Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice, on 13 March 2012:

(1) What is the annual catering budget for Cabinet?

(2) How much of the catering budget for the 2011-12 financial year has been used.

(3) What is the cost of catering an average Cabinet meeting.

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

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

(1) There is no annual budget allocation. Consistent with long standing arrangements, each minister makes a personal contribution to the Cabinet Trust Fund to assist in the costs of catering for Cabinet and committee meetings. The Fund is administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

(2) From 1 July 2011 to 13 March 2012 $38,970.73 was spent on catering for Cabinet and Cabinet committee meetings.

(3) The average catering cost for a Cabinet meeting is $385.84.