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

(1) The employment of staff under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984 is administered by the Department of Finance and Deregulation. On 22 February 2011, the Department tabled with the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee a list of Government Personal Staff Positions as at 1 February 2011.

(2) (a) and (b)

The cost of capital works and acquisitions for the Minister's office is shared by the

Department of Parliamentary Services (DPS), Department of Finance and Deregulation (DoFD) and home department, in line with Appendix 2 of Supporting Ministers, Upholding and Values. The Special Minister of State will accordingly respond on behalf of all ministers in respect of costs incurred by the DPS and DoFD.

Costs incurred by the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities are as follows:

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population, and Communities was appointed on 14 September 2010. As such, no data is project vided for periods prior to this date.