Has the Minister or any associated Parliamentary Secretary travelled overseas on parliamentary or ministerial business since 25 November 2007; if so, for each trip:

   (1)   What was the purpose.

   (2)   How many nights were spent overseas.

   (3)   What were the dates and venues.

   (4)   How many meetings did the Minister or Parliamentary Secretary attend.

   (5)   How many departmental and/or personal ministerial staff accompanied the Minister or Parliamentary Secretary.

   (6)   What was the aggregate cost.

   (7)   Can an itemised account be provided of the costs for the following: (a) transportation; (b) travel allowance; (c) accommodation; (d) meals; and (e) other expenses, paid for by the Commonwealth in relation to the Minister, Parliamentary Secretary and their staff.

In the Health and Ageing portfolio, only the Minister for Sport, the Hon Kate Ellis MP and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator the Hon Jan McLucas travelled overseas on parliamentary or ministerial business between 25 November 2007 and 25 November 2008. Information for each trip is as follows:

The Hon Kate Ellis MP

Trip 1

(1)   Minister Ellis travelled to New York (for youth portfolio related activities*) and Montreal to attend the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Meeting from 7-13 May 2008. * refer DEEWR

(2)   Four nights.

(3)   7-9 May 2008- New York, United States of America 9-11 May 2008 - Montreal, Canada 11-13 May 2008 - In transit to Sydney

(4)   Minister Ellis attended seven meetings

(5)   One Ministerial staffer and one departmental officer travelled with the Minister. The Ministerial staffer accompanied the Minister to New York and Montreal from 7-13 May 2008. The departmental officer travelled to Montreal, Canada from 8-13 May 2008.

(6)   Information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, their spouses and personal staff, is contained in the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation which is tabled biannually and includes details of the dates and purpose of travel, the countries of destination and the costs of the visits. Further information on ministerial visits is also available on ministerial web sites and in media releases and media reports.

(7)   Refer to (6).

Trip 2

(1)   To attend the Olympic Games from 5-18 August 2008 and to chair and co-host the 4th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (CSMM) on 9 August 2008.

(2)   13 nights were spent overseas

(3)   5-13 August 2008 - Beijing, China; 13 August 2008 - Tianjin, China; 13-16 August 2008 - Beijing, China; 16-17 August 2008 - Qingdao, China; 17 August 2008 - Beijing, China 18 August - In transit to Sydney

(4)   Minister Ellis attended eight meetings.

(5)   One Ministerial staffer and two departmental officers travelled with the Minister. The Ministerial staffer accompanied the Minister to Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao, China from 5-18 August 2008. One departmental officer travelled to Beijing, Tianjin and Qingdao, China from 5-18 August 2008. The second departmental officer travelled to Beijing, China for the CSMM from 7-12 August 2008.

(6)   Information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, their spouses and personal staff, is contained in the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation which is tabled biannually and includes details of the dates and purpose of travel, the countries of destination and the costs of the visits. Further information on ministerial visits is also available on ministerial web sites and in media releases and media reports.

(7)   Refer to (6).

Trip 3

(1)   To attend the Paralympic Games from 4-11 September 2008.

(2)   Seven nights.

(3)   4-10 September 2008 - Beijing, China, 10-11 September 2008 - In transit to Sydney.

(4)   Minister Ellis attended two meetings.

(5)   One Ministerial staffer and one departmental officer travelled with the Minister. The Ministerial staffer accompanied the Minister to Beijing, China from 4-11 September 2008. The departmental officer travelled to Beijing, China from 4-11 September 2008.

(6)   Information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, their spouses and personal staff, is contained in the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation which is tabled biannually and includes details of the dates and purpose of travel, the countries of destination and the costs of the visits. Further information on ministerial visits is also available on ministerial web sites and in media releases and media reports.

(7)   Refer to (6).

Trip 4

(1)   Minister Ellis travelled to New York for meetings with US Government and sporting organisations and to Montreal to attend the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Meeting from 20-25 November 2008;

(2)   Four nights.

(3)   20-21 November 2008 - New York, United States of America; 21-23 November 2008 - Montreal, Canada

(4)   Minister Ellis attended seven meetings

(5)   One ministerial staffer and one departmental officer travelled with the Minister. The Ministerial staffer accompanied the Minister to New York and Montreal from 20-25 November 2008. The departmental officer travelled to Montreal, Canada from 19-25 November 2008.

(6)   Information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, their spouses and personal staff, is contained in the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation which is tabled biannually and includes details of the dates and purpose of travel, the countries of destination and the costs of the visits. Further information on ministerial visits is also available on ministerial web sites and in media releases and media reports.

(7)   Refer to (6).

Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

(1)   To attend the Australia-Papua New Guinea Ministerial Forum.

(2)   Three nights.

(3)   22-24 April 2008 - Madang, Papua New Guinea, 24-25 April 2008- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

(4)   Senator McLucas attended three meetings.

(5)   One departmental officer travelled with Senator McLucas to Madang and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea from 22-25 April 2008.

(6)   Information about the cost of overseas travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, their spouses and personal staff, is contained in the report Parliamentarians’ travel costs paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation which is tabled biannually and includes details of the dates and purpose of travel, the countries of destination and the costs of the visits. Further information on ministerial visits is also available on ministerial web sites and in media releases and media reports.

(7)   Refer to (6).