Jamie Briggs (Mayo, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations, the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, and the Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, in writing, on 25 November 2010:

(1) How many (a) mobile phones, (b) blackberries and (c) I-Pads are currently allocated to the (i) Minister, and (ii) the Minister's ministerial staff.

(2) In respect of mobile phone usage between (a) 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010, and (b) 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, what was the total cost for (a) the Minister, and (b) the Minister's ministerial staff.

(3) For each month since December 2007, what was the cost of mobile phone usage for each mobile phone account allocated to the (a) Minister, and (b) Minister's ministerial staff.

Peter Garrett (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable member's questions is as follows:

(1) As at 25 November 2010, the following mobile phones and i-Pad's were assigned to the Minister and the Minister's ministerial staff:

* The department defines a Blackberry device as a mobile phone with email capability

** Mobile phone provided by the Department of Finance and Deregulation

(2) In respect of mobile phone usage between 3 December 2007 and 24 November 2010 and 24 June 2010 and 24 November 2010, the total cost for the Minister and the Minister's ministerial staff is as below:

*Information for the given timeframes is as per the Telstra and Optus billing period

(3) The cost of mobile phone usage for each mobile phone account allocated to the (a) Minister, and (b) Minister's ministerial staff for each month since December 2007 is attached.

Please note that the cost for individual Minister and ministerial staff is for the time period of their assignment to the DEEWR portfolio within the requested time periods.