David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs, upon notice, on 18 August 2011:

What is the accumulated sum of outstanding and written off debt from consular assistance rendered since the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report, Helping Australians abroad: A review of the Australian Government's consular services was tabled in 1997.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

The current sum of outstanding debts from consular loans is $1,425,256 (as at 31 August 2011).

To provide information on all written-off debt would entail a significant diversion of resources and in these circumstances I do not consider the additional work can be justified.