.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) The Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation was appointed on 14 September 2010. As such, no data is provided for the period prior to this date.

(a) $2,065

(b)