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

by leave—Mr President, at the recent additional estimates hearing of the Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee you advised that there was a change to the longstanding practice of the Prime Minister agreeing to the President's overseas travel proposals. You indicated that, unlike your predecessors and unlike ministers, you now have the authority to approve your own overseas travel, together with travel arrangements for your spouse and staff. In response to questioning, you indicated that you were prepared to have 'a detailed discussion' with senators about arrangements for approving and overseeing your travel arrangements. Could you please outline to the chamber the approval and oversight arrangements you propose. Can you also confirm that you will not undertake overseas travel until such arrangements have been agreed by the Senate.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First of all, I advised the Clerk very shortly after the estimates hearings that I would like that matter listed on the agenda for the next meeting of the appropriations and staffing committee, which is the appropriate body to deliberate on that. Equally, as you would recall in the estimates hearing, you asked if it would be a matter to come before the Senate. I said, no; I believed it was for the appropriations and staffing committee meeting, and that if that committee decided that it was a matter for the Senate then that committee could make that decision.

In relation to not undertaking any travel: if I am correct in what you are saying, that is a matter for me to decide, at whatever point I wish to go, through the current process. I have made sure that the current process, in light of that estimates hearing, will be maintained until such time as the appropriations and staffing committee are more fully briefed on the proposals that I have.