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

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness, in writing, on 25 November 2010.

(1) How many (a) mobile phones, (b) blackberries and (c) I-Pads are currently allocated to the (i) Minister, and (ii) the Minister’s ministerial staff.

(2) In respect of mobile phone usage between (a) 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010, and (b) 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, what was the total cost for (a) the Minister, and (b) the Minister’s ministerial staff.

(3) For each month since December 2007, what was the cost of mobile phone usage for each mobile phone account allocated to the (a) Minister, and (b) Minister’s ministerial staff.

Jenny Macklin (Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister representing the Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

All figures provided are GST exclusive.

(1) (i) As at 25 November 2010, there were no (0) mobile phones, Blackberrys or iPads allocated to the Minister.

(ii) As at 25 November 2010, there was one mobile phone, no (0) Blackberrys and no (0) iPads allocated to the Minister’s ministerial staff.

(2) (i) Between 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010 (or the end of the nearest monthly accounting period), the total mobile phone usage cost for the Minister was $7853.03. Between 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, the total mobile phone usage cost for the Minister was $841.35.

(ii) Between 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010 (or the end of the nearest monthly accounting period), the total mobile phone usage cost for the Minister’s ministerial staff was $40,790.91. Between 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, the total mobile phone usage cost for the Minister’s ministerial staff was $4,357.17.

(3) (i) For each month since December 2007, the total cost of mobile phone usage for the Minister was as follows:

$40.45 for January 2008

$87.68 for February 2008

$206.02 for March 2008

$220.04 for April 2008

$151.78 for May 2008

$153.70 for June 2008

$160.21 for July 2008

$229.52 for August 2008

$174.36 for September 2008

$205.87 for October 2008

$202.71 for November 2008

$215.70 for December 2008

$206.38 for January 2009

$114.68 for February 2009

$916.88 for March 2009

$181.83 for April 2009

$156.74 for May 2009

$206.74 for June 2009

$478.24 for July 2009

$154.25 for August 2009

$158.00 for September 2009

$131.57 for October 2009

$180.29 for November 2009

$134.40 for December 2009

$90.30 for January 2010

$779.53 for February 2010

$303.83 for March 2010

$429.70 for April 2010

$340.28 for May 2010

$338.73 for June 2010

$212.96 for July 2010

$256.20 for August 2010

$33.46 for September 2010

$0 for October 2010 (by the monthly billing period of accounts paid).

(ii) For each month since December 2007, the total cost of mobile phone usage for the Minister’s ministerial staff was as follows:

$594.60 for January 2008

$909.66 for February 2008

$1143.48 for March 2008

$1321.02 for April 2008

$973.42 for May 2008

$334.93 for June 2008

$799.58 for July 2008

$851.96 for August 2008

$854.73 for September 2008

$812.15 for October 2008

$1174.31 for November 2008

$1574.97 for December 2008

$1201.00 for January 2009

$605.10 for February 2009

$1966.23 for March 2009

$1054.42 for April 2009

$856.67 for May 2009

$945.08 for June 2009

$970.23 for July 2009

$1077.08 for August 2009

$1041.06 for September 2009

$1079.51 for October 2009

$1137.57 for November 2009

$1865.84 for December 2009

$1317.81 for January 2010

$2066.98 for February 2010

$2965.25 for March 2010

$2906.40 for April 2010

$2032.70 for May 2010

$2134.25 for June 2010

$1076.79 for July 2010

$897.17 for August 2010

$139.74 for September 2010

$109.22 for October 2010 (by the monthly billing period of accounts paid).

Note: During the period of 3 December 2007 to 13 September 2010, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP was the Minister for Housing. From 14 September 2010, these responsibilities were transferred to the Senator the Hon Mark Arbib.

The billing period for October 2010 includes costs incurred by the Office of the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP prior to the change in Ministry.