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

asked the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government and the Minister for the Arts, 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.

Simon Crean (Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am advised that the answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Mobile phones, blackberries and i-Pads allocated to the Minister and the Minister's ministerial staff.

(2) and (3) The Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government was established on 14 September 2010. The expenditure below represents two months mobile phone usage for Minister Crean and the ministerial staff working in the Minister's office.

Mobile phone usage by the Minister for the period 1 October 2010 to 30 November 2010 was $368. Mobile phone usage by ministerial staff for this same period was $424.