Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts, upon notice, on 29 November 2010:

Since 14 September 2010, for each Minister and any Parliamentary Secretaries within their portfolio:

(1) Do the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries have access to a departmental credit card; if so, can a copy be provided of all bank statements.

(2) (a) How many mobile devices are provided to the Minister’s office; and (b) what is the total spend on mobile devices for each office to date.

(3) At what level is each staff member employed in the office.

(4) What has been the total cost of travel for the Minister and Parliamentary Secretaries.

(5) What has been the total travel for all staff, by office.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Tourism) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and Minister for the Arts has provided the following replacement answer to the honourable senator’s question:

(1) No

(2) (a) 33, (b) $9,308 as at 31 December 2010.

(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 Finance and Public Administration Committee, Government Personal Positions as at 1 October 2010.

(4) The cost 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, 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 Parliamentarian’s Travel Paid by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. As at 29 November 2010 there was no expenditure on short-term transport (cars or taxis).

(5) The Special Minister of State will respond on my behalf in relation to this question.