(1)   Do the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries have access to a departmental credit card; if so, can a copy be provided of all bank statements.

(2) (a)   How many mobile devices are provided to the Minister’s office; and (b) what is the total spend on mobile devices for each office to date.

(3)   At what level is each staff member employed in the office.

(4)   What has been the total cost of travel for the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries.

(5)   What has been the total travel for all staff, by office.

(1)   I do not have access to a departmental credit card.

(2) (a)   My office has 8 Blackberries and 5 mobile phones issued by the Department. (b) My office costs on mobile devices to the Department for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 November 2010 were $4,313.45

(3)   The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 19 October 2010, the Department of Finance and Deregulation tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee, Government Personnel Positions as at 1 October 2010. My Department employs an Executive Level 1 and an Executive Level 2 Departmental Liaison Officer in my office.

(4)   and (5) The cost of official travel by Minister, Parliamentary Secretaries and accompanying staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 are largely paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. As such, the information sought will be tabled by the Special Minister of State in the last sitting week of June 2011 in his six-monthly report on Parliamentarians Travel Paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. As at 29 November, the total cost to my Department for short term transport for travel for me for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 November was $226.27. The total cost to the Department of travel for my staff for the period 14 September 2010 to 30 November was $128.73.