Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Prime Minister, in writing, on 3 March 2011:

(1) How many personal staff are employed by the Minister.

(2) What is the (a) total cost, and (b) breakdown of costs, of all capital works and acquisitions in the Ministers private office since 3 December 2007.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised that the answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

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

(2) The cost of capital works and acquisitions for ministers ' offices is shared by the Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), Finance 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 Finance.

I am advised that capital works and acquisitions costs incurred by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet total $270,815.

The breakdown of costs are as follows:

PMO – Canberra