Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) On 13 November 2010, Defence hosted a delegation of 16 United States Army personnel to dinner at the Custom House Brassiere, Brisbane. The dinner was the formal welcome for the delegation attending the:

a. Autonomous Ground Robotics Challenge, a joint United States-Australian unmanned vehicle competition over the period 8 to 12 November 2010;

b. Senior National Representative-Army bi-lateral talks (senior United States Army and Australian Army representatives) over the period 15 to 17 November 2010; and

c. Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane over the period 15 to 19 November 2010.

A total of 26 people attended the dinner, comprising 16 United States Army personnel and 10 Australian Defence personnel. The Australian delegation was from Army, Capability Development Group, the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and the Australian Embassy, Washington, USA.

(2) The cost per head was $100 with a total cost of $2600.00

(3) The official purpose of the dinner was to formally welcome a delegation of 16 United States Army personnel attending the Autonomous Ground Robotics Challenge, a joint United States-Australian unmanned vehicle competition over the period 8 to 12 November 2010; the Senior National Representative-Army bi-lateral talks (senior United States Army and Australian Army representatives) over the period 15 to 17 November 2010; and the Land Warfare Conference in Brisbane over the period 15 to 19 November 2010.

(4) The Head Capability Systems, pre-approved the function on 5 November 2010 for expenditure not to exceed $3000.