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

asked the Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Minister for Defence Materiel, 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 Minister's private office since 3 December 2007.

Stephen Smith (Perth, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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. 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.

(2) (a) and (b) 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 the home department 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 Defence are as follows:

Note:

a. The Minister for Defence, the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and the Minister for Defence Materiel were appointed on 14 September 2010. The reported figures are for the period 14 September 2010 to 3 March 2011.

b. Reported figures cover acquisitions and capital works costs based on the following definitions:

' Acquisitions ' are understood to include, but not necessarily be limited to, standalone objects and equipment hired and/or purchased for the office, but exclude portable communication devices, office consumables and operating costs.

c. Reported expenditure is for the ministers' offices in the ministerial wing of Parliament House only and is understood to mean the entire ministerial suite that has been assigned for use by the minister and staff.

d. Reported expenditure for the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel are for information only. Veteran Affairs as the lead department in the provision of ministerial office support for Mr Snowdon will separately respond on behalf of the Minister in respect of the total cost incurred on capital works and acquisitions which will include the $522.26 expenditure reported above.