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Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 3307

Defence: Overseas Travel

(Question Nos 1612 to 1614)

Senator Johnston asked the Ministers for Defence, Defence Material and Science and Personnel, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2011:

(1) (a) Did the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary travel overseas on official business; if so:

(i) to what destination,

(ii) for what duration, and

(iii) for what purpose; and

(b) what was the total cost of:

(i) travel,

(ii) accommodation, and

(iii) any other expenses.

(2) (a) Which departmental and uniformed personnel accompanied the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary on each trip; and

(b) for those personnel, what was the total cost of:

(i) travel,

(ii) accommodation, and

(iii) any other expenses.

(3) (a) Apart from ministerial staff and uniformed and civilian departmental personnel, who else accompanied the Minister/Parliamentary Secretary on each trip; and

(b) for each of these people, what was the total cost of:

(i) travel,

(ii) accommodation, and

(iii) any other expenses.

Senator Chris Evans: the answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The costs of all travel undertaken by each Minister and Parliamentary Secretary are paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (DoFD). All costs are tabled in Parliament every 6 months in a report titled 'Parliamentarians Travel'. This report contains the information requested, including dates, destination and purpose of travel. It is also published on the DoFD website.

(2) This question is similar to Question on Notice No.66 from the February 2012 Senate Additional Estimates hearing. The information requested in this question has therefore been provided in response to Question on Notice No.66 from the Estimates hearing.

(3) The costs of all official travel by accompanying Members of Parliament Act (Staff) 1984 employees to the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretary are paid for by the Department of Finance and Deregulation (DoFD). All costs are tabled in Parliament every 6 months in a report titled 'Parliamentarians Travel'. This report contains the information requested, including dates, destination and purpose of travel. It is also published on the DoFD website.