Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, upon notice, on 22 November 2011:

In regard to travel or accommodation expenses, has the Government or any Regional Development Australia committee paid Mr Paul Budde, or any organisation that Mr Budde is affiliated with, any money, including the covering of any travel or accommodation expenses; if so, what were these payments for, how much did the payments total, and can an itemised list of any separate payments and the reasons for them be provided.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

The Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government has not made any payments to Mr Paul Budde or Paul Budde Communication Pty Ltd. Each Government department would need to be asked about their own payments. The Department does not collect or hold financial information about the individual payments made by Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees. RDAs are independent bodies that are focused on growing their regions and the economic development of regional Australia. In performing this role they undertake a wide range of activities as part of their normal operations, including regional planning, working with local stakeholders and conducting forums.