Louis Ranger, Deputy Minister, Transport Canada - Mr Jim Facette, President, Canadian Airport Council - Mr Peter Boag, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Assoc of Canada - Mr Duncan Dee, Senior Vice President Corporate Affairs, Air Canada - Mr David Bradley, CEO Canadian Trucking Alliance; and - Ian Tomlinson, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators Montreal: Wednesday 24 May 2006 On arrival to Montreal Mr Taylor met and held discussions with representatives of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO): - Ambassador Alain Dupuis, Representative of Canada to ICAO; - Mr Nick Denton, Representative of the United Kingdom to ICAO; - Ambassador Donald Bliss, Representative of the United States of America to ICAO; and the ICAO Council Representatives of the Montreal Asia-Pacific Group including: - Mr Zhang (Representative of China); - Ambassador Rhee (Representative of the Republic of Korea); - Mr Bong (Representative of Singapore); - Dr Zaidi (Representative of India); and - Mr Richard MacFarlane, Australian Member, ICAO Air Navigation Commission. Montreal: Thursday 25 May 2006 Mr Taylor met and held discussions with: - Mr Bill Voss, Director of the Air Navigation Bureau; and - Mr Richard Barr, Chief of Finance and Mr John Begin, Deputy Director of the Air Transport Bureau; - Dr Taib Cherif, Secretary General of ICAO; - Dr Kotaïte, outgoing President of ICAO Council; - Mr Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, President-elect of ICAO Council; - Mr Tim Fenhoult, Representative of the European Commission in Montreal; and - Mr Olivier Onidi, European Commission, Air Transport Unit, Brussels. Washington: Friday 26 May 2006 Mr Taylor met with: - Ms Marion Blakely, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; - Ms Maria Cino, Deputy Secretary, and Mr Jeffrey N. Shane, Under Secretary for Policy, US Department of Transportation; - Mr Stewart A. Baker, Assistant Secretary for Policy, Department of Homeland Security. Mr Taylor also held discussions at a meeting hosted by HE Dennis Richardson, Australian Ambassador to the United States of America. Attendees included: - Mr Norman J Rabkin, Managing Director, Homeland Security and Justice US Government Accountability Office; and - Ms Cathleen A Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice US Government Accountability Office; Mr Taylor departed Washington on Saturday 27 May and returned directly to Canberra, arriving Monday morning, 29 May 2006.

(6)   Posts began arrangements for Mr Taylor’s meetings on April 12, 2006. Ongoing discussions were held with Posts throughout the following two months to confirm meetings.

(7)   The total cost of the airfare was $22,807.79 including taxes ($635.68) and fees ($123.11). The department’s travel agent, AMEX, have advised that the nature of the fare type used for Mr Taylor’s travel was not based on a sector price construction. Mr Taylor’s fare type was based on mileage calculations. AMEX advise that had the fare been purchased on a sector basis it would have been at a higher cost.

(8)   20 and 21 May 2006, Hanoi, VIETNAM accommodation: Sofitel Metropole Hotel - USD $155.00 per night 22 May 2006 - overnight flight and consequently no accommodation costs 23 May 2006, Ottawa, CANADA accommodation: Chateau Laurier Hotel - CDN $399 per night plus taxes 24 May 2006, Montreal, CANADA accommodation: Hôtel Place d’Armes - CDN $400 per night plus taxes 25 and 26 May 2006, Washington, USA accommodation: Jefferson Hotel - USD $315.00 per night plus taxes

(9)   Other expenses incurred were:

(a)   gifts; No gifts were presented by the Secretary during this journey and consequently no costs were incurred.

(b)   hospitality; Mr Taylor did not offer hospitality during this visit, and therefore no costs were incurred.

(c)   meals; In accordance with Schedule 1 of the Tax Determination TD 2005/32, which determines the rates payable for meals and incidentals according to country destination, the total amount paid to cover meals and incidental costs over the nine days of travel was $1200.00.

(d)   land transport; Mr Taylor travelled from Ottawa to Montreal by train at a cost of $153.00 for the train ticket. At other times Mr Taylor travelled by foot or by car. To date no invoices have been received from Posts in relation to these transfers.

(e)   travel insurance; For all official overseas travel Mr Taylor, is covered under the Government’s Comcover insurance arrangements. There is no additional expense specifically attributed to this trip.

(f)   other expenses not listed above. No further expenses were incurred.

(10)   The total cost of Mr Taylor’s overseas trip is approximately $27,000.

(a)   An APEC Transportation Working Group Delegation from DOTARS was in Hanoi from Saturday 20 to Friday 26 May 2006 to attend the Transportation Working Group meeting. Mr Richard Wood, Section Head of the Aviation Markets division, DOTARS met Mr Taylor in Beijing and accompanied him on the remainder of the trip.

(b)   The total cost incurred for Mr Wood was approximately $22,000. Note: All figures above are known expenses based on invoices received from overseas to date.