Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for the Murray Darling Basin) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs upon notice, on 21 November 2012:

(1) Did the Minister and/or any other minister or parliamentary secretary in the Foreign Affairs portfolio attend the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil in June 2012; if so, for how many days.

(2) Did any ministerial staff attend; if so:

(a) how many staff;

(b) for how many days did each attend; and

(c) how many staff travelled:

  (i) first class, and

  (ii) business class.

(3) Did any departmental staff attend; if so:

(a) how many staff;

(b) for how many days did each attend; and

(c) how many staff travelled:

  (i) first class, and

  (ii) business class.

(4) Can a full breakdown be provided of all costs associated with attendance at Rio+20 including, but not limited to, flights and accommodation.

Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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

(1) No.

(2) No.

(3) (a) Twenty-three officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including from the Australian Embassies in the region and the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who travelled with the Prime Minister's party) attended the Rio+20 Conference, including providing support for the Prime Minister's attendance.

(b) DFAT staff attended Rio+20 for varying periods, ranging from three to 20 days.

(c) (i) None

     (ii) Eight officers flew business class, and six officers flew in combination of economy and business class.

(4) The cost to DFAT of attending the Rio+20 Conference was $388,865