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

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

(1) The Minister and the Parliamentary Secretary are not issued with departmental credit cards.

(2) (a) The following mobile devices have been assigned to the Minister and ministerial staff since 14 September 2010:

Ministerial Office   Mobile phones, blackberries and data cards

* Mobile devices provided by the Department of Finance and Deregulation

** Mobile devices provided prior to 14 September 2010

# The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has not issued any mobile phones, blackberries and data cards

(b) Total spend on mobile devices for each office as per the Telstra and Optus billing period between September and November 2010 is as follows:

(3) The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 19 October 2010, the Department of Finance and Deregulation tabled with the Senate F&PA Committee, Government Personal positions as at 1 October 2010.

(4) The costs of official travel by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and accompanying staff employed under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 are largely paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. As such, with the exception of those costs listed below, the information sought will be tabled by the Special Minister of State in the last sitting week of June 2011 in his six-monthly report on Parliamentarians Travel paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation.

The total cost of short-term transport (e.g. hire cars, taxis) since between September and November 2010 was:

(5) The Special Minister of State will respond on behalf of other ministers.