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 Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, in writing, on 20 June 2012:

What was the total cost of overseas travel for departmental staff?

(a)   2008-09

(b)   2009-10

(c)   2012-11

(d)   2011-12

Craig Emerson (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Competitiveness) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and myself, the answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

Travel expenditure is reported annually in the department’s financial statements. These amounts include both domestic and overseas travel as well as expenses and travel allowances. The department does not report separately its overseas travel costs. To collect this data would require a significant diversion of resources. In these circumstances, I do not consider the additional work can be justified.