Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has provided the following answer to the honourable member's question:

The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 22 February 2011, the Department tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 February 2011.

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry was appointed on 14 September 2010. As such, no data is provided for the period prior to this date.

The cost of capital works and acquisitions for ministers' offices is shared by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), Department of Finance and Deregulation (DoFD) and home departments in line with Appendix 2 of Supporting Ministers, Upholding the Values. The Special Minister of State will accordingly respond on behalf of all ministers in respect of costs incurred by the DPS and DoFD.

I am advised that the costs incurred by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for the period 14 September 2010 to 3 March 2011 is as follows:

*Note:   Owing to reporting limitations costs are not able to be further disaggregated and may also include information technology costs for the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

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